Rich Beem Major Championships | 1 Major

Rich Beem won 1 major championship during their career.

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1994 — Turned professional after playing at New Mexico State University
Mid-1990s — Early career interrupted; worked in Seattle selling car stereos and cell phones before returning to golf after J.P. Hayes won the 1998 Buick Classic
1999 — Breakthrough: Won Kemper Open as a PGA Tour rookie
2002 — Career-defining summer: Won The International in Colorado; two weeks later captured the PGA Championship at Hazeltine, holding off Tiger Woods (who birdied the final four holes) by one stroke
2003 — Reached career-high World Ranking of #16; finished runner-up to Tiger Woods at Western Open
2007 — Made memorable hole-in-one on live TV at Nissan Open's 14th hole, winning a new Altima and celebrating by climbing atop the car
2015 — Joined Sky Sports as television commentator and golf analyst
2020-2022 — Served as color commentator for PGA Tour 2K21 and 2K23 video games

"Bud, Sweat and Tees": His colorful rookie year was chronicled in Alan Shipnuck's book "Bud, Sweat and Tees: A Walk on the Wild Side of the PGA Tour," which profiled his wild lifestyle with caddie Steve Duplantis
One-Hit Wonder: Despite winning the 2002 PGA Championship, Beem never won another PGA Tour event—a rare distinction among major champions
Epic Celebration: After acing the 14th hole at the 2007 Nissan Open on live TV, Beem climbed on top of the new Altima he won, inspired by Peter Jacobsen's 1994 celebration; the moment became a Nissan commercial
Selfless Gesture: In 2015, gave up his sponsor exemption to the UBS Hong Kong Open to allow Ian Poulter to maintain his European Tour membership
Car Stereo Salesman to Major Champion: His journey from selling electronics in Seattle to defeating Tiger Woods at a major is one of golf's great underdog stories
Back Surgery Setback: Underwent surgery in 2010 to repair C6 and C7 vertebrae damage; what was supposed to be a six-week recovery turned into a season-long absence that derailed his playing career
David Duval's Encouragement: Despite missing the cut in 11 of 15 PGA Championships after his 2002 victory, Beem continued competing at the tournament thanks to encouragement from fellow golfer David Duval

Rich Beem