HARRISON, N.Y. (Aug. 24, 2007) - A number of things have gone wrong with PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem’s first FedEx Cup. One thing that could not be working out better is Rich Beem’s emergence as the playoffs Cinderella at Westchester Country Club.

Beem - who might as well have relocated to Iraq for all he’s done since stealing the 2002 PGA Championship from Tiger Woods - is still the funniest golfer on Tour (sorry Boo Weekley, you’re close). Only no one hears your jokes and riffs when you’re in 134th place. That’s where Beem stood in the 144-golfer FedEx Cup standings heading into the Barclays.

After a 68 today to follow his first round 64, Beem is 10-under now though, the only one really putting any pressure on K.J. Choi who’s sprinted out to 12-under after a morning 66, four shots clear of every other golfer but Beem. Every playoffs needs a Valparaiso or Golden State Warriors and the Cup now has one in the wisecracking Beem.

Heck, he’s such a longshot he needs at least a 12th-place finish this week just to guarantee himself a spot in the second playoff tournament next week. This pressure only seems to be relaxing Beem.

He opened his press conference by singing Happy Birthday to himself, yelling at one point “Happy Birthday dear Beemer!” (yes he calls himself Beemer in Deion Sanders style - though funnier). And darn if a few hardened dozy sports writers didn’t jump right in and start singing too.

Later, Beem told a hilarious story about an infomercial incident that had absolutely nothing to do with golf.

“You guys want to hear a funny story about infomercials?” Beem said. “A good friend of mine comes home late, wasn’t really tired, so he sits down in his barcalounger to watch some channels. He gets on this infomercial all about memory. Listen to these tapes at night while you sleep, it’s going to increase your memory, this and that.

“So he’s ‘God dang, I really need those tapes, my memory is so bad. I’ve got to call and get me some of those.’ Gets on the phone, calls and orders the tapes. They come in the mail, he puts them on the shelf. A couple of months later he’s sitting down in the barcalounger watching the TV. Memory tapes comes on, he’s ‘Got to get me some of those. My memory’s so bad.’

“He ordered them twice.”

And Beem was only getting started. Finchem should be giving him back rubs in the locker room (OK, scary image), hoping the comic stays hot with his putter.

Remember, for daily stories, notebooks and columns from this first FedEx Cup tournament, stay tuned to the front of WorldGolf.com. Tomorrow morning, you’ll hear how Choi’s own infomercial story is helping him dominate.

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