Masters Insider: Rich Beem

INTERVIEW WITH RICH BEEM

Not many golfers can say they’ve withstood the pressure of a Sunday charge by Tiger Woods at a major, but Rich Beem can.

Beem, 44, won the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazel­tine, shooting 68 in the final round to nip Woods by one shot.

The three-time PGA Tour winner is in Augusta this week working for CBS Sports. He is handling announcer duties for Featured Group 2, which can be seen on DirecTV and cbssports.com.

One player Beem got to cover Fri­day was Jordan Spieth, who set the Masters Tournament scoring record for 36 holes with rounds of 64 and 66.

“It was about as flawless and as perfectly executed nine holes as I’ve ever seen,” Beem said.

Beem’s advice to Spieth would be to keep it simple.

“You’ve got to just enjoy yourself on the golf course,” he said. “That’s all I was doing at the PGA. I wasn’t playing with (Woods) in the final round, and I never looked at the leaderboard, I was just seeing where I was in the tournament. It never entered my mind to think about him because I was having too much fun playing good golf.”

Beem acknowledged that can be hard to do, particularly at the Masters.

“If you think about it, the field is similar to some of the big events they play on the PGA Tour,” he said. “If you keep it simple and don’t get wrapped up in what it all means, it’s wonderful.”

Beem played the course Monday with Martin Kay­mer and two-time Masters winner Bernhard Langer.

“I had a wonderful time and I was also really glad I didn’t have to come do it in the tournament,” Beem said with a laugh.

Beem played at Augusta National Golf Club from 2003 to 2007, and his best finish was a tie for 15th.

Six golfers have birdied the 18th hole in the final round to win the Masters: Art Wall, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Sandy Lyle, Mark O’Meara and Phil Mickelson.

THE LIST

5 Jim Nantz, 2004, on Phil Mickelson’s birdie at the 18th to win his first major: “Is it his time? Yes – at long last!”

4 Ben Wright, 1975, on the 15th hole, during a shootout for the ages: “What a tremendous putt by Tom Weiskopf, and that is going to be evil music ringing in (Jack) Nicklaus’ ears.”

3 Henry Longhurst, 1975, on Nicklaus’ 40-foot birdie putt at 16: “Oh, did you ever see one like that? I think that’s one of the greatest putts I’ve ever seen in my life. Back on the tee, Weiskopf has to take it this time, having dished it out on the hole before. I never saw such a putt in my life.”

2 Verne Lundquist, 2005, on Tiger Woods’ chip-in for birdie at 16: “Oh my goodness … Oh wow … In your life have you seen anything like that?”

1 Lundquist, 1986, on Nicklaus’ birdie at 17: “Maybe … yes sir!”