Insider: The old birdie-machine Beck is back

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Chip Beck's putting is among the best on the Champions Tour this season, and good scores have followed.

At his best, Chip Beck is a birdie machine. Nobody shoots 59 without having a rapport with birdies.

Beck is also known for his optimistic view of all things.

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But when putts aren't falling and the golf game is on tilt, it's hard to be upbeat, even for somebody as normally buoyant as Beck.

It's time to welcome back the old Chip Beck. The birdies are flying, the game is thriving and Beck's outlook is encouraging.

Beck celebrated his 55th birthday Monday en route to Korea for this week's Songdo IBD Championship. He was eager to revisit the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea. That's what happens when fortunes turn. Beck is on a nice run with back-to-back top 10 finishes on the Champions Tour for the first time since 2006, his rookie season.

In his most recent tournament, Beck birdied four of the last five holes to finish third at the Boeing Classic. A week earlier, he shot a final round 65 at Westchester Country Club, the low Sunday score, to tie for sixth at the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship, his first career top 10 in a Champions Tour major.

And, yes, Beck said. It feels good. Very good.

Beck won four times on the PGA TOUR after an All-American career at the University of Georgia. He spent 40 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings in 1988 and 1989, and won the Vardon Trophy in '88. He's a three-time Ryder Cup player who made an impact every time he played. He was runner-up at the 1993 Masters and twice at the U.S. Open, in 1986 and 1989.

In 1991, Beck became only the second golfer (joining Al Geiberger) to shoot 59, at the Las Vegas Invitational. His round included 13 birdies. The 59 came only days after the Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island where Beck was on the team representing the victorious United States.

What happened on the greens at Pete Dye's Ocean Course didn't stay in South Carolina. It resonated all the way across the country in Las Vegas.

"The greens at the Ocean Course were so undulating, hard, you couldn't get the ball close," Beck said. "You had 30-footers all day. The greens broke two or three different ways."

That's not how it was at Sunrise Golf Club for the Las Vegas Invitational.

Beck's first putt in the historic third round was a 60-footer. It hit the middle of the cup like a laser beam.

"The hole looked like a washbucket after that," Beck recalled on the eve of his trip to Korea.

Beck is back in a similar mode these days. Birdies are beginning to fall and that has re-energized his game.

This year, Beck is averaging 28.73 putts a round to rank No. 7 on the Champions Tour. That's compared to 29.85 putts and a No. 57 ranking in 2010 and 30.19 (71st) in 2009.

His putting average this year is 1.721 -- No. 6 on the Champions Tour. Measure that against 1.811/60th in 2010 and 1.835/65th in 2009.

And those numbers translate into scores. He has gone from 57th in scoring average two years ago to 28th this year at 70.44. Beck's birdie numbers: 4.27 per round this year for 14th best, up from 3.11 and 60th in 2009. He has a total of 222 birdies already this year, combined to 176 all of last year.

"What has happened, to be able to make more putts just gives you a sense of, 'Wow, something good is going to happen.' In the last three tournaments I've made more birdies than anybody in the field," Beck said. "I'm not passing judgment on my putting, whether it's good or bad. Just give yourself an opportunity to make putts. I was just patient, like a good poker play, I just felt I would get my licks in."

Beck credits the improved putting to his instructor, Dr. Jim Suttie.

"I am making progress," Beck said. "My stroke was outside, across the line, and more important I was moving forward on the stroke. Doc (Suttie) said I needed a horizontal hinge with the right hand."

Schwab Cup

Mark Calcavecchia made a big move in winning the Boeing Classic, taking over second in the season-long points race. Standings

The changes provided immediate relief for his putting and when Beck started to hit the ball better about a month ago, everything began to click. He thanks Suttie for the progress. In 1999, Beck's game had broken down and he was contemplating other ways to make a living.

"He rebuilt my game," Beck said. "He knew more about how to put a golf swing together than any guy I've ever been around and he gave me the opportunity to play the Champions Tour. Without his expertise and guidance I couldn't have done it. I was selling insurance, figured my career was over even though I still enjoyed the game."

Beck lost his confidence but not his will or desire. With Suttie's help, he started putting the pieces back. The road back included playing on the Nationwide Tour in preparation for the senior circuit.

Beck played in the inaugural New Songdo City event in 2010. He tied for 23rd on the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea layout.

"I really enjoyed the (Korea) experience," Beck said. "It's a fascinating place to be."

Beck's golf game is in a pretty good place these days, too.