New car for happy 'ace' Beem

American Rich Beem vaulted into contention for the Nissan Open after winning a brand-new car with an ace and celebrating in unusual fashion.

Beem, the 2002 PGA champion at Hazeltine, holed out at the par-three 14th with a seven-iron from 177 yards on his way to a six-under-par 65 in the third round.

After watching the ball bounce into the cup, the three-times PGA Tour winner threw his arms skywards before darting behind the tee box and clambering onto the roof of his prize, a shiny red 2007 Nissan Altima.

"I just had to do it," a smiling Beem told reporters after finishing on 11-under 202, two shots behind leader Phil Mickelson.

"How many times do you have a chance to get a hole-in-one and win a car? Then I'm thinking: 'I just won a car and it's going to cost me an awful lot in the bar later on'.

"I tell you what, though, the top of that car was pretty warm, and the back of it is a little scratched up from my shoes."

Beem, who has not won on the PGA Tour since his surprise victory at the PGA Championship, said he borrowed the idea of celebrating in style from fellow American Peter Jacobsen.