Seventh heaven for Maggert

Jeff Maggert was delighted to end a seven-year victory drought on the PGA Tour after winning the St Jude Classic at the TPC Southwind in Memphis.

Maggert fired a five-under-par 65 to erase a three-stroke deficit and claimed his third career title after finishing on nine-under at 271.

The 42-year-old finished three shots clear of faltering third-round co-leader Tom Pernice Jr to join Kirk Triplett and Stephen Ames as the third winner over 40 on the Tour this season.

“I can’t believe it’s been seven years but it’s been seven good years for me,” Maggert said. “I played a lot of good golf in that span. I haven’t won, but this is just a good win for me.”

Maggert eagled from 36 feet at the par-five 16th and followed with a birdie from 33 feet at the 17th to clinch his first triumph since the 1999 Match Play Championship.

“I just felt like I needed a couple birdies at the end, maybe to pull away and the eagle putt dropped on the 16th and obviously I felt good and the birdie there to put pressure on Tom.”

Only 15 players finished under par and many in contention were unable to mount any kind of a charge on the 7,244-yard, par-70 course.

Pernice and Tim Herron began the final round with a share of the lead but stumbled badly.

Pernice managed a one-over 71 while Herron, who ended his own seven-year skid last week at Colonial, slumped to a 77 and finished tied for 16th at level-par on 280.

“It was a disappointment, obviously, I didn’t make any putts,” Pernice said. “You make one birdie on the final round, you’re not going to win out here.”

John Cook (71) and Kris Cox (72) finished tied for third at four-under on 276, while Jay Delsing – who was one-under at the turn but finished with a 72 – was tied for fifth on 277.

Defending champion Justin Leonard stumbled to a bogey/double-bogey finish en route to a 73 and a tie for 22nd at one-over on 281.