In terms of surprising major winners and stories of success that nobody saw coming, Rich Beem’s win at the 2002 PGA Championship is right up there.
Now a familiar face on our TV screens as one of golf’s most respected analysts, it’s easy to forget that Beem forged a career for himself on the PGA Tour and ultimately, won himself a major.
That major win came in 2002 when out of nowhere, Beem found himself fighting off Tiger Woods to win.
In the end, he came out on top but what stands out in this story for Beem is that at more than one point in his career, golf was very nearly an afterthought.
Rich Beem’s struggle to even hold a PGA Tour card
A lot of golfers battle with demons in their game and the reality is that many will consider just giving it up at some point in their career, especially if things aren’t going well.
For Rich Beem, the first setback came right at the start of his career when, under pressure from his father, he simply didn’t get on with the game and let outside distractions take over.
However, in 1998, Beem decided to have another crack at things and fought his way through Q-school to earn his PGA Tour card. A win at the Kemper Open on his debut season secured his card for another two years but his best was yet to come.
Beem once again found himself in danger of losing his card at the end of 2001 and needing a top ten at the Michelob Championship, he somehow managed it to secure his spot for the 2002 season.
How Rich Beem fought off Tiger Woods to win the 2002 PGA Championship
With Beem only just keeping hold of his TOUR card for 2002, going into the PGA Championship at Hazeltine he was very much considered a non-factor.
However, a second round 66 saw Beem sit top of the leaderboard and after he followed it up with a 72 in round three, he was just three back of the leader, Justin Leonard.
Indeed, while Leonard fell away, Beem just kept on making shots and eventually he found himself battling it out with a certain Tiger Woods for supremacy.
Woods went round for his final round in typical fashion, shooting 67 and making birdie after birdie to increase the pressure, including four in a row on the back nine to post a clubhouse lead of nine-under.
Nevertheless, Beem held his nerve and made a huge putt on 16 before making par on 17.
Beem then got himself onto the green in two on the 18th and, with the luxury of having three putts to win, simply got the ball to the hole before tapping in to secure wild celebrations.
The American never won a professional golf tournament again and in the following years, made the cut just eight times in more than 25 major appearances.
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