Professional golfer Mike Weir has enjoyed much success over his career and remains one of the top left-handed players in the world. The 5-foot-9-inch, 155-lb. golfer makes up for his small stature with a smooth swing and accurate short game. Weir's ascension to the top of the golf world has made him a hero in his home country of Canada, earning him numerous awards and honors on a national level.
Early Life
Born in Sarnia, Ontario Canada on May 12, 1970, Mike Weir grew up dreaming of a career in the NHL, but also enjoyed playing baseball. During the summers, Weir participated in and developed a love for golf and spent much of his youth playing at Huron Oaks Golf Course under the tutelage of coach Steve Bennett. By age 16, Weir had already won some Canadian junior tournaments and had given up on a hockey career, although he continued to play, in pursuit of a professional golf career.
University
Weir attended Brigham Young University and graduated with a degree in recreation management. He also became a star on the golf team after Coach Tucker recruited him to play at the school. He turned down offers from other NCAA Division I schools such as Marshall, Michigan State and Texas El Paso to attend BYU because he believed that the religious background at the school would keep him on track academically and limit outside distractions, allowing him to improve his golfing ability.
Early Professional Career
Weir joined the Canadian Professional Golf Tour in 1992, where he won three events during his first year. He made the PGA Tour for good in 1999 and won his first tournament later that year. This made him the first Canadian to win a PGA event in seven years and the first to win an event in Canada since 1954. In 2000, Weir competed in the President's Cup, where he had the best record on the international team. Weir won the Lionel Conacher Award as the Canadian male athlete of the year in both 2000 and 2001.
PGA Stardom
In 2003, Weir started the season with two early wins. He carried this momentum into the Masters Tournament, which he won after an exciting playoff with Len Mattiace. He followed up that win by finishing third at the U.S. Open, making him the number three ranked player in the world. Weir also won the Lou Marsh Award as Canada's top athlete of 2003. In 2009, Weir received an induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
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