(Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) – Chip Beck, a four-time winner on the PGA TOUR and three-time Ryder Cup performer, celebrates his 50th birthday today and will make his Champions Tour debut later this week at the Constellation Energy Classic outside Baltimore, MD.
"I’m just so thankful to have this opportunity to get back out and play competitively again" said Beck. "I’m really looking forward to the Champions Tour so I can get back to what I really love to do, and that’s playing competitive golf."
A full-time member of the PGA TOUR from 1979-1999, Beck earned over $6.2 million in his career. The former Georgia Bulldog enjoyed his most lucrative year on the PGA TOUR in 1988, winning twice (Los Angeles Open, USF&G Classic), capturing the Vardon Trophy for low scoring average and finishing second on the official money list to Curtis Strange with over $900,000 in earnings.
Beck compiled a 6-2-1 record in his three Ryder Cup appearances, 1989, 1991 and 1993. His 3-0 mark in singles matches included a 1993 victory over Barry Lane in which he rallied from a three-hold deficit to win the match 1-up, and clinch the Cup. Beck also finished runner-up to Bernhard Langer in the 1993 Masters.
The Lake Forest, IL resident also became the second player in PGA TOUR history to break 60, firing a 13-under-par 59 in the third round of the 1991 Las Vegas Invitational. Former Champions Tour member Al Geiberger was the first player to break 60 in a PGA TOUR event when he shot 59 in the third round of the 1977 Memphis Classic.
Beck has played a partial Nationwide Tour schedule from 2001-2006, recording six top-10 finishes. He also recorded the first ace on a par-4 in Nationwide Tour history (second in PGA TOUR history) during the second round of the 2002 Omaha Classic.
In his only PGA TOUR start in 2006, Beck notched a T66 finish at the B.C. Open in July.
In addition to playing periodically on the Nationwide Tour, Beck has also spent the last five years working as a partner with Mentor Financial, a financial services firm in suburban Chicago.
Beck will enjoy full playing privileges on the Champions Tour by virtue of his top-70 standing on the all-time money list. He currently stands 64th with $6,311,267 earned in his career.
Contact:
Jeff Adams
Director of Public Relations
Champions Tour
Tel: 904-273-3397
Email: jadams@pgatourhq.com
