Weir Now Getting the Attention

Mike Weir started playing golf as a preteen in Canada during the 1970s, winning professional tournaments on the Canadian Tour in 1993 and winning on the PGA Tour in 1999, but you could argue that his career really began at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic last year.

At least that’s when people started paying attention to it.

Weir, 33, is defending his title at the Bob Hope this week in La Quinta, where last year he used his victory as a springboard into the national spotlight: three victories, including the Masters, and a fifth-place finish on the money list.

The Masters victory made Weir a household name, and his consistency made him someone to watch in any tournament he entered, but Weir said success hadn’t changed him or his approach to golf.

“People’s perception of me has maybe changed a little bit and to casual golf fans, I’m probably a little more recognizable, but I’m still out here working hard,” Weir said.

Last year would have been a career year for many pros, and it’s even more impressive when it’s noted that Weir missed the cut only once in 20 starts, had 16 top-25 finishes and finished outside the top 28 only once. Still, Weir said he envisioned bigger and better years in the future.

“I think it’s something I can keep building on,” Weir said. “I’m still young enough that I feel like I have a lot of good years in me. I don’t look at it as a career year. I look at it as a satisfying, successful year. It was a great year, no question about it, but I think I can keep building on it.”

Nobody is going to confuse the 5-foot-9 left-hander with Tiger Woods. He doesn’t have the size or strength to keep up with the power hitters of today, and thus relies on a deft short game.

Last year he averaged 289 yards off the tee, 68th on tour, but was 11th with a 1.733 putts per green in regulation average and third with a 68.97 scoring average.

In the Bob Hope last year, he drew criticism for laying up on the 543-yard, par-five closing hole, but he knocked a 90-yard wedge shot to within nine feet and made the birdie putt for a two-shot victory. Playing partner Jay Haas went for the green in two, hit his second shot in the water and made a bogey.

Weir’s short-game prowess would factor into his Nissan Open victory three weeks later at Riviera Country Club and again during his April victory at Augusta.

At Riviera, he laid up on the short par-four 10th hole, hit a wedge close and made a birdie to win a playoff against Charles Howell III. In the Masters, Weir laid up on the par-five 15th, hit a wedge close and made a birdie to pull into a tie for the lead. He ended up winning in a playoff.

“The wedge was the story to the three wins I had last year,” Weir said. “Maybe the one I hit here was a little premonition of things to come.”

Coming off a poor year in 2002, Weir surprised himself in 2003. He won tournaments in 1999, 2000 and ’01 but was winless in 2002. He made 22 of 25 cuts that year but did not finish in the top 10. He finished 78th on the money list.

“I can’t say I saw that [success] coming into last year,” Weir said. “I knew I was going to start playing better than I did maybe in 2002, but I probably didn’t think I was going to play as well as I did.”

Now that he has reached the upper echelon as a major champion, competitors expect that he will remain there.

“I think Mike has the physical ability to do it here year in and year out,” Haas said. “He has that certain something that says he means business and he knows where he’s going. He’s comfortable in his skin right now. It’s something you can’t put a finger on, but just a feeling and a look that he has about him. It wouldn’t surprise me if he can win another major or several majors.”

The highlights of Weir’s 2003 season could fill a book, but becoming the first Canadian to win a major championship certainly tops the list as far as Weir is concerned. He didn’t win after Augusta, but he tied for third at the U.S. Open and tied for seventh at the PGA Championship.

That is the type of consistency Weir said he hoped to duplicate this year.

“The more times you’re consistent, put yourself in that situation, you’re going to sneak out one or two,” he said. “I was lucky enough to get three last year.”

And now, the pressure is on for a repeat performance.

“There’s always pressure,” Weir said. “But I’m at a stage in my career and my game that I can handle that. I’m secure about it....

“No question, there is some of that there. You can’t deny that, but I can handle that.”

*

BOB HOPE CLASSIC

* When: Today-Sunday.

* Where: PGA West, Arnold Palmer Private Course, Bermuda Dunes Country Club, Indian Wells Country Club, La Quinta Country Club.

* TV: USA (today-Friday, 1-3 p.m.) and Channel 7 (Saturday, noon-3 p.m.; Sunday, 12:30-3:30 p.m.).

* 2003 winner: Mike Weir.

*

This Week

PGA TOUR

Bob Hope Chrysler Classic

* When: Today-Sunday.

* Where: PGA West, Arnold Palmer Private Course (6,931 yards, par 72); Bermuda Dunes Country Club (6,927 yards, par 72); Indian Wells Country Club (6,478 yards, par 72); La Quinta Country Club (7,060 yards, par 72), La Quinta.

* Format: 90 holes. Pro-Am for the first 72 holes. The low 70 professionals will play the final round Sunday at the Palmer Private Course.

* Purse: $4.5 million. Winner’s share: $810,000

* TV: USA (today-Friday, 1-3 p.m.) and Channel 7 (Saturday, noon-3 p.m.; Sunday, 12:30-3:30 p.m.).

* 2003 winner: Mike Weir.

* Next week: The FBR Open in Scottsdale, Ariz.

* Tickets: $20 today-Friday; $25 Sat.-Sun.; $55 for a five-day pass. Available at the gate, by calling (888) MR B HOPE, or online at www.bhcc.com

*

CHAMPIONS TOUR

MasterCard Championship

* When: Friday-Sunday.

* Where: Hualalai Resort Golf Club (7,053 yards, par 72); Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii.

* Purse: $1.6 million. Winner’s share: $250,000.

* TV: The Golf Channel (Friday-Sunday, 4:30-7:30 p.m.).

* 2003 winner: Dana Quigley.

* Next week: Champions Skins Game at Wailea, Hawaii.