Curtis has one eye on Kentucky while competing in Boston

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

NORTON, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Ben Curtis is paying more attention to the Ryder Cup than this week's $7 million Deutsche Bank Championship, 21 days before the biennial team competition starts in Kentucky.

The 31-year-old American will be making his Cup debut against Europe in Louisville next month and he is eager to represent his country with distinction.

"I'm thinking more about the Ryder Cup than this, to be honest with you," Curtis told reporters after charging into contention with a six-under-par 65 in Friday's opening round.

"I'm trying to get my game ready for that. Being my first Ryder Cup, I want to play well and represent our country to the best of my ability.

"If we win, that would be great; if not, at least I go there and had a great time knowing that I gave it my all. That's all you can do."

Curtis, surprise winner of the 2003 British Open, has been one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour over the last two months.

He has posted top-seven finishes in three of his last four starts, including a tie for second at the U.S. PGA Championship which sealed his place on the Ryder Cup team.

CUP FOCUS

"My game is in pretty good form so if I try to focus on being 100 percent for the Ryder Cup, it doesn't mean that I'm going to play bad these (next few) weeks," Curtis said after ending the first round four shots behind leader Mike Weir.

"It just means that maybe my focus is more down the road."

The three-times PGA Tour winner cannot recall producing a better stretch of form than he has since sharing seventh spot in the British Open at Royal Birkdale in mid-July.

"Not since I've been out here, no," Curtis said. "When I was an amateur, I was pretty consistent but I think all the work that I put in during the off-season and with changing the swing a little bit has made a huge difference.

"I'm playing well and my goal this week was just to make the cut because I've had great success here in the past.

"So I figured if I make the cut, it'll be a win for me here this week," he added with a broad smile.

The Ryder Cup takes place at Valhalla Golf Club from September 19-21.

(Editing by John O'Brien)