Beem fends off Tiger to win first major
Steve Keating
Rich Beem, who briefly quit golf to sell car stereos and cell phones, held off a determined final round charge from a relentless Tiger Woods on Sunday to become the unlikely winner of the U.S. PGA championship.
Beem, whose best finish in three previous majors was 70th at the 1999 PGA, held his nerve over a tense 18 final holes at the Hazeltine National Golf Club carding a final round four-under 68 to finish the tournament at 10-under 278 -- one shot ahead of a stalking Woods.
The 31-year-old Texan becomes the 12th player in the last 15 years to make the PGA championship their first major victory.
"Yesterday I didn't know if I had what it took to win it," said Beem, after registering his third career win. "Obviously today I found out that I do and I'm still surprised
"I'm elated beyond belief, I found out where to put the pressure, I know how to control it better now so I can feed off it.
"I was a lot more control of my emotions today than I ever have been.
"To win any tournament is unbelievable...I don't know when this is going to sink in.
"Right now I'm so flabbergasted you have no idea."
Bidding to become the first player to win three majors in a single season twice, Woods, wearing his traditional Sunday red, overcame a shaky start to mount a stirring charge.
After wiping four strokes off a five shot deficit on the front nine, Woods and Beem engaged in a scintillating battle down the stretch, with the world number one fighting until the bitter end by closing out his round with four straight birdies.
"Honestly, I was too concerned with myself than I was with Tiger," said Beem. "I don't want to sound pompous but I was trying to control what I was doing and not control what he was doing."
TOO LATE
But Woods, who has never come from behind to win a major, left his final challenge a bit late as the championship swung on two holes.
An eagle on the par-five 11th and a birdie on 13 combined with a bogey by Woods on 14 gave Beem a five-shot lead that he refused to squander.
A bogey on 14 and a Woods' birdie on 16 reduced Beem's lead to three.
But with Tiger mounting one last challenge, Beem snuffed out the threat with dazzling 40-foot birdie putt on 16, celebrating by throwing ball into the huge crowd.
The Texan stepped up to his ball on the 18th green leading by three and needing to drain a seven-foot putt in two to prevent a playoff.
He watched his first putt drift by the cup by 18 inches then tapped in for the biggest victory of his career and second in succession following a win at the International two weeks ago.
"I was on 15, and I just said, get this ball in play, lets make four here," said Woods. "I said, if we birdie in we'll win this tournament...lets suck it up and get it done.
"I needed to make birdies, I needed to make something happen.
"I gave it absolutely everything I have, that's the way I play each and every time I tee it up
"Rich went out there and played great today.
"That's awfully impressive going out there and shooting a round like that, when he absolutely has to do it."
PERFECT CONDITIONS
In sharp contrast to the fierce winds that howled across the monstrous 7,360-yard layout during Saturday's third round, the golfers were greeted by near perfect, sunny, calm conditions on Sunday.
Justin Leonard, who began the round with a three-shot lead on Beem and a five-stroke edge over Woods, watched his advantage disappear in a string of bogeys, including a double-bogey on eight finishing tied for fourth at four-under.
A bogey by Leonard on the par-four second and a fist-pumping birdie from Woods on the par-four fourth cut the deficit to three shots, and with the world number one's competitive fires now clearly stoked the chase was on.
Leonard looked to get his shot back with a birdie on five but at almost exactly the same moment just ahead of him, Woods was draining a 15-foot putt on six.
Another bogey from Leonard on six and a tap-in birdie by Woods on seven and the season's final major was down to a single shot.
But Leonard was not ready to quit, immediately answering with a birdie of his own on seven.
Any momentum gained, however, was quickly lost when Leonard's tee shot from the eighth found the water, resulting in a double bogey.
While much of the spotlight was focused on the battle between Woods and Leonard, Beem was quietly sneaking to the top of the leaderboard carding three birdies and a bogey on the front nine to take a one shot lead.
