ATLANTA, Ga. -- The people cleaning Ben Curtis’ hotel room were in for a bit of a surprise. An accidental trick and not so much a treat, if you will, on this Halloween Tuesday at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

The new father was changing his 6-week-old son Liam’s diaper when the baby’s little foot, covered in some of the contents of his diaper, slipped onto the white duvet cover. Curtis relates the story with a laugh.

“It’s been good. He sleeps five hours at a time during the night,” said Curtis, whose son was born just days after he earned his second victory of the PGA TOUR season. “He’s been good and hasn’t been sick or anything, so we’ve been lucky.”

With the new family member plus two additions to the trophy case, it’s safe to say that 2006 been an exceptionally lucky year for the PGA TOUR pro.

The 29-year-old Kent State alum initially won on TOUR at the 2003 British Open Championship, becoming the first player to win a major in his primary try since Francis Ouimet at the 1913 U.S. Open. With Curtis’ victory came an appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and a visit to the White House, plus TOUR accolades like being named 2003 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year.

It was a quiet next two years, though, and some began to wonder if he would win a tournament again. Curtis didn’t let the speculation get to him, though.

“I didn’t really worry about it,” he said. “I was probably a little blind to it, just didn’t really pay attention to it.”

His 2006 season has quieted those doubters, as he secured not just one but two wins. Curtis first emerged wet but victorious at the rain-drenched Booz Allen Classic, leading the tournament wire-to-wire and sleeping on the lead for five straight nights before finally finishing the tournament on Tuesday morning.

It was his second victory that meant more to him, as Curtis garnered an unexpected win at the 84 LUMBER Classic.

“You look at the golf course and it doesn’t suit me well. You know, it’s a bomber’s paradise, wide-open fairways. So just to be able to win on a course that you wouldn’t think you should be able to compete to win, that’s a big thrill,” said Curtis. His victory there made him the American-born player in his 20s with the most wins on TOUR.

If anything, 2006 has brought increased confidence to the golfer, especially compared to his post-British Open victory level.

“I think getting thrown into the thick of things was maybe a little overwhelming,” said Curtis. “Probably at the time I thought, ‘Ah, I can handle this.’ But I was still young. It was my rookie year on TOUR. I think if that happened now, I think I’d be better prepared.”

Like most golfers, he had his ups and downs, with good weeks coming in the midst of bad months. This year he has also had his share of missed cuts, but he found a way to win and finish well in enough other tournaments to qualify for THE TOUR Championship for the first time.

“It was a great year from start to finish,” he said. “(I) had a lot of solid tournaments, just didn’t put anything together. And then halfway through the year I got a victory, and then a few months later got another one. With little Liam coming along, it’s been fun. This is my dream season.”

That sounds funny coming from a major winner, but this year truly has been Curtis' best on TOUR. He went from 46th on the TOUR money list in 2003 to No. 141 in 2004 and 129th in 2005. This year, he vaulted up to 29th.

It’s also been a good year for Curtis the football fan, since the Columbus, Ohio native is a big fan of No. 1-ranked Ohio State. He also signed a contract in 2004 with Reebok to wear NFL-branded apparel from the team closest to the tournament that he plays each week. He walked around on Tuesday in a black Atlanta Falcons shirt and hat.

As a huge Cleveland Browns fan, it’s almost like Curtis is dressing up in costume each week when he supports the opposing teams. Speaking of that, has the golfer ever sported a clever or creative Halloween costume?

“I was Kermit the Frog one year,” Curtis said, quickly noting that he was very young at the time. He and his wife don’t party much, he added, so it’s been a while since he got into the holiday. Next year it might be a different story, as Liam will be ready to celebrate.

Who knows what the next year will bring in his golf career, as he attempts to surpass his “dream season.” One thing is for certain, though. The season isn’t over yet, and Curtis has a chance this week to make his debut in THE TOUR Championship as memorable as his first British Open attempt.