‘ Fully relaxed’ Maggert among the favourites
Paris in the rain ranks among the most magical places on earth.
Calgary in the rain, uh, somewhat less so.
“My wife and I did our honeymoon there 15 years ago,’’ says Jeff Maggert, peeking out from the caddy shed beside the Canyon Meadows pro shop to savour a slight break in a stubborn Thursday drizzle. “It was our first time back and we took our 10- year- old twins.’’
While his golfing brethren were off in Blaine, Minn., last week scrapping it out at the 3M Championship, Maggert was winging his way to the City of Light. Let’s see, weigh the options ... Blaine, Minn. Gay Paree. Blaine, Minn. Gay Paree. “We just did all the sights, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, all that good stuff. We had three full days there. Had a little wine, a little good French food and just enjoyed having a whole week off.
“Got back to South Carolina on the weekend and spent the ( time) there relaxing some more.
“So I’m fully relaxed and ready to go.’’
With seven Top 10 finishes among his 13 events, two major championships tucked safely in the swag- bag ( the Regions Tradition and U. S. Senior Open), currently third on the Charles Schwab Cup points list ( at 2,354, trailing Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer), and with a tidy $ 1.45 million already deposited into his bank account from the Champions Tour coffers, Maggert certainly ranks among high among the favourites to be white- hatted Sunday at the close of the Shaw Charity Classic.
“Last year,’’ he continued, “was my first time here. I thought the golf course was fabulous. “My game’s in good shape. “Looking forward, really, to the second half of the year. This is kind of our midway point. I had a great start, obviously, winning a couple majors and I’m in a position to make a run for the Charles Schwab Cup, so I’ll be looking to play well over the next eight or nine weeks.’’
Maggert’s no different than anyone who transitions from the regular tour to the Champions loop. He’s enjoying the more relaxed approach. Still, in his first full season out with the 50- plus set, he’s quick to add this isn’t a bunch of old guys getting together for a game of pinochle.
“Well, the competition is pretty fierce. These guys may say they’re out here for fun, but I’m telling you, they like to win. They’re very competitive. No different than they were 25 years ago, which makes it fun.
“The calibre of golf is just awesome. I wouldn’t say there’s that much difference between the Champions Tour and the regular tour, as far as the calibre of golf. Obviously the young kids just bomb it so much further now. It’s kind of fun to watch that, but the rest of the game is on par on both tours.
“The game’s transitioning on the younger tour, for sure, because it’s attracting really good athletes. Guys that are 6- 3, 6- 4 — 300 yards is a short drive for them. The 25 year olds that are starting on the tour are built different than I was at 25 years old, that’s for sure.’’
Friday, Maggert sets off for a third seasonal win in Round 1 at Canyon at 11: 10 a. m., paired with Mark O’Meara and Calgary’s Stephen Ames.
“The strength of my game is driving the ball. I still have decent length for this tour. The young guys hit it so far on the regular tour, I’m kind of a long way behind those guys.
“But out here my game holds up really well.
“The field is great again. There’s no time to rest out here.’’