Publish date:: Jun 5, 2006

Fall Guys

The Quest for the Card ends, in May

Author:: Jim Gorant

On sunday, JeffMaggert, a typical Tour journeyman, won the FedEx St. Jude Classic at the TPCat Southwind near Memphis by shooting a nine-under 271 to hold off a couple offortysomethings, John Cook and Tom Pernice, among others. The FedEx concluded athree-week stretch--starting with the Nelson and the Colonial--in which the top10 players in the world made a combined nine appearances. Such tournamentsallow the Tour's lesser lights to pay the bills, but stacked atop one anotherthey have a cumulative effect that can make even the most dedicated fan wonder,What's happening in pro tennis? Looking at this phenomenon through the prism ofthe new, compacted 2007 Tour schedule, one could conclude that the last threeweeks were a preview of the Quest for the Card that will fill the post--TourChampionship autumns of the future. But there's another possibility. With thelulls in the schedule eliminated, the regular season will be more grippingwhile the fall events, no longer placeholders between more compellingshowdowns, could become a destination in themselves. Seeing a guy play for hisdinner in the last-chance chill of November should be more exciting than thesame melodrama in May.

Full Blumen

The Duke men'sbasketball team has three national championships, but on May 26 it fell behindthe women's golf team. The Blue Devils won their fourth championship and thesecond in a row by shooting a combined 15 over at Ohio State's Scarlet course.Duke was led by super freshman Amanda Blumenherst, who in 11 tournaments hadthree wins and was never out of the top 10. Her 71.62 stroke average was thelowest in the nation, and after the championship Blumenherst was named anAll-America, player of the year and freshman of the year. She also had thehighest grade point average (3.87) of any All-America in women's golf. Topthat, J.J. Redick.

ALSO ...

•Jay Haas is the41st player without a major on the regular Tour to win a senior major. • FredRidley, chairman of the Masters competition committee, will attempt to qualifyfor the U.S. Open at Old Memorial Golf Club in Tampa on June 6.

• Alan Shipnuck'sWhat's Hot column appears every Tuesday on SI.com/golf.

Mike Reid, the2005 Senior PGA winner, admits that when it comes to technology, he's waybehind the curve. Here are his clubs and how long he has been using them.