Relaxed Beem embraces latest opportunity at Bob Hope Classic

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Rich Beem is healthy again and ready to make his 2011 debut at the Bob Hope Classic.

Every so often, things just fall into Rich Beem's lap.

Batting practice with the Minnesota Twins. A chance to try his hand at broadcasting last year at the PGA Championship. A movie cameo last summer -- as himself.

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And now? In three weeks, he'll be the Mulligan Man at a sports celebrity skills challenge sponsored by Children's Miracle Network in Hawaii. Two-man teams from the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB. One golfer to take their mulligans for them.

"They miss the green, they can call in the mulligan man,'' Beem said. "Each team has two mulligans, so I'm the guy who comes in and hits the shot when a team needs me.

Sounds like fun, right? It was until Beem ran into Bo Jackson on the range at the Bob Hope Classic this week and found out the NFL team was Jackson and Jerome Bettis.

"I must say I'm a little scared,'' Beemer chuckled. ". . .if I hit a bad shot for them when I'm the mulligan man, I'm going to be absolutely scared as you-know-what. I don't want Bo Jackson or Jerome Bettis upset with me because I would be like a toothpick in their hands and they could break me in about six different spots and nobody would miss me.''

Ah, Beemer. Fun times. He takes life in stride. And, no matter what, finds more than a bit of humor in everything -- including a long road back from last year's surgery to repair a herniated disk between the C6 and C7 vertebrae.

While he was rehabbing, Beemer sat alongside Vince Cellini at the PGA. Before that, he spent three days playing himself on the set of "Seven Days in Utopia," a film starring Robert Duvall, Lucas Black and recent Golden Globe winner Melissa Leo, that is set for release in June.

"I'm not one to shy away,'' he laughed. "Don't threaten me with a good time."

"I'm sure there are a lot of other guys who have had a lot more incredible opportunities, but I'll tell you what, I'll take my opportunities eight days a week and twice on Sundays because they're all special to me.''

This latest one will come after Beem's first three-week run of PGA TOUR events since the start of the 2010 season when he played four in a row beginning at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He makes his 2011 debut at the Bob Hope Classic this week and, he said, things are finally looking really good.

Beem struggled last fall when he did come back, missing four cuts -- two on the Nationwide Tour, two on the TOUR. And even though he did play 27 good holes at last year's Children's Miracle Network Classic, Beemer struggled to close. The lack of tournament rounds cost the 2002 PGA champion.

"I played absolutely, tragically bad those last nine holes and I kind of got what I deserved,'' he said.

Then he went to work. In the gym and on the course, playing a lot of golf with his buddies in Austin. He saw a noticeable increase in strength over a six-week period and his distance off the tee is back.

"I feel right now I'm hitting the ball and playing golf as well as I have in six or seven years,'' he said. "I've gotten a lot done without trying to get a lot done. ''

He also started eating better. Not cutting anything out, mind you. Rather he's gone for moderation. Something most everyone finds a necessity when they turn 40.

"The nights are probably a little shorter than they used to be,'' he said. "Trying to eat a little better, too, but as much as we're on the road, every so often a pizza and beer back at the hotel is a damn good call.''

So it's a bit less pasta, maybe one beer now. And a chance to get things back on track.

Beemer has smiled through a career that's been dotted with injuries, some "mental scarring'', and some trips in and out of the top 125. Now, with that disk healed, he's playing on a major medical exemption, which means he has 17 events to earn in the ballpark of $700,000 and get back on track.

"One of my main goals is to play my way into THE PLAYERS and try to qualify for the U.S. Open and British Open,'' he said. "And if fabulous things would happen, ... the Masters, as well. But we'll take one step at a time.''

That first step will be tomorrow at the Jack Nicklaus course at PGA West. Although he loves the celebrity rotation -- did you expect anything less -- he opted out this year to concentrate on his game.

"I wanted to be a little more quiet,'' said Beem, whose recent celebrity pairings included Eagles' guitarist Don Felder and Jackson. "I wanted to get into a good rhythm. And, not saying that I don't in the celebrity rotation, but there's a lot more going on in the celebrity rotation. Next year, I'll be back in it. I just needed to take a year off.''

Even so, he was hanging out with Jackson on the range and checked in with John O'Hurley. Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell is a buddy, too, and the Cubs' Kevin Millar got him into the Hawaii sports celebrity event.

The courses, he said, are perfect. And zn 80-degree, no-wind day is so better than chilly, rainy Texas this week.

"It's like playing in a dome,'' he said. "You get spoiled out here, no doubt.''

Next week, he'll head to the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, then on to the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where he has two top-20s the last two years.

"Historically, that's probably one of my worst events,'' he said. "Funny, but it's always been my favorite event; I always enjoyed it. But I always figured out a way to screw it up (and miss the cut). Until the last two years when I found a little something.''

Just what he'll find tomorrow? He hopes birdies. But he knows there will be a few nerves.

"There are going to be some demons and some butterflies floating around, but if you don't have them, go do something else,'' he said. "I think every great golfer likes having a little nervousness. It helps you focus.''

On the next shot. The next hole. The next tournament. And, if you're Beemer, that next amazing-can't-turn-it-down opportunity that plops in this lap.

Melanie Hauser is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM and can be reached at melaniehauser@gmail.com. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR. Follow her on Twitter @melaniehauser.