In early November, Corey Conners mentioned he was on a text thread started by 2003 Masters winner Mike Weir, where the elder statesman of Canadian golf was trying to confirm details about a Tuesday practice round at this year’s Masters.
When Conners was 11 it was Weir who captured the Green Jacket and the hearts of millions of young Canadians. Conners realized that someone from small-town Canada could go on top golf’s grandest stage and in the process Weir inspired Conners to want to be a professional golfer, too.
And now, that same champion was asking him if Tuesday morning or afternoon was better for a warm-up game at Augusta?
“Oh, it’s unbelievable,” Conners said when asked if he realized what he was saying, considering what Weir’s 2003 victory meant to him. That’s the kind of impressive impact Weir has on the current generation of male Canadian PGA Tour stars.
But for the first time in more than a decade, Weir said, he feels very good about his own game heading into Masters week.
“There’s not anything that feels a little weaker than any other,” Weir told Sportsnet in an exclusive pre-tournament interview. “I’m driving it well, putting has been very good at times… I just need to be more consistent with that. But I love Augusta greens. I’ve always putted them well.”
Weir’s confidence has been buoyed by an impressive start to his PGA Tour Champions career. He turned 50 in May and made his debut on the 50-and-over circuit in the same year as Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson.
The native of Brights Grove, Ont. has held his own on the Champions Tour through the summer schedule, with three top-10 finishes in nine tournaments. That run includes a runner-up result to Mickelson at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in mid-October.
He said the competition on the Champions Tour has been a good motivator to keep his game tight.
“We had so many guys turn 50 in the last year – I would say three of the four best players of our generation in Phil (Mickelson), Ernie (Els), and Jim Furyk,” said Weir. “Outside of Tiger (Woods) they’re probably the best players in the last 20 years, so there is a lot of excitement around the Champions Tour and the quality of play.”
Despite Weir’s lengthy struggles, he found some rejuvenating energy once he got to 48 years old. The PGA Tour has a special category for longtime Tour members to earn starts on the Korn Ferry Tour at age 48 and 49 as they prepare for the Champions Tour and their 50th birthdays.
Weir began to find his footing competing against golf’s next generation of stars, making more cuts in the last two years on the Korn Ferry Tour than the last five on the PGA Tour.
Just over a decade ago Weir, who is an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour and to date Canada’s only male major champion, began his battle with injuries. It was a myriad of problems with his elbow and shoulder, plus his back. He went through a divorce at the same time, compounding his off-course issues.
Now, however, Weir is blossoming again as a consistent presence on Champions Tour leaderboards. It’s been a big change.
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Another change for Weir has been his embrace of leading Canada’s next generation of Tour stars. Weir has always been open and has always encouraged the guys to send him a note to ask any questions they had. But this time around it was Weir who took the reigns.
Weir said he’s admired Gary Player and other South Africans who all tee off together — Trevor Immelman, Charl Schwartzel, Ernie Els, and Louis Oosthuizen (major champions, all) would get together for a game.
“They got a chance to play with Gary and he saw the young guys up close and I always thought it was really cool,” said Weir. “So for me to be able to show the guys around the course a little bit and play with them, see their games, and have a chat about things will be very exciting. I’m really looking forward to that.”
The players, though, like Conners (Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor are the others in the field) are likely looking even more forward to their rip around Augusta National with a past winner.
It’s one thing to fade into the background as a mentor-type and pass the jacket to Canada’s next batch of PGA Tour winners and major-champion contenders, but what does Weir think about his chances this week? His playing partners Tuesday will become his competitors on Thursday.
Weir admitted it depends on the course conditions, and he’s already going into the week knowing if his competitors are driving it past 350 yards and are holding a wedge in their hands when he has a 5-iron, it’s “not a fair fight.” But the usual pilgrimage to Augusta National takes place in April when Weir isn’t sure what his game will give him. Now, in November, he’s had a body of work on the Champions Tour — a body of work that gives him more confidence going into the Masters than he’s had in 10 years.
“I think the golf has changed so much so I don’t know where that puts me with my game, but, I’m feeling good. Could I contend or just have a great week or finish somewhere in the top-20, I’m not sure,” said Weir. “I just feel very good about my game. The best it’s felt in a long time.”
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
