Woods' buddy Begay misses the cut

HE may be a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, but Notah Begay III is better known as Tiger Woods' roommate at Stanford University in the early '90s.

Not that he minds.

After all, how many people can say that they danced on 1.5 metre-tall speakers with the world's No 1 golfer to attract the ladies at a fraternity party?

New Mexico native Begay, 34, has been buddies with Woods for over 20 years.

'Tiger is a hard worker and very talented, and he has stayed the same. He handles his success very well,' said the golfer yesterday at the Clariden Leu Singapore Masters.

'We still maintain a great friendship.'

It did not matter that Woods, the US Junior Amateur Champion at age 15, was already a star during their days at Stanford.

Begay, who is here for the first time, treated him normally, showing him the way around the campus. They studied and partied together.

Their room was always tidy, thanks to the 12-time Major winner.

'Tiger is a neat guy. He likes to have his things in order - and that's the way he plays his golf,' said Begay.

'He gets the job done every time.'

Begay has created his fair share of headlines too.

The 1.8m tall, 88kg golfer is the only full-blooded Native American in the PGA Tour's 39-year history.

He picked up golf at age six and turned professional in 1995. To date, he has amassed over US$5 million (S$7.6 million) in career earnings.

In 2000, he was a member of the US team who beat the Rest of the World in the Presidents Cup.

He played in tandem with Woods and compiled a 3-2 record.

He is also known for his straight drives on the greens - and his wayward drive off it.

In January 2000, he was arrested for drink driving, and served seven days in jail.

He said: 'It was a learning experience. I was young, made some bad decisions and paid for them.'

He spent most of his jail term on the golf course, as part of the jail's Work Release Programme.

Individuals were allowed to go to work each day and report to the jail after work.

'I was glad my job was golf,' he said.

'Jail is not a good place for anybody. I learnt my lesson - I haven't visited my friends in there since.'

That year was also the last time he tasted victory, at the Canon Great Hartford Open in Cromwell, Connecticut.

At the Clariden Leu Singapore Masters yesterday, he extended his barren streak.

He carded an even-par 72 for a two-day total of one-over 145. He missed the cut, set at two under.

After quitting pro golf at 45, he plans to develop some businesses and work with the Native American tribes.

Will he persuade Woods to visit Singapore?

'I'll definitely tell him Singapore is a great place, but I don't have anything to do with his schedule,' said Begay.

'If I did, I'd be a much more popular guy.'