Chequered past makes Beem’s win all the brighter

THE new PGA champion may not be exactly a John Daly type character but he has tendencies in that direction which is probably one reason why the fans at Hazeltine took Rich Beem so much to their hearts.

He likes a drink he's been convicted of driving under the influence during 1999 British Open at Carnoustie and in 1999 was the subject of a book called Blood, Sweat and Tears: A Walk On the Wild Side, which was a look at a rookie's year on the tour. Written by well-known Sports Illustrated journalist Alan Shipnuck, it depicted Beem as a party man who consumed too much alcohol.

Beem didn't much like it at the time (there are whispers the chief source of his annoyance is that he didn't receive as much as a thank you from the author) but is now more philosophical about it, simply commenting: "That's what I was like at the time. But I'm a different person now. I'm a better person. I have a much more stable life off the golf course."