Sep 17, 2016
Weir comfortable no matter how future unfolds
Mike Weir has run out of exemptions on the PGA Tour, made just one cut in the last two years and fallen to 1,817 in the Official World Golf Ranking. And now, while still hopeful he can turn his game around, it seems the most successful golfer Canada has produced is coming to terms that his career may be coming to an end.
By Bob Weeks
Mike Weir has run out of exemptions on the PGA Tour, made just one cut in the last two years and fallen to 1,817 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
And now, while still hopeful he can turn his game around, it seems the most successful golfer Canada has produced is coming to terms that his career may be coming to an end.
In a post on his blog on Saturday, Weir said he is continuing to work hard on getting his swing back, but realizes that the spate of injuries and surgeries over the past few years may have taken a toll from which he simply can’t return.
“So I will work hard but if my game doesn’t turn around, it’s not do or die,” Weir, 46, wrote on MikeWeir.com. “My golf career, while certainly important, isn’t everything to me at this point. If I never hit another shot on the PGA Tour, I’ve accomplished more than I ever dreamed I would in my career. I could walk away satisfied.”
Weir won eight times on the PGA Tour including the 2003 Masters. He also claimed a World Golf Championship event as well as the Tour Championship. He earned more than $27 million and ranks 31st on the career money list.
While playing in the Heritage Classic in Hilton Head, S.C., in 2010, Weir swung and hit a tree root, which damaged his elbow. The injury led to a number of surgeries and has prevented him from swinging the club as he did previously.
“But physically right now, my arm simply won’t let me swing the way I used to,” he wrote. “I can’t get my hand into the proper positions and so it’s a search to find a way to make it work.”
Weir has been working with noted golf instructor David Leadbetter to try and find a solution but so far without any success. He said that his future plans depend on whether he sees improvement. If that happens, he stated that he would possibly seek out tournament starts on the European and Web.com tours. He could also get sponsor exemptions on the PGA Tour.
In the interim, Weir has also done some broadcasting of golf tournaments. He first worked for TSN during Masters coverage. In July he was hired by American broadcaster TNT to work on the PGA Championship broadcast, receiving strong reviews for his work. Weir said he’s also been contacted by Golf Channel to guest for a week in the fall, something he’s considering.
Weir is also looking at one other offer. A new event announced this week will see a Ryder Cup-style event between players from PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica, played at Tierra del Sol Resort in Aruba. Weir’s been invited to be the captain of the Canadian team.
In the past, he’s also expressed interest in playing a part in the Presidents Cup, perhaps as an assistant captain for Nick Price. However Weir said he won’t lobby for that job, not wanting to infringe on Price’s selection process. The Canadian played in five Presidents Cups compiling a record of 13-9-2.
For the time being, the Bright’s Grove, Ont., product will continue to practice and hit balls in hopes that he can improve his game. He used a quote from NFL player Ray Lewis to describe his present situation. “Run it hard until the well runs dry.”
Whether or not he is able to return to action, his career has been remarkable. He’s earned the right to continue to search out an answer for his swing ailments and if he isn’t able to find it, the right to be content in knowing what he’s not only accomplished personally but for Canadian golf.