Weir confirmed as one of the world's best
By MORRIS DALLA COSTA -- London Free Press
The longer one is in the business of writing about sports, the more difficult it becomes to admire professional athletes.
Despite the "great person" image that consultants, spin doctors and agents seek to promote -- an image that is often promulgated by the media -- many pro athletes leave little to be admired and much to be desired.
Their centre of the universe is usually themselves, that focus only increasing with success. If they fail, it's usually not of their own making.
If they succeed, they allow that success to encompass their entire lives.
Which is why Mike Weir is such a refreshing change.
Weir, the man from Bright's Grove, has become one of the best known names in golf.
His victory in this year's Masters lifted him permanently from the pack of professional golf and put him on the leaderboard as a potential winner of any tournament, major or otherwise.
In many ways, his ascent into golfing super-stardom remains astonishing. Weir's work ethic always guaranteed him a good career. But when one considers the number of world-class golfers who have never won a major (step forward, Phil Mickelson), expecting Weir to win one might have placed too great an expectation on him.
Now, not only has he won a major but it wouldn't be surprising if he wins another. This past weekend, he came close to winning the PGA Championship. He blew up Sunday by starting the final round with five bogeys. But instead of giving up, he played well the rest of the way and finished tied for seventh.
If that had happened a year ago, the word 'choke' would have found its way into the dialogue somewhere along the line. But now that Weir has established himself as one of the best golfers on the planet, there is an increasing awareness of how little separates the very good from the very best.
Few would have predicted Tiger Woods would go a year without winning a major. Yet despite Woods' domination of the game a year ago, that's exactly what happened.
A year ago, Weir felt the wrath of a frustrated Canada. He went without a tournament win, and even though he made close to $1 million on the PGA Tour, he was criticized.
He couldn't play under pressure. He didn't play enough tournaments. He took too much time away from the game.
Many other pro athletes would have lashed out and turned ugly. While Weir himself might have felt frustrated, he did his best to keep his feelings to himself. He fielded the questions and patiently explained what the game of golf was all about at this level.
That's not to say Weir was happy with his season, but it was far from the washout many said it was.
So Weir did what he has always done. He kept things in perspective. He did what he thought was best for himself and his family. He went home and worked on his game.
Weir came back with a confidence that would not be shaken over a few bad holes.
He made his horrible final round at the PGA event four years ago a learning experience. Now instead of wondering whether he will crack under pressure, he's the one who puts others under pressure.
He lost the tournament over the weekend not because he succumbed to the pressure; he lost it because like many top golfers, he made a couple of bad swings.
Whatever Weir changed in his swing during his offseason made him a champion, but what he didn't change also made him a champion.
Despite his success, Weir doesn't allow golf to dictate how he'll live his life. Even during what is his most successful season, he continues to take time away from the tour to spend with his family.
For Weir, the lure of winning does not take precedent over everything else.
It makes him a rarity among pro athletes, a common man who possesses uncommon skills with priorities and values one can cheer for.
