Ryder Cup consolation for Curtis after runner-up spot

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan (Reuters) - Ben Curtis was able to temper the disappointment of squandering a three-shot lead in the final round of the PGA Championship on Sunday with the knowledge that he had made the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

Curtis climbed 13 spots to seventh in the Cup standings, booking his place against Europe at Valhalla Country Club next month after tying for second in the final major championship of the year.

"If you're going to finish second and they tell you that you qualify for the Ryder Cup, I think you'll take it," Curtis told reporters after carding a one-over-par 71 at Oakland Hills Country Club to finish two shots behind Ireland's Padraig Harrington.

"It almost is a victory in itself. It was a goal that I set. I feel like I can help this team and I know a lot of the guys on the European side as well. I think it's going to be good fun."

Curtis, who bogeyed two of the last four holes to share second place with Spaniard Sergio Garcia, was one of eight U.S. players to qualify automatically for the September 19-21 Ryder Cup.

Also gaining berths in Louisville, Kentucky were Stewart Cink, Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard and Boo Weekley.

U.S. captain Paul Azinger will complete the 12-man team by adding four wildcard selections on September 2.

SURPRISE WINNER

Curtis, surprise winner of the 2003 British Open as a 300-1 outsider, will be making his debut in the biennial team competition against Europe.

For much of Sunday on one of the toughest layouts in the game, it looked as though the 31-year-old from Ohio was heading for his second major title.

One ahead after the storm-delayed third round was completed earlier in the day, he briefly forged three strokes clear before Harrington muscled his way to victory over the closing holes.

"I played pretty solid the first seven, eight holes, and then coming around the turn just hit a maybe hit a wall, just kind of getting a little fatigued and a little tired," Curtis said after posting a one-under tally of 279.

"It was just a mental grind all day and leaving here I'm going to feel really good. I played well coming down the stretch. I just didn't get it done.

"The way Padraig played was pretty unbelievable," he added, referring to the Irishman's 66s in the last two rounds.

"To shoot eight under on the weekend is pretty impressive. It's probably one of the better two rounds that we have seen in a long time."

(Editing by John O'Brien)