By Dave Tindall

Two police officers in Ayr, Scotland will be having a little chuckle to themselves following Rich Beem's amazing USPGA triumph on Sunday.

Three years ago Beem crossed the Atlantic to play in his first Open Championship at Carnoustie. Making the most of his trip to the `home of golf', Beem and caddie Steve Duplantis stopped off at Turnberry where, in some style, they acquainted themselves with the local brew.

Staggering out of the pub, Beem and Duplantis climbed into their rental truck and, after an hour of trying to sober up, lost patience and decided to drive home. Unfortunately two of Ayr's finest had followed them out and duly pounced.

Beem, who was caught at the wheel, was taken to the local police station and later fined and told not to drive in Scotland for 18 months.

Not the behaviour you'd associate with today's players but then again Beem is no ordinary golfer.

Believe it or not, if you go into your local Waterstones and peruse the golf section you'll find a book devoted to Rich Beem.

It was three years ago that Sports Illustrated writer Alan Shipnuck took the bold step of writing a book about the virtually unknown golfer from Texas.

“Bud, Sweat, & Tees” - a "walk on the wild side of the PGA Tour" - casts Beem as the hero in a rags-to-riches tale which disproves the theory that all modern-day pros don't drink, work out and want to be like Tiger.

Back in 1995 Beem was selling car stereos and cell phones for $7 an hour. Despite his natural talent for golf, Beem had almost given up on the game. But watching Paul Stankowski, his buddy from college days in Texas, win the Bellsouth Classic led Beem to tell his best friend: “I feel like playing golf again.”

After making it through Q-School, Beem persuaded fellow members at El Paso Country Club in Texas to pay his expenses on Tour for the first two years in return for future winnings.

That deal seemed to favour Beem as he struggled early on but then fate brought him together with caddie Steve Duplantis. In their very first tournament, Beem, a 500/1 shot, scored one of the most improbable triumphs in golf history by winning the Kemper Open.

Given his flair for the unexpected it was perhaps not totally unbelievable that Beem should create an even bigger upset by winning a major at only the fourth time of asking.

I certainly had some emotional interest, but unfortunately not a financial one, when watching Beem beat arguably the strongest field ever assembled for a major on Sunday night.

In many ways his victory was reminiscent of John Daly's at this same tournament in 1991. Eleven years ago alternate Daly, a virtual unknown, had driven through the night to take his place at the 11th hour after Nick Price had withdrawn. Incredibly Daly blew the field away and led from start to finish.

To regular US golf followers, Beem's victory wasn't as unexpected as he had captured the Sprint International only two weeks ago. But that victory was his first since his breakthrough win at the Kemper Open and in between there had been virtually nothing.

Beem will take extra satisfaction from seeing Woods finish as runner-up. Whereas Jack Nicklaus actually had more second places than victories in majors – an amazing statistic given that he won 18 – Tiger is supposed only to trade in victories.

But despite throwing a best-of-the-day 67 at him, including birdies at the last four holes, Beem wouldn't be reeled in.

And what a great reminder that is of the fabulous uncertainty of sport.

While we marvel at some of Tiger's shots – his 202-yard three-iron out of a bunker to the 18th on Saturday was one of the best ever seen – it's far more interesting to see Woods trying to pull off miracles, as he did on Sunday, than grinding his way to a three or four shot win.

Beem's wonderful triumph shows that if you've got the guts and self-belief to take Tiger on, you may just come out on top.

Perhaps some of the robots who try to emulate Tiger's perfection should listen to the words of Rich Beem's father.

Larry Beem, a club pro, says in “Bud, Sweat, & Tees': “Golf to me is an art form. It's a cross between Baryshnikov and Salvador Dali. It takes the discipline, the strength, the grace, the beauty of the finest ballet, but also demands the eye of the surrealist painter. You play golf through your eyes, you have to interpret with your senses. The only way to play is with your heart, and not your damn brain.”

It seemed Rich Beem had taken those words to heart in his final round on Sunday.

And what a fantastic reward came his way.