Admittedly, like the rest of the Ameican golf-watching public, I was rooting for Jason Gore on Sunday, and was swept-up in the moment after his birdie at 18 on Saturday. In retrospect it was probably for the better he didn't win, because Jason Gore won a major once before, at Hazeltine; his name was Rich Beem.
At the time, the Beemer winning the 2002 PGA was a victory for every journeyman pro, a golfer who appeared to have been plucked from a barstool and thrust into fame. His pseudo-dance on 18 had everyone in stitches, and was a great conclusion to an exciting tournament, highlighted by his bomb for birdie on 16.
However, post PGA the Beemer was everywhere and abused his 15 minutes of fame. From gatherings at his local Texas clubhouse on the Golf Channel, where he personally took the time to euphorically "interview" everyone who had supported him, who often couldn't muster more than a 'soieeeeee', to the Hawaiian event where he wore Hawaiian shirts and some miserable excuse for a golf shoe, the Beemer had overstayed his welcome. Today, the positive output of the Beemer's victory are the Beem/Curtis/Micheel "even a blind squirrel..." pairings at PGA Tour events.
Awesome win by Michael Campbell, who displayed the best golf of the week, and exhibited the shotmaking on Sunday I have seen at a major (save David Toms at this years Accenture Match Play) in years.
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