Maggert trades shovel for clubs at last minute and shoots 67

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Jeff Maggert, a three-time winner, is entering his third decade on the PGA TOUR.

INNISBROOK, Fla. -- Some guys prepare for a tournament by hitting bucket after bucket of balls on the range. Others might want to simply get in an extra practice round or two.

And then there's Jeff Maggert.

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Maggert's 2010 results

Maggert was digging up palm trees -- literally -- at his home in Houston on Wednesday. But when he moved up to first alternate for the Transitions Championship, the veteran pro headed for Florida on the last plane out.

It's a good thing he did, too.

Maggert, who got to his hotel about midnight, was at Innisbrook by 7:15 on Thursday morning. He'd spent 15 minutes or so on the range when a PGA TOUR official came to tell him that Vijay Singh might not be able to play due to a back injury.

The big Fijian finally made his decision about 20 minutes before his scheduled 8:27 a.m. start. So Maggert joined Retief Goosen and Lucas Glover on the first tee and proceeded to make the most of the opportunity with a solid 67.

So the yard work will have to wait a few more days. Not that Maggert, who tied for 12th last week in Puerto Rico, is complaining, you understand.

"We finally had some good weather in Houston," he said. "And with all the hard freezes we lost some palm trees. So my wife said your job today is to go work in the yard. To be honest, I'm a little sore. It was tough to get loose today."

Once he traded that shovel for a golf club, though, the three-time TOUR winner wasted no time getting untracked.

Maggert made a 10-footer for birdie on the first hole, then added three more starting at No. 6 to make the turn in 32. He gave one shot back at the 11th hole but holed it from the fringe at No. 13 and parred home.

"The front nine, we didn't have much wind at all, kind of tame," he said. "I think most of the birdies were made early today. And then in the afternoon towards the end, the wind started coming back and the golf course played tougher."

The round of 4 under was one stroke off Maggert's career low on the Copperhead Course. He's tied for second, two behind Garrett Willis, with, among others, Goosen, his playing partner who also happens to be the tournament's defending champion.

"This golf course really suits my game," said Maggert, who tied for 23rd two years ago. "I wanted to get in this week but I was kind of far out. ... I hope Vijay feels better. Obviously the tournament is going to miss him, but I'm just thankful for the opportunity."

Maggert started the week as the seventh alternate. His hopes of getting in the tournament grew dimmer as five players made the field due to top-10 finishes in Puerto Rico. But he gradually worked his way up the ladder and Wednesday's plane ticket turned out to be money well spent.

"To be honest, I didn't expect to get in but because I was first alternate, I felt like I needed to be here," Maggert said. "Normally when you get that many withdrawals earlier in the week you kind of feel like you've lost your chance.

"But I was going to hang around here today and hit some balls and practice and if I got in, great. If not, I was going to fly home this afternoon."

Maggert, who is starting his third decade on TOUR, said he hadn't made such a last-minute entry into a tournament in years. He hasn't played that well of late, though -- finishing outside the top 125 each of the last two seasons.

"Unfortunately poor play the last couple of years kind of put me in this position," Maggert said.

The Texan had status for 2010 as a member of the 126-150 category off the money list. But he wanted to improve so he swallowed his pride and went back to q-school where he finished second.

He gained some much-needed confidence in the process.

"The pressure probably wasn't nearly as much as when I was a kid," Maggert said. "I had a back-up plan, being able to play quite a few tournaments without even going to the TOUR school. It was fun to see the young kids there and the excitement in their faces.

"It brought back memories of when I was doing it 23, 24 years ago."

Now Maggert just needs to remember what it takes to win.