For all the inspiration from players like McNeill, Curtis, Beem and Glover, Q-school has far more stories of failure.
Such is the nature of golf.
It has been proven the Nationwide Tour offers better experience and a higher success rate. According to PGA Tour research, 40 percent of Nationwide Tour graduates since 1991 have kept their cards, compared with 30 percent from Q-school. Major champions who paid their dues in the minor leagues include Tom Lehman, David Toms, Jim Furyk, David Duval and Shaun Micheel.
"Unless you have experience, those guys from the Nationwide Tour have a huge advantage," Beem said.
Still, it all starts with a dream.
After he won the Kemper Open in 1999, Beem was in the final year of his two-year exemption when he made eagle on the 17th hole to win the International. A week later, he shot 68 in the final round at Hazeltine to hold off a furious charge from Tiger Woods and win the 2002 PGA Championship, a career-defining victory.
All those memories, and one of his favorite keepsakes is in his wallet. It's the stub of his scorecard from the final round at Q-school, when Beem shot 66 to tie for eighth and earn his ticket to the PGA Tour.
"It's the only stub I've ever kept," Beem said.
That stub represents a tour card, and that gave Beem a chance. That's all any of these guys can ask.
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