Major winner explains PGA Championship withdrawal: "I got very humbled"

Former PGA Championship winner Rich Beem has opened up on his decision to skip the second men's major of the year. 

Beem was eligible to compete at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina this week as a past champion. 

The professional golfer turned Sky Sports pundit held off a challenge from Tiger Woods to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy in 2002.

The PGA Championship has been the only major Beem has competed in since 2009. 

He has not made a cut since the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black. 

The 54-year-old told talkSPORT he was only part of the 156-man field at Valhalla last year because his wife and children wanted him to participate. 

"I missed Oak Hill [in 2023] because I knew that I couldn't handle it, and I only played Valhalla last year because my family asked me to," Beem said.  

"My wife and kids wanted me to go there. I learned my lesson and got very humbled, finishing dead last after 36 holes. 

"As a professional golfer, even though I'm a professional commentator now, that sucked. 

"I toyed with the idea of playing this year, but I knew months ago that I wasn't going to be ready for it."

Beem told the radio station he's also battling a shoulder injury. 

It is not goodbye forever, though, as Beemer insisted he will play one final time in 2027 when the PGA Championship heads to Frisco in Texas. 

"I will hopefully have a lot of friends and family out there rooting me on," Beem said. 

Beem is not the only former champion to withdraw. 

John Daly previously revealed that he would rather play a senior PGA Tour event. 

Former Masters champ Vijay Singh is also eligible but has made the same decision as Daly and will tee it up at the Regions Traditions instead. 

The 2025 PGA Championship gets underway on Thursday.

GolfMagic will be bringing you live text updates.