Notah Begay back on course - Wednesday, December 05, 2007

A typical conversation with a PGA Tour golfer might play out like this:

GOLF . . . GOLF . . . GOLF . . . Played irons well today . . . Putting needs work . . . Great tournament, great field of players . . . Well, Tiger Woods is the greatest because . . . Thanks for your time.

Now let's talk with four-time PGA Tour winner Notah Begay.

GOLF . . . Met the Dutchess of Spain the other day . . . Economic growth . . . Moving to Europe . . . Education of Native Americans . . . Maybe I'll be the governor of New Mexico one day . . . Prisons are dysfunctional . . . Oh yeah, I'm staying at Tiger Woods' house this week.

Not many on the Tour rival the vocal versatility of Begay, who's becoming the Angelina Jolie of the sport -- not for gender or adoption of African children, of course, but for his ambassador-like qualities.

So it should be no surprise that Begay, once perched on top of the golf world but now smudged underneath it because of a seven-year back injury, will play most of next season on the European Tour under a medical exemption.

Thing is, the Native-American golfer is in Orlando this week for the final stage of the Tour Qualifying School at Orange County National. While others fight for their golfing livelihood, Begay is looking for a challenge because he's never earned complete exemption status by finishing in the Q-School's top 25.

Plus, it's always nice to have the luxury of playing in some of the ridiculously pursed Tour events.

At least at this stage of his career, however, Begay is more interested in living on the southern tip of Spain while seeing nine different countries in one season.

This is the rejuvenation of a pain-free man who has been clean from alcohol for seven years, has a child on the way and a wife of almost two years. Perspective shapes him instead of depression that plagued him in his early years.

"I'm at a different place in my life right now," said Begay, 35, who had two DWIs early in his career.

"So I figure I want to experience the atmosphere, and Europe's been ideal for that. Plus I've gotten the opportunity to play with some very successful businessmen overseas."

While most players had a clich� salad for lunch, Begay is anticipating the merging of more global markets.

Most Stanford grads tend to have something intelligent to say, but if Begay's career had reached the heights of his buddy Tiger, the media would have a sound byte of the week reserved for him.

That rise to stardom fizzled quickly after winning four events from 1999-2000. Begay has played in 30 PGA Tour events in the last three years while making less than $200,000.

After a slew of ruptures and repairs of his back, Begay said he's currently pain-free, which means it's time for a legitimate comeback that starts with at least a year on the European Tour.

You can guarantee he'll have more to say once he returns.

"In order to have an opinion on a lot of things, you have to have the experiences," Begay said. "I have a strong opinion about the correctional system because I've been in jail, and it's dysfunctional, a vicious cycle. There's a tremendous amount of backpedaling. There's no rehabilitation going on. It's almost like throwing away trash, and once it's in a dumpster, it's not an issue. It's like how people want to be more ecologically conscious, but we still create the most garbage in the world."

How many athletes would touch that topic? Begay stands for something in an era of robotic no-comments.

Young athletes, especially golfers, are trained to say nothing, Begay said, which can become a societal problem. Players are so focused on playing and listening to public-relations coaches that they become homogenized.

With no hassle or controversy, it's easier that way.

Or is it?

"Why do we appreciate Charles Barkley so much?" Begay said. "Guys like John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors? Because they expressed themselves. Regardless of how many sponsors they lose because of speaking out, they probably pick up money on the back end because they gain sponsors."

With expression typically comes a cause, a passion, and Begay's might involve power ties instead of power drives.

As a spokesperson for Native Americans, Begay said he could eventually see himself running for governor of his homeland New Mexico, which has a large Native American population.

His focal points in campaign would be education, economic stability and improved medical care.

But hey, iron play is more important, right?