Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/68546
THE 1ST TEE BY BRYAN OUTRAM The long road back to respectability can be littered with more than a few detours. And no doubt the lost soul in this case could use some directions or at the least a sign that doesn't say 'Dead End.' It seems not so long ago and yet, at the same time, so very, very long ago… that in the world of golf, Canada's Mike Weir was akin to a sleek, high-performance sports car. Unfortunately, more recently he's resembled an old 'beater' ready for the scrap heap. Well, 2003 is coming up on its 10th anniversary and it's getting further and further in the rear view mirror. It was on a magical Sunday in April of that year the Brights Grove, Ontario native and adopted son of virtually anywhere he played in Canada, had the finest putting round of his life culminating in a Masters Championship and the first win in a 'Major' for any Canadian in the history of men's professional golf. At that time Weir had reached the pinnacle of his career in golf and the question was not if he would win any more majors but when. He spent over 110 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 2001 and 2005 getting as high as 3rd in June of 2003 following his T3rd at the U.S. Open coming on the heels of his Masters win earlier in the year. Currently Weir is listed at number 1,311. At least one golf editor wasn't even aware that the world rankings went that far down. Actually, Mike Weir's resume is non-too shabby at all when you take into account the accomplishments he's amassed at each level of his career. In fact, he ranks 16th all-time in career earnings on the PGA Tour. Think about that one for a minute. However, injuries and swing changes have wreaked havoc with him both physically and mentally, derailing his game to the point where one has to legitimately wonder if indeed the diminutive left-hander can ever come back or even approach his previous form. The problem at this stage is that Weir, who turned 42 on May 12th - is still 8 years away from the relative safe haven of the Champions Tour. No, the rescue he and his game are so desperately in need of is going to have to come through the traditional methods of hard work and sponsor exemptions. Ah, yes, sponsor exemptions. One of the biggest benefits Weir has realized from the earlier successes he had on the PGA Tour - aside from 13 Whither Weir? a truckload of cash - is that he's put himself in position to receive a couple of lifelines from the Tour based on past performance. However, Weir has been loathe to 'call a friend' on this one as he's stated he'd like to earn his way back to full status having lost that standing when injuries basically threw his game in the dumpster. It definitely raised a few eyebrows when his application earlier this year for an exemption into the Northern Trust Open at Riviera in Los Angeles, where he won back-to-back titles within the last decade, was turned down. Weir's most recent injury, which he tried to play through for much of the 2011 season, forced him to the sidelines in July during the RBC Canadian Open in Vancouver, when he withdrew after six holes in the second round. Weir said at the time that having to hit out of the deep rough at the Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club had aggravated his elbow to the point he was unable to continue. The Canadian Open was Weir's 15th tournament of the season, and he made only two cuts, finishing 77th and 70th. He broke 70 only once in 34 rounds. Heck, he's had more scores in the 80's over the past year and a half than the Charlotte Bobcats. Weir had the surgery to repair the damaged extensor tendon in his right elbow on August 18th of last year. He had previously been forced to shut things down in late August of 2010 because of a torn ligament in the same elbow, which first flared up at the Verizon Heritage in Hilton Head, S.C., a week after the Masters. Surgery wasn't required then, but nevertheless he didn't return until January of 2011. Continued On Page 89 IMAGE CREDIT CHARLIE NEIBERGALL / CP