Who's who: Al Geiberger

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Who's who: Al Geiberger

  • Name:

    Allen Lee "Al" Geiberger Sr.
  • Also known as:

    Mr 59
  • Country:

    USA
  • Born:

    Sept 1, 1937 in Red Bluff, Tehama County, California.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1959

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): US PGA Championship (1966). Ryder Cup player (1967, '75). Total professional wins (30), including PGA Tour (11), Japan Tour (1) and Senior PGA Tour (10).

Did you know?

During his successful PGA Tour career Geiberger earned the nickname 'Mr 59.' It was in the second round of the 1977 Memphis Classic played at the Colonial Country Club just outside Memphis, that Geiberger recorded the first ever score of 59 in a PGA Tour event. His momentous round included an eagle, 11 birdies and six pars.

Geiberger's son Brent also became a PGA Tour player.

Top tournaments won by Al Geiberger

2000
America
209 (-7)
$138,000
Georgia-Pacific

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

209 (-7)

Prize money

$138,000

Title sponsor

Georgia-Pacific

Played as the Georgia-Pacific Super Seniors Championship (Nov 3-5; unofficial Snr PGA Tour event for 60+ age group; played as part of the season-ending Senior Tour Championship). Geiberger (USA) beat Jim Albus (USA) at the second playoff hole. [TPC Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina].

1996
America
202 (-14)
$90,000
IntelliNet

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

202 (-14)

Prize money

$90,000

Title sponsor

IntelliNet

Played as the Greater Naples IntelliNet Challenge (Feb 9-11). Second-placed Isao Aoki (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind Al Geiberger (USA), who recorded the last of his ten Senior PGA Tour victories. [Classics course, Lely Resort, Naples, FL].

1993
America
198 (-12)
$75,000
GTE

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

198 (-12)

Prize money

$75,000

Title sponsor

GTE

Played as the GTE West Classic. Second-placed George Archer (USA) and Isao Aoki (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind Geiberger (USA). [Ojai Valley Inn & CC, Ojai, nr Ventura, California].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

$52,500

Title sponsor

Infiniti

Played as the Infiniti Senior Tournament Of Champions (Jan 7-10; Senior PGA Tour season-opener). Second-placed Jim Dent (USA) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Al Geiberger (USA). [North course, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, Calif. Now known as Champions course].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

282 (-6)

Prize money

$52,500

Title sponsor

Infiniti

Played as the Infiniti Senior Tournament Of Champions (Jan 9-12; Senior PGA Tour season-opener). Second-placed Chi Chi Rodriguez (PR/USA) and defending champion Bruce Crampton (Aus) finished 3 shots behind Al Geiberger (USA). [North course, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, Calif. Now known as Champions course].

1991
America
Kings Island
203 (-10)
$90,000
Kroger

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Venue

Kings Island

Score

203 (-10)

Prize money

$90,000

Title sponsor

Kroger

Played as the Kroger Senior Classic (July 5-7). Second-placed Larry Laoretti (USA) finished 1 shot behind Geiberger (USA). [Golf Ctr at Kings Island, Mason, Ohio].

1989
America
Onion Creek
251 (-29)
$60,000
Liberty Mutual

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Venue

Onion Creek

Score

251 (-29)

Prize money

$60,000

Title sponsor

Liberty Mutual

Played as the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (unofficial two-man better-ball team event). Second-placed Bob Charles (NZ) & Bruce Devlin (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Al Geiberger (USA) & Harold Henning (RSA). [Onion Creek Club, Austin, Texas].

1989
America
Inglewood GC, WA
204 (-12)
$52,500
GTE

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Venue

Inglewood GC, WA

Score

204 (-12)

Prize money

$52,500

Title sponsor

GTE

Played as the GTE Northwest Classic. Second-placed Frank Beard (USA) finished 3 shots behind Geiberger (USA). [Inglewood GC, Kenmore, nr Seattle, Washington].

1988
America
Hillcrest GC, AZ
199 (-17)
$33,750
Del E. Webb

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Venue

Hillcrest GC, AZ

Score

199 (-17)

Prize money

$33,750

Title sponsor

Del E. Webb

Played as The Pointe/Del E. Webb Arizona Classic (March 18-20). Second-placed Orville Moody (USA) finished 1 shot behind Geiberger (USA). [Hillcrest GC, Sun City West, Phoenix, AZ].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

209 (-4)

Prize money

$37,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Hilton Head Seniors International (Oct 16-18). Tour rookie Geiberger (USA) beat Jim Ferree (USA) with a birdie at the second playoff hole. Geiberger recorded his second Snr PGA Tour; the first came just two weeks earlier. [Harbour Town Links, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head, SC].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

203 (-13)

Prize money

$37,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Las Vegas Senior Classic (Oct 23-25). Second-placed Chi Chi Rodriguez (PR/USA) finished 4 shots behind Tour rookie Geiberger (USA), who recorded his third Snr PGA Tour win, all coming in the space of four weeks. [Wynn Las Vegas, Nevada; at the time known as Desert Inn CC].

1987
America
Tanglewood, NC
206 (-4)
$135,000
Vantage

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Venue

Tanglewood, NC

Score

206 (-4)

Prize money

$135,000

Title sponsor

Vantage

Played as the inaugural Vantage Championship (Oct 2-4). Second-placed Dave Hill (USA) finished 2 shots behind Tour rookie Geiberger (USA), who recorded his first Snr PGA Tour win. [Championship course, Tanglewood Golf, Clemmons, nr Winston-Salem, NC].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

274 (-6)

Prize money

$54,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Colonial National Invitation (May 17-20). Second-placed Don January (USA) and Gene Littler (USA) finished 1 shot behind Al Geiberger (USA), who recorded the last of his 11 PGA Tour wins. [Colonial CC, Ft Worth, TX].

1977
America
Colonial CC, Tenn
273 (-15)
$40,000
Danny Thomas

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Venue

Colonial CC, Tenn

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

$40,000

Title sponsor

Danny Thomas

Played as the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic (June 9-12). Second-placed Jerry McGee (USA) and Gary Player (RSA) finished 2 shots behind Geiberger (USA), who recorded his tenth PGA Tour win. Geiberger posted the first ever sub-60 round in a PGA Tour event, with a 13-under par 59 in the second round. [South course, Colonial CC, Cordova, nr Memphis, TN].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

288 (+4)

Prize money

$40,000

Title sponsor

WGA

Played as the Western Open (June 24-27). Second-placed Joe Porter (USA) finished 1 shot behind Al Geiberger (USA). [Butler National GC, Oak Brook, IL].

1976
America
268 (-16)
$46,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

268 (-16)

Prize money

$46,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Greater Greensboro Open (April 1-4). Second-placed Lee Trevino (USA) finished 2 shots behind Geiberger (USA). [Sedgefield CC, Greensboro, NC].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

270 (-10)

Prize money

$50,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tournament Players Championship (Aug 21-24). Second-placed Dave Stockton (USA) finished 3 shots behind Geiberger (USA). [Colonial CC, Ft Worth, TX].

1975
America
277 (-11)
$40,000
MONY

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

$40,000

Title sponsor

MONY

Played as the MONY Tournament of Champions (April 24-27). Geiberger (USA) beat Gary Player (RSA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [North course, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, Calif. Now known as Champions course].

1974
America
273 (-11)
$27,000
Sahara Hotel

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

273 (-11)

Prize money

$27,000

Title sponsor

Sahara Hotel

Played as the Sahara Invitational (Oct 3-6). Second-placed Jerry Heard (USA), Wally Armstrong (USA), Dave Hill (USA) and his younger brother Mike Hill (USA) finished 3 shots behind Al Geiberger (USA). [Las Vegas National GC, Las Vegas, NV; at the time known as Sahara-Nevada CC; originally the Stardust CC].

1973
Japan
Hashimoto CC
218 (+2)
US$17,857
x

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Venue

Hashimoto CC

Score

218 (+2)

Prize money

US$17,857

Title sponsor

x

Played as the United States-Japan Tournament (Nov 23-25; Japan Tr event; individual low score winner). Second-placed Takashi Murakami (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind Geiberger (USA), who recorded his first and only Japan Tour win. [Hashimoto CC, Hashimoto, Wakayama, Japan].

1966
Majors
280 (E)
$25,000
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

280 (E)

Prize money

$25,000

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (48th) (July 21-24). Second-placed Dudley Wysong (USA) finished 4 shots behind Geiberger (USA), who recorded his first and only major championship win. [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].

1965
America
280 (E)
$20,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Score

280 (E)

Prize money

$20,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the American Golf Classic (Aug 26-29). Second-placed Arnold Palmer (USA) finished 4 shots behind Al Geiberger (USA). [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].

1963
America
Almaden G&CC
277 (-11)
$3,500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Venue

Almaden G&CC

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

$3,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Almaden Open (Oct 31-Nov 3; PGA Tour event). Second-placed E.J. "Dutch" Harrison (USA) and Dick Lotz (USA) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Al Geiberger (USA), who recorded his second PGA Tour win. [Almaden CC, San Jose, CA; now called Almaden G&CC].

1962
America
Almaden G&CC
273 (-15)
$1,200
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Venue

Almaden G&CC

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

$1,200

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Almaden Open (Nov 8-11; non-PGA Tour event, predominantly played by pros based on the West Coast). Second-placed Charlie Sifford (USA) finished 5 shots behind Al Geiberger (USA). [Almaden CC, San Jose, CA; now called Almaden G&CC].

1962
America
Valle Arriba GC
278 (-2)
$1,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Geiberger, Al

Venue

Valle Arriba GC

Score

278 (-2)

Prize money

$1,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Caracas Open (Caribbean tour event). Won by Geiberger (USA) by 1 shot. [Valle Arriba GC, Caracas, Venezuela].

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