Before 2002, Rich Beem was best known for his role in the incredible golf book, "Bud, Sweat, & Tees" by Alan Shipnuck. Beem had won the Kemper Open in 1999, but nothing really of notoriety until '02, when he reeled off an International victory, which was followed by an improbable PGA Championship win that memorably included a little shimmy when his final putt dropped.

You remember that PGA. He beat a guy named Tiger Woods, who famously told his caddy Steve Williams something to the degree of, "If we can birdie these last four holes we'll win." Woods then Tiger-ishly pulled it off, only to lose by a shot to Beem.

Those were Beem's good days. Since then, mostly bad.

Rich Beem Took It Upon Himself to Find Sponsors and It Worked originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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