Nothing for granted - Thursday, July 05, 2007

BETHESDA, Md. -- He won twice in 1999 and twice more in 2000. He was a member of the Presidents Cup squad. In his late 20s, the future was so promising.

But there are no gimmes in this cruel game, especially when it comes to health. It's the one handicap that can't be cured by David Leadbetter, Dave Pelz or all the shrinks from Pinehurst to Pebble Beach.

Notah Begay III knows. He knows it too well. The back first started flaring up in 2001, and it has been an issue, off and on, ever since. The latest injury came eight weeks ago, which means he'll undergo surgery for a herniated disc in October. It never ends. He hasn't had a full healthy year since 2000, which, not coincidentally, was the last time he finished in the top 100 on the money list.

Yet, on a cloudy Thursday afternoon at Congressional, there was Begay, bad back and all, fighting for every yard, every advantage he could get. He's not about to give up, and why should he? This is a guy who grew up in a New Mexico reservation, who saved change so he could buy a bucket of range balls. He's been through worse, though it may not seem that way right now. After a while, the confidence suffers. It has no choice.

I caught up with Notah just after he started his back nine. There were some good moments and some bad moments, which, I suppose can describe just about every single round. He hit a few long and wondrous drives, but also some wary approaches. In the end, he shot a 3-over 73 and is in danger of missing the cut.

Yet however he were to fare on this particular day, I couldn't help but wonder whether Begay is merely another in the crowded fraternity of top players who, for one reason or another, disappear forever from center stage. They may make cameo appearances over the years, even putting together a magical round that allows us (and perhaps them) to rekindle dreams of past glory, but, for the most part, are never again who they once were. (Of course, neither are we, but we never played golf for a living.)

It doesn't seem to happen the same way in other sports. The slide doesn't seem quite as severe, as humiliating. In golf, there are numerous examples of greats losing their game, sometimes for reasons that are never fully explained. Look at David Duval. He was No. 1 in the world back in 1999. He's only 35, and it's fair to wonder whether he'll ever win again.

Last year, Begay, who was Tiger Woods’ teammate at Stanford, appeared in 11 events on the Nationwide Tour. This year, he has teed it up over in Europe. But they have good players over there too. He's made the cut only three times in six starts, his best finish a tie for 31st in the Spanish Open.

Now it’s time to give the PGA Tour a chance again, hoping he can regain his card.

On Thursday, Begay was in the same group with John Daly. Daly has been far from outstanding in recent years, but it doesn't matter. John Daly is a brand. He makes news on and off the course because, well, he's John Daly. Not many players do exclusive interviews with The Golf Channel. John Daly does.

But what about Notah Begay? Will he make news again?

It would be a tremendously uplifting story if he were to come back. Begay has given so much to his Native-American community. He established a foundation and is co-sponsoring a high school golf team on the Navajo reservation. No matter his troubles, he hasn't forgotten his roots.

The odds are not on his side. If the back keeps acting up, it's hard to imagine Begay, as determined as he is, sticking with this game into his late 30s and 40s.

I hope his peers have taken a close look at Begay's difficulties and realize how fortunate they have been. Forget the missed putts, the rounds that became 71 instead of 68. They are living their dream in good health, and that's far from automatic.