And when Beem three-putted for bogey, he could finally exhale with a 10-under 278 for 72 holes that allowed him to claim victory over the greatest player in the world. Only a four-putt could force a playoff with Woods, already in the scorer's trailer. Yet, on the front of the green in two at the 457-yard finishing hole, Beem's work was still not done. It was an eerily similar response to what he enjoyed three years ago in the Washington suburbs, when he prevailed in the '99 Kemper Open at Avenel as a tour rookie ranked 209th in the world at the time, an event that changed his life forever. His birdie again gave him a three-shot lead over the hard-charging Woods, who willed himself to birdie his final four holes but lost by a single shot.Īs Beem walked up the 18th fairway, he was bathed in the raucous cheers of appreciation for this underdog of all underdogs from five- and six-deep galleries all around. Seemingly unflappable all day playing in the final group, Beem earned that honor by making a stunning eagle at the 597-yard 11th hole to open a three-shot advantage, then an equally outlandish 40-foot birdie putt at the signature 402-yard 16th "after I gagged a 9-iron" to the green. When PGA of America President Jack Connelly began reading off previous winners of this event - Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus among many others - Beem just kept shaking his head and smiling in disbelief that his name soon would be engraved on the Wanamaker Trophy alongside such revered titans of the game. "I told all the reporters last night I had no expectations to win today obviously, this is rather unexpected," a beaming Beem said at the trophy presentation following his 4-under-par 68 in the final round of his fourth career major. And Daly never had to worry that year about a stalking Tiger Woods pulling to within a shot of the lead after 10 holes and three back with two to go as Beem had to endure this glorious afternoon of no wind and high drama at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Only totally unknown John Daly's triumph in the '91 PGA at Crooked Stick outside Indianapolis could top this performance. A free spirit with a sandbagger's sweet smile who needs several swigs of Pepto-Bismol before every round just to get to the first tee, Beem learned today that he had all the right stuff to become one of the most improbable winners of this event in the history of the game. On the eve of the final round of the 84th PGA Championship, Rich Beem had insisted he did not know if he had the intestinal fortitude to actually win his first major title.
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