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PGA Champion Rich Beem Commits To Play in 2003 BellSouth Classic

For Immediate Release:

March 4, 2003

Duluth, GA -- Rich Beem, who won last year's PGA Championship in stunning fashion over Tiger Woods, will play in the 2003 BellSouth Classic which will be contested March 31- April 6 at TPC at Sugarloaf in Duluth, GA. Beem joins Colin Montgomerie, defending champion Retief Goosen, and 141 more of the world's top professionals in the race for a first prize check of $720,000. The 72-hole PGA TOUR event offers a total purse of $4 million. Here are some quick facts on Beem, who is ranked 21st in the world:

• Last year was a break-out season for Beem, his fourth full year on the PGA Tour. His win at the PGA Championship by one-stroke over Tiger Woods was his first major title. He shared the lead through 36 holes with four other players and was three back of Justin Leonard playing in the final pairing on Sunday. With his closing round of 66 he became the first final-round, come-from-behind winner in a major since the 1999 British Open.

• He earned $810,000 for winning The INTERNATIONAL which was more than he had made in any of his previous three seasons on TOUR. He recorded 19 points on Sunday in the Stableford format to come from three back of third-round leader Craig Barlow and defeat Steve Lowery by a stroke. His eagle on the 17th hole offset Lowery's double eagle there later.

• Beem was the first player during the year to win in consecutive starts. He returned to his former residence in Seattle for the WGC-NEC Invitational, and rebounded from an opening 3-over-par 74 to finish tied for 6th, closing with three matching rounds of 67. In three August starts, he banked $1,950,00 in earnings.

• He ranked seventh on the 2002 money list with season earnings of $2,938.365. His previous career high had been $610,555 during his rookie year in 1999.

• He earned his first PGA TOUR victory at the Kemper Open in only his 12th start on TOUR. He opened with a 66 for a one-stroke lead, which he extended to three with a second-round 67. A third-round 71 left him tied for the lead with Tommy Armour III. A closing 70 produced a one-stroke victory over Bradley Hughes and Bill Glasson worth $450,000. Prior to winning the Kemper Open, his biggest first-place check was the $5,000 he earned for winning the 1998 Conrad Hilton Open in Socorro, NM.

• As an amateur, he was a member of the New Mexico State University golf team that is now coached by his father, Larry Beem.

• So far in five 2003 events, Beem's best finish is a tie for 10th at the Nissan Open in Los Angeles.

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