Johnson is still making his rounds

CONCORD -- He went out and shot 75 yesterday, and smiled afterward. To be sure, Mark Johnson disliked the number next to his name. But after 18 years of driving a beer truck, he knows shooting 3 over par beats hauling Budweiser across California.

''Absolutely," said Johnson, sitting next to Nashawtuc Country Club's practice green. ''That is not within a doubt."

So Johnson didn't consider his first round of the Bank of America Championship a failure. Although he's nine shots behind leader Leonard Thompson, the Helendale, Calif., native feels fortunate just to be here, to be making a living playing on the Champions Tour. Johnson earned his card by winning the tour's National Qualifying Tournament in November, and in his first season has vaulted to 11th place on the money list, earning $509,118.

''It would take me 15 years to earn that on a beer truck," said Johnson, 51.

Make that another reason Johnson (nickname: Beer Man) felt fine after the subpar first round. No matter how badly he plays, he understands he's living a rekindled dream.

Johnson decided to forgo college and turned pro directly out of high school in 1972, playing mini-tours around Southern California. He wasn't prepared for the fiscal and mental grind of making a living as a small-time golfer.

''I was too young," Johnson said. ''I should have gone to college."

After two years of playing on the mini-tours, Johnson could no longer financially support himself. He gave up professional golf and took a job with H. Olson Distributing in Barstow, Calif., as a driver for Anheuser-Busch.

Days began at 4:30 a.m., when Johnson would arrive at the warehouse and load his truck. His visions of oversized cardboard checks and glory on the PGA Tour had been all but dashed.

''That happens to a lot of guys," said Doug, Johnson's caddie since he joined the Champions Tour, who asked that his last name not be used. ''The difference is, Mark never gave up his passion for the game."

Johnson regained his amateur status and began playing in tournaments. His biggest moment as an amateur came 22 years later, when he won the 1996 California State Amateur title.

At 40, he started entertaining thoughts of the Champions Tour. His employer began noticing his talents and became intrigued. After some deliberation, Johnson became a professional golfer again in 1998, at age 45, to begin training for the Champions Tour.

Sponsored by H. Olson and a handful of local businessmen, he ground out five years on the Canadian Tour and a year on the Nationwide Tour before his victory at Q School.

He also qualified for nine Champions events in 2004, the first of which came in Grand Rapids, Mich. Hitting balls on the range with pros he'd grown up watching and cheering for, he felt nervous.

Those nerves melted away with some encouraging words from Dave Stockton, whom Johnson met while playing against his sons in California in the early '90s. Stockton left a note in his friend's locker, telling him to call if he needed anything. They still play practice rounds together.

As his story spreads, Johnson gains somewhat of a cult following. Shouts of ''Way to go, Beer Man!" cascade from galleries during rounds.

''We get a little bit of the NASCAR crowd," said Doug, wearing a yellow Budweiser cap. ''Which is good."

Johnson embraces the Beer Man persona, even naming his personal website beermangolf.com. He carries a bag with a Michelob Ultra insignia, wears a Michelob cap, and an O'Douls logo on his chest.

Those logos please his sponsors, which Johnson says he wouldn't be here without. They've allowed him to chase his dream, something they had to take a risk on. Since Johnson has no PGA Tour history to fall back on, he has to finish in the top 30 on the money list to retain his card for next year.

So far, so good.

''He's delivered," said Doug.

From a beer truck driver, what else would you expect?