From First Tee Nerves to a Comeback Win — Jeff Maggert Tells All in Ryder Cup Rewind
By Ryder Cup Digital On September 5, 2025 13:30 UTC
Before Jeff Maggert ever played a PGA Tour event, the Ryder Cup was already on his radar. For him, making that team meant everything. In the latest episode of Ryder Cup Rewind, Maggert reflects on the raw emotions of his debut, the pressure-packed pairings, and the unshakable belief that defines every great Ryder Cup moment.
From his low-key pairing with Howard Twitty to the chaos and comeback of the final day at Brookline in 1999, Maggert takes us inside the ropes of a week that tested nerves, forged bonds, and brought pride in playing for something bigger than yourself. Plus, yes — that shirt. The one that lives in Ryder Cup infamy.
Chasing the Dream of the Ryder Cup
"Outside the four majors, making a Cup team was really the top of my agenda. And I think every other player’s too. The matches had become really competitive — it was a huge motivation."
The Moment It All Felt Real
"When I got my first tour bag with my name on it, I was like, wow. And then getting all the Ryder Cup clothes in the mail… it was like, this is pretty cool here."
Facing First Tee Jitters as a Rookie
"You can prepare all you want, but stepping onto that first tee — it’s a unique experience. The crowd yelling, the nerves… I just told myself to enjoy it."
From Opponents to Teammates
"It’s a cool feeling. You take a breath, and the guys who usually try to beat you all year? Now they’re trying to help you win for your country."
Why Golfers Always Believe
"Every golfer believes they can figure out a way to get it done. I think that’s what Ben (Crenshaw) was saying — we’ve got guys who can win this."
US Ryder Cup team members (L to R) Justin Leonard, (kneeling), Steve Pate, Payne Stewart, Phil Mickelson, Jeff Maggert, Captain Ben Crenshaw, David Duval, Tiger Woods, (back row) Tom Lehman, Jim Furyk, Davis Love III, Hal Sutton and Mark O'Meara touch the Ryder Cup during team pictures 26 September,1999 after winning at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. The US defeated the Europea team 14 1/2 to 13 1/2. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/Timothy A. CLARY (Photo by Timothy A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)Momentum Shift Fueled the Comeback
"The matches just started racking up wins. And fans started thinking, wow — this thing’s going to get really close at the end."
Yes, the Shirt Is Still Around
"I knew the shirt was in there… just wanted to make sure the moth hadn’t eaten it up. It’s fun to joke about it now, but it was part of the experience."
Why Keegan Will Fire Them Up
"He reminds me of Lanny Watkins — fiery, intense, and competitive. He’s going to make sure that team is fired up and ready."
Don’t Overthink. Just Go Play.
"You’ve just got to play your game. Make birdies. Enjoy the moment. That’s why you play golf — to have fun in the big moments."
