Top 10 Facts about Mike Weir

 Top 10 Facts about Mike Weir

Mike Weir in 2010. Photo by, Richard Wayne Photography – –Wikimedia

Mike Weir is a professional golf player, he was born in  Sarnia Ontario in Canada on the 12th of May 1970  and he grew up in the Sarnia suburbs of bright grove. His full name is Michael Richard Weir. 

 His first sport was hockey though he, later on, learned how to play golf at Huron Oaks with the help of coach  Steve Bennett.  Mike attended St Michael Elementary School in the Bright grove and  St Clair Secondary school in Sarnia.

In 1988 he won the Ontario junior championship and he, later on, graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in recreation management.  In 1990 and 1992 he also won the Ontario Amateur Championship though in 1991 he tied for the 2nd during the  Canadian Amateur Championship.

He plays on the  PGA tour and has spent over 110 weeks which is equivalent to  770 days in the top 10 of the official world golf ranking between 2001 -2005.

Well, he is known for being the best left-handed golf player and he once won the master tournament in 2003, making him the only Canadian man to ever win a major.

He was married to Bricia from 1994 to 2015 and they later on divorced he is also a father of two that is Elle Marisa and Lili.

1. Mike was born in Sarnia Ontario Canada

Michael Richard Weir was born on May 12 1970 in Sarnia. Sarnia is in the southern part of the Canadian province of Ontario.

His father was Richard who worked for the local chemical company while his mother  Rowie was a housewife. She stayed at home to look after  Mike and his older brothers that is Jim and Craig.

He was the youngest son. At the age of 8 years, he began golfing with his father at a par-three holiday inn golf course.   Two years later his family moved to Bright Grove.

After moving to Bright Grove, his father was signed up for family members at the Huron golf club. It is his membership that gives his children access to the swimming pool and exercise center as well as access to golf courses.

2. Mike Weir is left-handed

Mike Weir at the 2009 Telus World Skins Game, Lévis, Canada. Photo by, Bernard Gagnon-Wikimedia

Though his coach Steve Bennett advised him to switch hands from left to right he did not take his advice and two years later he met with Nicklaus who asked him if it was okay for him to switch hands and he told him not to if it felt natural and comfortable using the left. Mike being left-handed did not stop him from winning the won Master’s tournament in 2003.

3. Mike wrote a letter to Nicklaus

At 11 years old weir was working at the course when he met Jack Nicklaus a legend playing expert. During his training period at Huron,  his coach asked him not to play with his left hand instead he should do right.

 After this incident,  Weir decided to write a letter to Jack Nicklaus asking him if he needed to swap hands from more natural that is left to right and Nicklaus responded by saying that he should stick to whatever comes naturally.

 Mike was so pleased with Nicklaus’s response. The letter that Nicklaus responded to the weir is now framed on the weirs house wall in Utah.

  4 . Weir started  to play hockey at a younger age and later  switched to golf

A golf ball is next to the hole. Photo by, Lotus Head from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa – sxc.hu –Wikimedia

Just like other kids or youngsters, Weir was also used to playing baseball and hockey but he, later on, gave up on playing hockey after realizing that his height was a disadvantage to him though he knew that he was good at golf.

5. Mike majored in recreation management

Weir attended Brigham Young University in Utah where he studied recreational management. In 1988 he won the Ontario Junior championship joining the university while still in the university he again won the Ontario Amateur Championship in 1990 and 1992.

6. Mike Weir joined the PGA tour in 1998

Though Weir had to be turned into a professional player in 1992 he did not join PGA Tour until 1998 which is approximately 6 years. Before joining PGA  he was playing for the Canadian tour between 1993 and 1997 and he finished as the first one in his final year of the tour after two wins.

Weir lost his playing privileges after his poor performances therefore, the Canadian Tour was requalified after this he joined PGA after medaling at PGA Tour Qualifying Tournaments.

7. Mike has  achieved 3 wins on the PGA tour

A wood is positioned ready to be swung and to strike a golf ball. Photo by, https://www.flickr.com/photos/wkulicki/4010582747/-Wikimedia

In 2003, he achieved 3 wins on the PGA Tour which were the most notable of that year even though he was considered the master’s triumph. This made him popular for he was the first Canadian man to ever win in the tournament.

 Through this victory, he was also known as the second left-hander to win the Major Championship after the New Zealand player Bob Charles and since then (2003) two more joined the list that is Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson.

8. Mike claimed victory over Tiger Woods

A Strong 2 Wood. Photo by, ReignMan –Wikimedia

After losing the president’s cup in the year 2007,  he claimed his victory over tiger wood by making a special winning over the masters.

 This was the Canadian beat of the world that is the number one final hole. Weir competed in the president’s cup for five years in 2000,2003,2005,2007 and 2009.

   9. Mike won Marsh Trophy

Weir spent 770 days which is the same as 110 weeks in the top ten of the Official Golf World  Ranking between 2001 and 2005. 

In 2003 his master’s win earned him a trophy (Lou marsh trophy) and in the same year he was recognized and he was awarded as the best Canadian athlete of the year.

10. Mike was inducted into the Canadian sports hall  of  fame

Front entrance of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Photo by, daveynin-Wikimedia

In 2017 was when Weir has admitted to Canada`s sports hall of fame and through this achievement, Weir got a lot of privileges.

Mike was also selected as Canada`s twelfth greatest athlete of all time by Maggie Mooney which is among the top 100 Canadian books and the title of the book is The Greatest Athlete of All Time after winning Insperity  Invitational in Woodlands.

Mike Weir has experienced all the impressive thing which has made him successful. In his 20s he trained hard, through his determination and hard work  he won the masters crown (2003)

He is currently in his 50s and he is still performing at golf major though some of his shows are reaching the same peak.