What set Beem apart from a long list of surprising winners was the guy chasing him.Īll year long, proud champions like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer have complained that too many players wilt when they see Woods' name on the leaderboard. ''He had nothing to lose - like I felt.'' ''I think this win is similar to John's win in that he just went out and freewheeled it,'' Beem said. Beem played a practice round with him on Tuesday. One of those was John Daly, who won in 1991 as the ninth alternate. Beem, who finished at 10-under 278, became the 12th player to make the PGA Championship his first major victory. The season's final major has seen this before. Woods closed with a 67, matching the best score of the day.Ĭhris Riley shot a 70 and was third at 283, his best finish in a major and good for a trip to the Masters next year. ''I went ahead and birdied out, and we didn't win,'' Woods said. He had told caddie Steve Williams that four birdies on the final four holes would be enough to win the tournament. Woods watched the final putt on a television in the scoring trailer. Unwilling to give up after back-to-back bogeys, Woods birdied the final four holes to keep alive his hopes of becoming the first player to win the three U.S. I was a lot more in control of my emotions than I ever have been under that kind of pressure.'' ''I'm still surprised at myself,'' Beem said. When he rapped home the final putt, Beem raised his arms and took a bow, then jogged over and planted a kiss on the Wanamker Trophy. His only three-putt of the week came on the 18th when it didn't matter. On Sunday, he stared down Woods during a crucial stretch of holes and never flinched when Woods put together a spectacular charge.īeem played without fear and was rewarded with a 4-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Woods. Seven years ago, he was selling car stereos and cell phones for $7 an hour in Seattle. ''I probably looked like a total idiot out there, but you know what? I won,'' Beem said. 16 as Woods was whipping the Hazeltine gallery into a frenzy with four birdies on the final four holes.Īnd yes, that was Beem doing a shimmy shake on the 18th green after finishing off his stunning victory in the final major of the year. It was Beem who made a 35-foot birdie putt on No.
Beem himself had said that guys like him aren't supposed to win majors.īut it was Beem who nailed a 5-wood within 6 feet for an eagle on the 11th hole to seize control. No one expected a former stereo salesman to stand up against the world's best player in the stifling Sunday pressure of a major championship. Rich Beem figured he had nothing to lose.
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