Q-SCHOOL AWAITS, BUT BECK'S ATTITUDE PASSES THE TEST.

Byline: Karen Crouse

So much for golf's so-called silly season. Today begins a stressful week for Chip Beck, who paired with John Daly to finish seventh Sunday at the Shark Shootout at Sherwood Country Club.

A mainstay on the PGA Tour since 1979, Beck has to survive six days of qualifying in Miami, starting Wednesday, to earn the privilege of playing a full slate of tour events next year.

If the 108 holes of Q-school didn't already exist, masochists would have to invent it. It's about the most nerve-wracking scenario imaginable for golfers, short of getting caught in bumper-to-bumper traffic, miles from the hospital with a pregnant wife in the passenger seat having contractions so close together they're practically colliding.

If Beck shoots an opening-round 83 this week, as he did in January at the Phoenix Open, he could be feeling the impact well into the new year. Beck, 43, has six children from two marriages to clothe and feed, so of course he'll feel pressure to succeed with every putt.

He has quite a brood to support. But don't expect him to have a life-and-death grip on his clubs this week. Three straight seasons of not making enough on the tour to cover expenses is hard on the bank account but provides one heck of a reality check.

``I really appreciate golf a lot more now,'' said Beck, who has earned more than $6 million since joining the tour after a standout career at Georgia. ``I went through a lot of burnout and ill feelings about myself and the game.

``There were times I didn't know if I was going to be able to come back. So even though I have to qualify this week, I really feel good about where I'm at. My game's really coming along nicely.''

Indeed, Beck carried Daly on his back Sunday. His approach shots were so crisp, the ball stopping inches from the pin on Nos. 12 and 18, Daly could have made the birdie putts without missing a puff on his omnipresent cigarette.

Daly and Beck shot a 13-under-par 59 in the scramble format, the second-lowest score of he day behind the 58 posted by Duffy Waldorf and Glen Day. There were a few people in the gallery with memories as long as the course; they hadn't forgotten Beck once recorded a 59 all by himself - in the third round of a tournament in Las Vegas in October of 1991 - to match the lowest score recorded on the PGA Tour.

``Way to go, Mr. 59,'' one bejeweled woman said by way of greeting Beck after the round.

Beck, who's so cheerful Jim Carrey could have modeled his ``Truman Show'' character after him, replied warmly, ``Thank you for coming out to watch.''

To someone else who screamed, ``We're rooting for you

'' Beck said, ``Have a great day. And think of me (this) week.''

Truth to tell, Beck's mind won't be totally on his task at hand. A part of it will be posted at the bedside of his good friend and swing guru Jim Suttie. While Beck is trying to tame Doral Country Club's course, Suttie, the man he credits for putting his swing and confidence back together, will be undergoing surgery in L.A. to have a heart valve replaced.

Suttie's situation is enough to make a guy step back and re-evaluate a do-or-die putt.

``I've talked to him the last couple of days,'' Beck said. ``We both have big weeks ahead. But what he's facing really puts things in perspective for me.''

Beck started working with Suttie, a biochemist by trade, in early January. At the time, he considered it a good round if he managed to find more than five fairways.

Under Suttie's supervision, Beck slowly smoothed out the kinks in his swing. By June, he was hitting more fairways than spectators. In September, he had a small breakthrough, recording back-to-back top-15 finishes, at the Bell Canadian Open and the B.C. Open.

So for now, Beck's alternate career, in investment banking, is on hold.

There are those who look at Beck's predicament and they don't know what to say to him. It's an awkward situation, like Robert Shapiro having to take the bar exam again or Anthony Hopkins being forced to audition for the sequel to ``Silence of the Lambs.''

Beck makes it easy on everybody. ``I haven't had to go back to qualifying school in 21 years,'' he said. ``So I feel fortunate in that respect.''

With an attitude like that, Beck's already ahead of the field.