Father, Like Son -- Dream Comes True For Brent Geiberger, Who Talked His Dad Into Playing Sahalee

REDMOND - Brent Geiberger slapped the ball ever so lightly as he had thousands of times before while practicing putts.

This time, though, Geiberger's ball landed at the foot of history 2 yards away.

His father's foot.

Mr. 59 himself, Al Geiberger.

On a day when golfing eras intersected at the Sahalee Country Club, the Geibergers became the first father-and-son combination to play together at a PGA Championship.

Although simply a practice session for tomorrow's first round, the historical significance was not lost on the Geibergers.

"Every once in a while, I hit a bad shot, I'd look back and say, `Hey wait a minute, treasure this moment,' " said Al Geiberger, who lives in Woodinville. "With all these people, it's a rare moment to be playing with your son in a major PGA championship."

Brent said: "It's a big thrill to go on the same fairway with him. I always thought about that as a kid."

Geiberger, 60, is the oldest player in this week's field. He qualified with an exemption as a past champion - the 1966 PGA Championship. Although his aim is true on the fairways, he had no intention of playing.

Brent planted the idea while the two played a round at Sahalee two years ago.

"No, I'll come out and watch," he told his son.

Brent persisted. They quickly reached an agreement. If the younger Geiberger, 30, qualified, the old man would make an appearance for the first time since 1985.

Al thought it was a good deal. His son was playing on the minor-league Nike Tour and not only needed to qualify for the regular PGA circuit but earn an estimated $500,000 to be guaranteed a place in this event. Brent earned the right to play this week based on his ranking (62nd) on the PGA money list.

"So I made a quick decision," Al said. " `Sure, if you qualify for the PGA, I'll come back and exercise my exemption.' Then we come to find out nobody had ever done it."

Geiberger appreciates the weight of golf history, having been linked to his round of 59 since the 1977 Memphis Classic, when he became the first player to break 60 in a PGA Tour event. Only Chip Beck, in 1991, has matched that 59.

"But this is another special one," he said of sharing the moment with Brent, his stepson of 26 years.

"He is pretty much the only father I have known," Brent said.

Being a diplomatic father, Geiberger didn't want to forget his other sons. So, he made sure to mention John, who coached Pepperdine University to an NCAA golf championship last year, Brent's first year on the regular tour. Also, Brian, 21, who is just starting to golf actively, and Allen, 11, who could be the Geiberger of the golfing future.

Brent, though, doesn't place too much stock in a name. The Tour is pressure-packed enough without worrying about lineage. The senior Geiberger understands enough to keep his distance.

"He doesn't really say too much," Brent said, while playing 13 holes with father on a sun-kissed afternoon. "I pick up a lot by watching. He doesn't have to say too much. When playing golf, you have to learn a lot for yourself. There's only so much you can say."

Al said Brent has learned the art of patience from years of watching him. It's something he tried to instill without being pushy.

"When he caddied for me, I made a 9 on a hole and I kept plugging away and finished pretty good in the tournament," Al recalled. "He always remembered that."

Brent also remembered his dad's advice to stay healthy. Recuperating from a hip injury, Brent was saying how good he feels when his father suddenly interjected, "Join me on the Senior Tour."

Replied Brent: "I've got 20 years till that. I just got out here."

So far, Al likes what he has seen. Geiberger thinks Brent will develop into a serious contender because it has taken him so long to reach the Tour. "Brent is just kind of nibbling along, building up his confidence and feeling that he belongs on the Tour," Al said.

Brent plans to follow his father because they have opposite tee times. Brent starts play tomorrow at 7:16 a.m. Al plays at 12:04 p.m.

But if they were paired together?

"We weren't so sure they wouldn't put us together," Al said. "I didn't know if I wanted that or not."

Said Brent: "He would be a nervous wreck, I'm sure."

No doubt about that.