Beeming with pride

Q-school alum makes his presence felt on PGA Tour

Eighteen players who made it through 108 holes of stomach churning last year at Q-school earned their PGA Tour cards, and what did that get them? A return trip to what many consider to be the toughest six days in golf.

The reality of Q-school is that six days is not nearly as difficult as the 10 months that follow.

The final stage of PGA Tour qualifying started Wednesday at Orange County National in Orlando, Fla., and most of the 166 players would do well to remember the words of Rich Beem. He was asked what his goal was after earning his tour card in 1998.

"Keep my job," Beem said, pausing after each word.

"Are you kidding?" he continued. "I was so lost out there, I didn't even figure out until after the tournament in Hawaii that they gave us free food. I ate hot dogs at that tent between the first and 10th tee all week. I never expected to be where I am now. I wanted to keep my job, or at least say that I played on the PGA Tour for a year."

Next year will be his 10th straight season on tour. Not bad for a guy who was selling car stereos in Seattle.

Beem is one example of why Q-school remains as meaningful today as its first year in 1965.

If nothing else, a PGA Tour card is a license to dream.

Beem eventually found player dining in the months after Q-school, and drinks were on the house when he won the Kemper Open. He was one of three Q-school grads from the class of '98 who were PGA Tour winners the next season.

One of his favorite keepsakes, however, is still in his wallet. It's the stub of his scorecard from his final round at Q-school.

"It's the only stub I've ever kept," Beem said.

That stub represents a tour card, and that gave Beem a chance. That's all any of these guys can ask.