When Geiberger won in Hartford for his first career PGA Tour victory, golf insiders thought that at 31 years old he was on the verge of becoming a top player. He finished 19th on the money list that year, and his future looked bright. However, the combination of a balky putter and injuries have turned his career into a nightmare. He has struggled for the most part just to keep his tour card, finishing 85th on the money list in 2000, 74th in 2001, 113th in 2002, and 111th last year, when a foot injury reduced his playing time to just 16 events.

This year hadn't been much better, as an ailing hip hampered him. He came into Greensboro ranked 144th on the money list. On top of that, Geiberger had a cold, and it got worse over the weekend. Despite all of the problems, he was able to go out on Sunday and play one of the best rounds of his career. He shot 66 on a day when he hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation. He shot up the leaderboard with a 5-under 31 on the front nine, and from there, he was just about on cruise control. He didn't make a single bogey and won by three shots over Michael Allen, another player who was facing the nasty thought of having to return to Q-School as he entered Greensboro 153rd on the money list.

Geiberger's win put him in the record books because his father Al, who played on the PGA Tour for over 25 years and won the 1966 PGA Championship, also won in Greensboro in 1976. So they become the first father-son duo to win the same tournament on the PGA Tour. Tom Morris Sr. and Tom Morris Jr. won the British Open four times apiece, but that happened in the 1860s and '70s, long before there was a PGA Tour.

KEYS TO VICTORY

Brent Geiberger: Geiberger's play was very consistent this week. In three of his four rounds he didn't make a bogey, and he had only two bogeys all week, the least of anyone in the field this week. Geiberger also shined from the fairways, hitting 58 of 72 greens in regulation. This ranked 2nd. What really helped him, though, was that of the 14 greens he missed he was able to get it up and down for par 12 times, which ranked him 3rd in the field.

The most important thing for Geiberger is what he will be doing in November and December. Instead of having to get his game in shape for Q-School, he will be able to relax, get healthy again and get ready to play in 2005 with a trip to Kapalua for the Mercedes Championships.

Geiberger's stats (with rank in parentheses):

Fairways hit: 43 of 56     (T4th)
Driving average: 282.3     (53rd)
Greens hit: 58 of 72     (2nd)
Putts: 115 (28.75 a rd)     (T12th)
Putting breakdown:
0 putt greens: 0
1 putt greens: 29
2 putt greens: 43
3 putt greens: 0
Eagles: 0     
Birdies: 20     (T10th)
Scrambling: 12 of 14 (85.7%)  (3rd)

Scrambling measures how many times a player gets up and down for par or better on the holes where he missed the green in regulation. You can E-mail Sal Johnson at sjohnson@golfonline.com.