INTERVIEW-Golf-Great expectations for Curtis after rousing 2008

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LOS ANGELES, Jan 5 (Reuters) - A sizzling run of form in the last six months of 2008 has given former British Open champion Ben Curtis every reason to eye this year with relish.

The American failed to add another title to his resume but produced four top-10s in his last seven starts on the PGA Tour, including a tie for seventh at the British Open and a runner-up spot at the PGA Championship.

He finished fifth at the elite season-ending Tour Championship, climbing to 17th in the Tour's final money list with career-high earnings of $2.615 million.

"If I could always play like that, like the last six months of the year, I couldn't wish for more," Curtis, 31, told Reuters.

"Every week I was playing well. Even if I missed the cut, it was close to being really good. My form was great.

"Overall, though, I can still get better and I need to improve. Every time I left the golf course, I always felt like there were one or two shots I could have done better."

Asked to pinpoint the weakest area of his game, the three-times PGA Tour winner said he did not hit his iron shots as well as he wanted to.

"I'd leave three or four out there but my short game was good enough that I got away with it.