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Beck forced to go down memory lane

Chip Beck still has memories of that day at The Belfry

There is no escaping the events of 1993 for Chip Beck and Barry Lane.

Their singles match at the Ryder Cup in England that year was pivotal in the United States’ 15-13 win at The Belfry.

Three down after 13 holes, Beck rallied to eventually win by one hole, staying unbeaten for the week after he and John Cook beat the European pairing of Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie in the Saturday afternoon four-balls.

Beck and Lane will occupy the same golf course again this weekend, when they compete in the Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship at Turtle Hill, and will inevitably be asked about that day almost 23 years ago.

“People want to know about the Ryder Cup all the time,” said Beck, who played in three Ryder Cups. “I have always enjoyed being part of the Ryder Cup and I haven’t tired of [talking about] that at all.

“It has kind of kept me in the game and has kept friendships alive.”

Beck points to his relationship with Lane as evidence of that, and said even through his troubles on the course, which forced Beck to quit the PGA Tour in 1994, Lane had been there in support.

A four-times winner on the PGA Tour and one of only a handful of golfers in the history of the game to shoot a 59 at a tour event, Beck spent ten years in the golfing wilderness when a run of 46 consecutive missed cuts forced him out of the game.

The Masters runner-up went from playing the Merrill Lynch shootout at Mid Ocean Club in 1994, where he earned $32,000 for finishing eighth, to selling insurance in Chicago because “he wasn’t making any money playing golf”.

That has changed somewhat over the past couple of years, with the pair playing alongside each other on the Champions Tour, and Beck said the friendship had come “full circle”.

He said: “We’ve played a lot of golf together and become really good friends since that time. Barry has helped me and I really appreciate his kindness to me over the last ten to 15 years.

“[The Ryder Cup] wasn’t a fun experience for him, but he’s been an absolute gentleman in handling me, and I really appreciate the fact that he doesn’t hold it [defeat] against me and make me feel bad about it for the rest of my life.”

Beck does not play as much competitively as he did, having now lost his tour status. He joined Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples, Florida, last September, as a playing professional and ambassador for the club he represented on the tour.

For Beck, playing this week will be about seeing old friends, making new ones and being part of an event he believes will be “a great experience”.

None of which means that he will not try to put one over on Lane and the rest of the field if given the opportunity.

“You want to play well and represent yourself well, there is no doubt about that,” Beck said. “I’m not going to tell you it’s not different; it is always the same.

“When you’re a competitor, that’s just the nature of the game. I’m going to put my best foot forward, enjoy the competition and hopefully make some friends along the way. That’s what I look forward to.”