Former British Open champion Ben Curtis is just happy to be playing in the weekend in Dubai after poor form last season cost him his U.S. PGA Tour card.
The American missed the cut in more than half of the U.S. PGA events he played in 2011 and he hasn't had a win since 2006.
With two years left on his 10-year European Tour exemption after winning the 2003 British Open, Curtis has started this year by playing the tour's desert swing that concludes with the Dubai Desert Classic this weekend.
After finishing 48th in Abu Dhabi and 47th in Qatar, Curtis has improved this week. He made five birdies on his way to a 5-under 67 on Friday to reach 7 under for the tournament. He is six shots behind clubhouse leader Rory McIlroy in 11th.
''My thinking is play wherever I can and got to play good,'' said Curtis, who expects to play 15 to 20 times in the United States this year. ''I'm trying to take it one week at a time and play solid and not focusing on what everyone else is doing. Just trying to play good golf for myself and hopefully that will lead to good results.''
Curtis is one several Americans using the European Tour in an attempt to revive their careers.
Most are counting on invites to tournaments such as two-time major champion John Daly, who was 1 under overall in Dubai after finishing ninth in Qatar. Nicholas Thompson, at 4 under, received an invitation to Dubai after his sister Lexi Thompson won the Dubai Ladies Masters in December.
Curtis caught the golfing public's imagination with his out-of-nowhere British Open victory, and visited President George W. Bush in the White House. Great things were expected from Curtis, but after two wins in 2006 he has done little since. His ranking has fallen to 304th.
Last year was by far his worst. He failed to make the cut in 13 of 23 events, and his best finish was a tie for 12th at the Northern Trust Open.
''It was a tough year. I didn't play well plain and simple,'' Curtis said. ''I missed a lot of cuts by one or two shots. It is the difference from keeping your card and not keeping your card. If I made some cuts, you never know what would happen on the weekend. Play well, make a couple of birdies and finish in the top 20. That is what you need to do.''
Curtis admits he ''was frustrated'' that he lost his card but said he just has to put that behind him and do what he can to regain it. He insisted his game was showing signs of improvement, though he has to do a better job of closing out tournaments. He shot 74 in the final round in Abu Dhabi and 73 in Qatar.
''I'm hitting the ball better than I did last year and overall putting a little bit better ... making a few birdies,'' he said. ''Now, it seems to be turning in the right direction. It's hard to tell after three weeks. You have to get some good results and finishing in the middle of the pack doesn't really do it.''
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