| |
Breaking out of his Shell Jeff Maggert a heavy favorite at Houston Open
Posted: Monday April 26, 1999 06:56 PM
By Benjamin Berman, CNN/SI ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- Every player has a favorite course. Some have a place they like to consider their home course. Jeff Maggert's may be one in the same. After a swing through the Carolinas, the PGA Tour heads South this week for the Shell Houston Open. The TPC in The Woodlands, Texas -- the town Maggert calls home -- has seen its share of close finishes. And so has Maggert. This week's Player to Watch, Maggert has finished second at the Shell Houston Open three times in the last five years. Last year, he lost to David Duval by one stroke. In that event, Maggert used a third round 64 to get into the final pairing on Sunday, but his 71 wasn't enough as Duval fired a 64 to win the title. That heartache was nothing new for Maggert at Shell. In 1996 he lost to Mark Brooks in a playoff after finishing at 274. In 1994, he tied for second, three strokes back of Mike Heinen's 272. Even with no victories to show for his superb play, this may be Maggert's favorite event. After all, it fits his reputation ... the old rep anyway.
Heading into 1999, Maggert had finished in the Top 30 in earnings on the PGA Tour six of the last seven years and finished in the Top 10 at the four majors nine times. He has been on the last two United States Ryder Cup teams and the 1994 Presidents Cup squad. He was also second among rookies in earnings in 1991 behind John Daly. That's quite a portfolio for someone who had been tagged with the label of "bridesmaid." Before the 1999 season, Maggert had just one win on Tour, and that came at the rain-stricken 1993 Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic. Despite his success as a pro, his small trophy case was how he was recognized. This year though, perhaps Jeff Maggert knows best what The Artist (Prince to you and me) meant by "Party like it's 1999." His four Top 10 finishes this year are highlighted by his second career victory at the WGC Andersen Consulting Match Play Championships. As the No. 24 seed, Maggert overcame the hype of Duval and Tiger Woods to win the match play tournament over Andrew Magee in extra holes and capture the $1 million first place check. The big payday propelled him up the money list, but it wasn't a fluke. Maggert has maintained his play throughout the season and remains No. 2 in 1999 earnings with $1,514,960. Maggert is No. 16 in all-around statistics, including No. 4 in driving accuracy, No. 9 in birdies, No. 16 in putting average and No. 11 in scoring average. He has also made nine of 10 cuts. At 5-foot-9 and just 175 pounds, Maggert may look like a little guy. But he's proven to be a big-time player. Once a golfer who dominated the Nike Tour (1990 Ben Hogan Tour Player of the Year), Maggert has beaten his reputation as a bridesmaid and is now among the elite golfers on the PGA Tour. At 35 years old, he is also one of the main reasons the 20-somethings are not in the headlines every week. Look for Jeff Maggert to put away another one this weekend and compete for the title at the Shell Houston Open.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
