Mike Weir’s life suddenly transformed

Canadian Mike Weir isn’t hiding his head in a sand trap: he knows full well that he wouldn’t be captaining the international team at the Presidents Cup without having won the green jacket at the Masters tournament more than 20 years ago.

• Also read: Mike Weir’s six Presidents Cup challenges

Weir, now 54, goes even further, saying his life was changed by a single shot on the famous course in Augusta, Georgia, in April 2003.

“If I had made one more shot, I wouldn’t have all this,” admits Weir, who was interviewed at the event in the greater Montreal area. “It illustrates how thin the margin is in golf. I’m aware of that […] I know I’m lucky and I’m very grateful for what happened to me.”

Thanks to a bogey

Weir recalled that his great victory in 2003 had been acquired in a playoff. The American Len Mattiace and he had thus finished tied with 281 strokes after the four rounds. A 73^e hole was thus necessary and, on a par 4, a bogey was enough for Weir to win, ahead of Mattiace, author of a double bogey. It was a rather unexpected outcome since Mattiace had just completed the fourth round with a score of 65. He had also obtained a birdie, earlier in the day, on this same hole which had served for the extension, namely the 10^e.

“When you win a major title, it comes with public recognition,” said the Sarnia, Ontario native. “For me, that Masters win had a big impact.”

Weir had also become the first Canadian, and the only one to date, to win the Masters Tournament.

“Die-hard golf fans will remember that you also won in Palm Springs in 2003, but you are certainly becoming more known to the less invested fans, because they watch the majors more often on television and hear more about a victory in such a competition,” agreed the Ontarian.

Scheffler, already a legend?

In fact, Weir won more than a dozen tournaments during his professional career, including eight on the PGA Tour. No other victory, of course, had as much impact as the one he won at Augusta in 2003.

“Being able to go to the Masters every year, knowing that I’m invited to this special tournament every year, is really special,” the Canadian said. “I bring my family and I meet the greatest golf legends of all generations.”

As for this week, at the Royal Montreal Club, located on Île Bizard, Weir still has the opportunity to rub shoulders with golfers who will one day be considered legends in their turn. Starting with American Scottie Scheffler, notably a two-time winner of the Masters (in 2022 and 2024). Within the international team, the captain has the opportunity to lead Adam Scott, winner at Augusta in 2013, but also Japanese Hideki Matsuyama, who for his part obtained his green jacket in 2021.