It's been a busy 12 months for Rich Beem.
After winning The International over Steve Lowery last year in a
shootout over the final nine holes, Beem stunned the golf world two
weeks later by beating world No. 1 Tiger Woods in the final round to
win the PGA Championship.
Granted, Beem's first major wasn't nearly the shocker that Ben Curtis
pulled off in the British Open. Beem, after all, had won the Kemper
Open back in 1999 before winning The International.
Still, the Beemer taking a major was a jolt. This was a guy who had
a book written about his 1999 season entitled Bud, Sweat and Tees.
But the Beem of 2002 was far different from the Beem of 1999 when
he won the Kemper out of nowhere. And the Beem of 2003 is different
from the Beem who won The International last year.
Back in '99 Beem had little to boast of other than a tie for eighth
in Qualifying School the previous year. In his first full season, Beem
had played in 11 tournaments prior to the Kemper. He missed the cut
in seven of them, including five straight before coming to the TPC
at Avenel. In 31 rounds that year, he had shot in the 60s four times.
Beem simply didn't factor in when people discussed up-and-coming
players on the PGA Tour.
Then Beem shot a 66-67 and followed with 71-70 to win the Kemper.
A high-living, good-time guy, Beem found little additional success
in '99 after his win. He played 12 more tournaments that year; he missed
the cut in eight of them. He did have a fourth-place showing in the
Texas Open, but had difficulty cracking the top 25 in the other three.
In 2000, Beem played in 29 tournaments, missed 16 cuts and withdrew
once. His best effort was a tie for 17th in the Reno-Tahoe Open, a
secondary event that is held the same week as the World Series of Golf.
The $249,881 he earned that season left him 146th spot on the money
list.
It appeared as though Beem might be one of those players who wins
a tournament and then manages to play his way off the tour.
Last year, though, Beem was showing signs that he was getting the
hang of professional golf. And his recent marriage seemed to steady
him also.
At The International, particularly on Sunday, Beem's golf was as
good as it gets, as he ran off seven birdies from the fourth to the
12th holes, then eagled the 17th. It was just enough to hold off Lowery,
who tossed in a pitch-in eagle and a double eagle.
Then came the PGA, where Beem, trailing Justin Leonard by three entering
the final round, suddenly built a five-shot lead. When Woods birdied
the last four holes, the Beemer had won his major a single shot.
Beem said at the PGA that
of all the good things that accrue to a major champion, the most
important "is a different perspective of myself
as a golfer. I think I'm going to have a lot more confidence."
And truthfully, a lot of people wondered if Beem had matured enough
to handle his sudden success.
He has proved that he can.
While he hasn't had a great season thus far in 2003, Beem has worked
at it. He tied for 10th in the Nissan Open on a tough course, tied
for 15th at the Masters and took solo second at the Western Open.
Beem is ranked No. 16 in the world, a pretty lofty perch for a former
cellphone salesman and assistant club pro.
"After it was all said and done, I think in a way I might have helped
other players or even other events, said, 'Hey, listen, if this guy
can do it, holy cow, anybody can do it,'" Beem said recently.
"That may not be the case,
but certainly it gave a lot more guys insight that said, 'listen,
you don't have to be a top-five in the
world to contend in a major.' Anybody can do it. And I'm proof of that.
So I think I probably in some ways inspired some guys a little bit.
And I surprised myself quite a bit."
It's been a pleasant surprise for everybody.
