Begay has his life in balance - Saturday, July 22, 2006

VERNON, N.Y. -- Notah Begay III has his life in order off of the golf course.

Now, the 33-year-old PGA Tour veteran is feeling his game coming together on the course after nearly five years of injury and rehabilitation.

Away from competition, Begay has long been active in promoting health and educational programs for Native American youth through golf and soccer. As the only full-blooded Native American on the PGA Tour, Begay sees it as a responsibility to give back to his community.

Begay's appearance at the B.C. Open presented by Turning Stone Resort this week puts him front and center because of his background, and he's proud to be playing in the tournament.

"It's the realization of a dream come true for me," Begay said. "When I started on tour, I was the only full-blooded Native American on Tour. To see the growth of courses over the last 10 years has brought out the notion that the PGA Tour can play on Native American properties."

Begay shot a 1-under par 71 in the second round Friday and is at 4-under for the tournament in a tie for 23rd after a 69 on Thursday.

On the course, Begay is working to rewrite his golf resume that started with four wins in two years in 1999 and 2000. He hasn't won since then, in large part because of a back injury in late 2000. Begay tore a disc in his lower back. The painful injury kept him off the golf course, and at times off of his feet because it also affected nerves in his hip.

With limited playing time, Begay didn't fare well in tournament play over the next five years. But now his back is better, and has improved to the point where he is able to play and practice again with minimal pain.

The Albuquerque, N.M. native now feels like a rejuvenated player. He is in the midst of a brutal schedule, having played 10 of the last 11 weeks. Begay has divided his time between the Nationwide and PGA Tours. Begay's best finish in that stretch is a tie for ninth at the PGA Buick Championship in Cromwell, Conn. on July 2.

"I put some good rounds together," Begay said. "I've played well the last two weeks, and I was one shot out of making the cut. If I'm playing on the weekend, I can move up in the next two days."

After the good showing at the Buick, in which he earned a season-high $101,828.57, Begay missed the cut the next two weeks at PGA Tour events, Cialis Western Open and John Deere Classic, respectively.

This week is Begay's fourth consecutive tournament, and he's scheduled to play the next five weeks according to his web site (www.notah.com).

"I'm finally healthy and in order to play the game at the professional level, you have to pay your dues," Begay said.

The injury really didn't come at a bad time for Begay, who will be 34 in September. Because of his age, he still has a good number of years left to play competitive golf.

"Fortunately for me, if I was in another major sport at 33 I wouldn't have much of a chance to rejuvenate," he said. "I'm headed to my most productive years. If I can regain my game and my health in the next year, I wouldn't have lost much."