Canadian Mike Weir is not hiding his head in the sandbox: he knows full well that he would not be captain of the international team at the Presidents Cup without having won the green jacket of the Masters tournament more than 20 years ago.

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

“If I had taken another shot, I wouldn’t have done any of this,” agrees Weir, who met in the greater Montreal area for the event. “It shows how little margin there is in golf. I’m aware of that […] I know I am lucky and am very grateful for what has happened to me.

Thanks to a bogey

Weir thus recalled that his big victory in 2003 had been won in overtime. He and the American Len Mattiace finished the four rounds tied at 281 shots. A 73^e The hole was therefore necessary and on a par 4, a bogey was enough for Weir to win, ahead of Mattiace, who made a double bogey. It was a rather unexpected result, as Mattiace had just finished the fourth round with a score of 65. He had also made a birdie earlier in the day on the same hole that was used for overtime, namely the 10th^e.

“When you win a major title, it also brings with it recognition from the wider public,” said the Sarnia, Ontario native. “For me, this Masters victory had a big impact.”

Weir was also the first and only Canadian to win the Masters tournament.

“Die-hard golf fans will remember that you also won in Palm Springs in 2003, but you will definitely be more well-known among less dedicated fans, who watch the majors more often on television and hear more about a win in such competition,” the Ontarian agreed.

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 obviously had as much impact as the one at Augusta in 2003.

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

Photo credit: Photo Getty Images via AFP

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

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