May 28—TULSA — After quickly lining up the putt, Brandt Jobe made his stroke.

The ball trickled down the slope and to the left. As it started slowing down, it tumbled into the cup, bringing applause from spectators surrounding the ninth green. After a poor pitch shot, Jobe’s putt was his final shot of the day, finishing with a strong par.

Jobe had a busy Thursday. He fired a 1-over 71 in the opening round of the 81st KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in the morning. However, he didn’t stay at the course long following his round. Jobe hopped in a car, drove down the turnpike and back to Oklahoma City, where his son, Jackson, one of the top prospects in the upcoming MLB Draft, was graduating from Heritage Hall.

“I got lucky,” Brandt said. “We were hoping and praying for an early Thursday tee time and got it.”

Brandt had the second tee time on the 10th hole Thursday morning, and he took advantage of prime conditions.

The morning wave played under mainly overcast skies, and the winds were light. Jobe birdied the par-5 13th hole, but he carded con secutive bogeys on Nos. 18 and 1. He recovered on the par-4 fourth with a good wedge shot and birdie putt to get back to even.

He dropped a stroke at the par-3 sixth after hitting his tee shot in the bunker then missing his par putt. Birdie putts narrowly missed on Nos. 7 and 8 before his finishing par save at the ninth.

Shortly after speaking with the media, Jobe said a couple hellos to those on the putting green before hurrying to the parking lot.

“If I ended up getting a late tee time, I would have had to withdraw,” Brandt said. “You’ve got to watch (your kids) graduate high school. They only do it once and they’re going to move on, so I was going to be there.”

Brandt said he’s also thankful the Senior PGA Championship was happening in his home state so he had an opportunity to play.

Jackson won the Class 4A baseball championship with Heritage Hall two weeks ago in Shawnee. He continues to impress his father, who has had success of his own on the biggest stages.

“It’s kind of mind-boggling, your 18-year-old son is going to (get drafted),” Brandt said. “He had a pretty incredible year, and he’s worked hard.”

Brandt said he had made the trip back and forth from Oklahoma City to Southern Hills three times this week, so one more wasn’t going to hurt.

Following his strong finish, it’s safe to say the latest trip will be a little sweeter.

Only nine players who teed off in the morning wave shot under par. The afternoon wave was unable to finish after a weather delay halted play at 3:48 p.m.

Thursday evening will be a good break from competition for Brandt, but he’s looking forward to building on his opening round.

“I had a solid round, so that’s a positive,” Brandt said. “Obviously wish it was a little better, but good start to a tough week.”