Cook hopes win spurs son in Q School

SAN FRANCISCO - John Cook, winner of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship Sunday at TPC Harding Park, isn't the only golfer in his family competing in an important tournament in November.

Cook's 24-year-old son, Jason, is in the field for the second stage of PGA Tour Q School at Bear Creek GC in Murietta, Calif., Nov. 17-20 after having gotten through first stage Oct. 30.

Jason advanced on the number at Oak Valley GC in Beaumont, Calif., making a birdie on the 471-yard, par-4 18th hole in the fourth round to finish T-18 at one-over 289. "Hopefully he's seen me as some motivation this week to spur him on," John said at Harding Park. "He ended up last week in some tough conditions and birdied the last hole to get in. That's stuff you don't teach."

On the eve of the final round of the Schwab, John watched his son hit balls. "It kind of relaxed me, watching him, and [thinking] how proud we are of our kids, and especially when someone is going through what you did 30-some years ago and you understand what they're trying to work on," Cook said.

Jason is a student of instructor Jamie Mulligan, who has coached John in recent years, but the father hopes his son also picks up some things from him as well. "I hope he pays attention and observes and watches and understands," John said. "We do play a lot together, and I just marvel at some of his shots [he can] hit. They are very much tour quality. Not to put any pressure on him, but the kid can really play. And he's improved leaps and bounds in the last 18 months - it's incredible. I'm there to bounce stuff off of. I was stubborn as a kid, and he's definitely my son."

-- Bill Fields