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TSN Senior Reporter

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Despite making the cut in just three of his last 24 starts on the PGA Tour, and missing weekend play in two European Tour tournaments last month, Mike Weir sounded upbeat as he prepared to play his first event in North America in 2016.

For the first time since last July when he took a leave from golf to deal with off-course personal issues, the Canadian will tee it up on the PGA Tour, playing the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

“I’m excited to get out there and see some progress,” Weir stated, before adding, “I know I have to temper my expectations a little.”

The lefthander has been working closely with David Leadbetter to try and find some of the consistency that allowed him to win eight times and rise as high as third on the world rankings. Since injuring his elbow in 2010 and undergoing subsequent surgeries, Weir has been battling to get back in form. So far, that’s been elusive despite all his hard work.

In Europe, he shot rounds of 80-77 in Abu Dhabi and 73-76 in Qatar, and admitted it wasn’t what he wanted.

“The last couple of weeks in the Middle East were not good,” he stated. “But I have a good plan with David and I’m excited about how it’s going and what I’m seeing.”

Together, player and coach are working on improving Weir’s ball-striking and creating a consistent pattern to his shots - a draw - that he can depend on.

“I know what I need to do,” he said. “I’m just looking for a key or something that will trigger the swing. I might find it randomly, like something with my left arm or my right hand. I just need to find something to latch on to.”

Weir said even when he was playing his best, he had thoughts in his head as he prepared to swing, key triggers that he focused on. But through the injuries and bad habits, he’s lost that and also his confidence.

What hasn’t escaped him is the desire to get back to playing good golf and the work ethic for which he became famous.

“I still believe in myself,” he said confidently. “I still believe I can get back to playing good golf and be one of the best players out there.”

He pointed out that this is not the first time he’s struggled. During the early days of his professional career, Weir teed it up in Australia and Asia and on the old Canadian Tour, grinding it out and trying to make ends meet while also trying to improve his ball-striking which he admitted wasn’t very good.

Back then, however, there wasn’t any social media where critics were plentiful. For every supporter that Weir has these days, it seems there is an equal number who delight in trashing the 45-year-old’s comeback attempts.

“I think that’s just human nature,” said Weir, who admitted to reading a few of the often-nasty comments. “I see those same things when a football player or a hockey player messes up.

“But those people don’t know me. They don’t know how hard I’m working or the time and effort I’m putting in. I’m giving it my best and trust me; it hurts me more than anyone else to be playing like this.”

This will be the first of four starts Weir will make on a major medical exemption. After Pebble, he’s planning to play the Honda Classic, the Valspar Championship and the Shell Houston Open leading into the Masters.

Depending on his situation after that, if he has to, he’ll look for sponsor exemptions and hasn’t ruled out a return to Europe or possibly the Web.Com Tour. Much of his schedule will depend on the state of his game.

One thing is certain: he’s not about to quit looking for an answer.

“I love golf and I love the game too much to give up.”