CALGARY – Mike Weir has witnessed loads of his long-time contemporaries discover some critical success on PGA Tour Champions this yr — and he is aware of precisely what he must do to hitch them within the winner’s circle on residence soil this week.
Weir, who’s the unofficial host of this week’s Rogers Charity Traditional in Calgary, has had a tricky yr on the over-50 circuit with only one high 15 end. And in an uncharacteristic method, he says it’s his brief recreation — lengthy generally known as one of the best a part of his recreation as he grew to become a top-5 golfer on this planet within the early 2000s — that’s been letting him down.
“Brief recreation at all times has been my energy, and it simply hasn’t been superb this yr,” Weir informed Sportsnet on Wednesday. “In case you’re not getting the ball up and down, changing wedges on par fives and making just a few too many three-putts, you’re going to shoot one or two underneath or one or two over — you’re not going too deep underneath par. I’ve to sharpen that up, and that’s what I’m wanting to do that week.”
In fact, this yr has additionally been a hearty turnaround for Weir when it comes to tasks. Via the tail finish of 2023 and for the entire of 2024, Weir would usually have a couple of eye on the Presidents Cup as he was the captain of the Worldwide Group when it was performed at Royal Montreal. This yr, that psychological and emotional weight has been lifted, and he is had just a few alternatives to simply take pleasure in life once more. He took the entire of July off competitors and loved some journeys with pals, has taken up drumming, and even managed to squeeze in just a little fishing session on the Bow River on Monday earlier than getting again into golf mode.
“I clearly have not performed within the final couple of months in any respect […] so final week was just a little bit higher. Nonetheless just a little bit not very sharp with my brief recreation. Ball hanging is sweet,” Weir stated. “And placing felt just a little higher. So hopefully trending in the appropriate course.”
Whereas Weir teed it up on the RBC Canadian Open earlier this summer season, the Rogers Charity Traditional is the lone alternative to compete on the PGA Tour Champions circuit on residence soil. His pro-am group Wednesday and Thursday had been essentially the most adopted, and he is aware of his function as this nation’s most legendary {golfing} ambassador (whereas Brooke Henderson holds that title amongst the contemporaries).
“Trying ahead to nice fan help on the weekend, and I like this course. So hopefully I can get myself within the combine on Sunday,” Weir stated.
Regardless of the informal vibe that the Champions Tour offers off on the floor, effervescent underneath the post-round drinks and the informal dialog of the good-old-days, these guys are awfully good. Miguel Angel Jimenez has gained 4 instances already this season and is teeing it up in Calgary together with Padraig Harrington (who has gained two majors during the last 5 weeks). Steve Allan and Angel Cabrera, who aren’t within the subject this week, have additionally gained thrice.
The season-long race for the Schwab Cup can be heating up. Jimenez leads the way in which because of his foursome of trophies, whereas Stewart Cink is within the No. 2 spot. Steven Alker, who gained the Schwab Cup in 2022, is in third and is teeing it up this week on the Rogers Charity Traditional.
“The competitors is nice out right here,” Weir stated. “Three rounds — you need to begin quick and get going early as a result of it’s robust to catch up. Each event is 15 or 20-under par (as a profitable rating). So, when you have an even-par spherical or one thing, it’s fairly onerous to make that up.
“It’s important to get out of the gates and get going.”
Weir is certainly one of 4 Canadians within the subject this week in Calgary alongside Stephen Ames, who has three top-10s this yr however has but to seek out the winner’s circle after profitable seven instances within the final two seasons, together with Gord Burns and qualifier Wes Martin.
Martin could also be one of the best feel-good story of the week as he’s from Calgary and is making his PGA Tour Champions debut. Whereas he had a good decade-long profession on the outdated Canadian Tour, Martin now works on the town full-time as a pipefitter.
