Cameron Beckman had already filled out his application for qualifying school next year. Even then, he was still thinking of quitting the game altogether.
At 447 in the world rankings and an injury-ravaged season, the 38-year-old was seriously considering his options for the future, golfing or otherwise.
As it turned out, a tap-in for par helped to shape his future, at least for the next two years. That putt, in a play-off against Kevin Sutherland, gave him victory at the Frys.com Open in Scottsdale, Arizona and earned him a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.
It also earned him US$900,000 and, suddenly, the future doesn’t look so bleak. Beckman said in an AP article:
“It’s just been a tough year. I honestly was thinking about quitting the game. That’s how bad I felt. I can’t explain to you how good I feel right now. I don’t know what it was and why I did it, but I just felt good all day. I sat down with my wife and said, `What do you think?’ I honestly was just trying to finish in the top 150 so I’d get to the qualifying school finals.â€
Beckman won the tournament on the second play-off hole after finishing tied with Sutherland in regulation, having made a stunning comeback to force extra holes.
He was four shots adrift of Sutherland after nine holes but fought back with birdies on five of the next seven holes.
Beckman closed with a seven-under-par 63 for a total of 18-under 262. Sutherland finished with a 66 to finish tied with Beckman while Matthew Goggin was alone on third with 263 after his closing 63.
Seven-under 63 proved a popular closing score with Mike Weir signing off his card with it as he ended on 266, tied for fourth with J.J. Henry.
Meanwhile, Sergio Garcia won for the first time on the European Tour in three years when he triumphed at the Castello Masters Costa Azahar.
Garcia, who dedicated his victory to ailing countryman Seve Ballesteros, shot a four-under-par 67 in the final round for a total of 20-under 264 and a three-stroke victory over Sweden’s Peter Hedblom, who closed with a 66.
Two shots further back was another Swede, Alexander Noren, who finished on 65 for his 269.
Englishmen Simon Dyson and David Lynn and Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen shared third place on 270, all three signing off with 69s.
While it’s easy to empathize with Cameron Beckman on being uncertain about the future, it’s hard to feel too sorry for him when you realize what type of money these guys are playing for. $900,000 is a lot of money.
Thanks,
Bill
In Mexico we have a saying that goes like this “even for the smallest chapel there is a big celebration”. Golf rewards everybody, but you must be patient and work hard. I don´t recall the players name a the moment, but I recall his first victory came after a winless liftetime in the PGA and quite a few years in the Champions Tour. But it was worth it, and it came at the best moment, and the money too.