Nina Caldwell
Canadian professional golfer Mike Weir is still active on the golf circuit, currently playing on the PGA Tour Champions. Weir, who is left-handed, is best known for winning the Masters Tournament in 2003, making him the only Canadian man to win a major championship. He has had a successful career, spending over 110 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking between 2001 and 2005.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Richard Weir |
| Born | 12 May 1970 |
| Birthplace | Sarnia, Ontario, Canada |
| Plays | Left-handed |
| Turned professional | 1992 |
| College | Brigham Young University |
| Notable awards | Lou Marsh Trophy for outstanding Canadian athlete of the year (2003) |
| Current status | Plays on the PGA Tour Champions |
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What You'll Learn
Mike Weir's golf career
Michael Richard Weir, born on May 12, 1970, is a Canadian professional golfer. He currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. Weir, who is left-handed, is best known for winning the Masters Tournament in 2003, making him the only Canadian man to win a major championship.
Weir's first sport was hockey, but he gave it up in his early teens when he realized that he wouldn't grow past average size and that golf was a better fit for him. He learned to play golf at Huron Oaks Golf Course, where he was coached by Steve Bennett. Weir turned professional in 1992 and started on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour, winning three events. He also played some events on the Asian PGA Tour early in his career. Weir first reached the PGA Tour in 1998 but lost his playing privileges due to insufficient performance. He requalified by being a medalist at the final Qualifying School tournament.
Weir's first PGA Tour win came at the 1999 Air Canada Championship in Surrey, British Columbia, making him the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour event in Canada in 45 years. He shared the 54-hole lead at the 1999 PGA Championship with Tiger Woods but finished T-10. Weir won The Tour Championship in a playoff in 2001. In 2003, he won two tournaments on the West Coast Swing: the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Palm Springs, California, and the Nissan Open in Los Angeles. For his outstanding play in 2003, Weir won the Lou Marsh Trophy for outstanding Canadian athlete of the year.
Weir's 2010 season was cut short due to a torn ligament in his right elbow, and he began 2011 on a major medical exemption. In 2014, Weir nearly earned his first win in seven years at the Byron Nelson Championship, finishing as the runner-up. Weir took an indefinite leave of absence from golf competition in July 2015, withdrawing from the RBC Canadian Open.
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His early life and introduction to golf
Michael Richard Weir, CM OOnt, born on May 12, 1970, is a Canadian professional golfer. He currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions.
Weir was born in Sarnia, Ontario, and grew up in the Sarnia suburb of Brights Grove. He attended St. Michael Elementary School in Brights Grove and St. Clair Secondary School in Sarnia. Like many Canadian boys, his first sport was hockey, and he was a natural left-handed shot. He gave up hockey in his early teens when he realised he wouldn't grow past average height and that golf was his best sport. He began playing golf left-handed, following on from his hockey experience.
Weir's first exposure to golf came at Huron Oaks Golf Course, where he was coached by Steve Bennett. He also worked at Huron Oaks as a caddy and pro shop worker, and it was with his earnings from these jobs that he purchased his first left-handed wedge. At the age of 11, he met golf legend Jack Nicklaus when he came to play an exhibition at the club. This meeting would later prove to be pivotal in Weir's career.
When he was 12, Weir won a junior tournament with a first prize of a complete set of irons. He continued to develop his golf game and won the Ontario Junior Championship in 1988. He went on to attend Brigham Young University, majoring in Recreation Management, and won the Ontario Amateur Championship in 1990 and 1992. He turned professional in 1992 and joined the Canadian Professional Golf Tour, winning three events.
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Weir's golf coaches and techniques
Mike Weir is a Canadian professional golfer who plays left-handed. He is arguably Canada's most successful golfer of the recent era, having spent over 100 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking between 2001 and 2005. Weir is best known for winning the 2003 Masters Tournament, making him the only Canadian man to win a major championship.
Weir learned to play golf at Huron Oaks Golf Course, where he was coached by Steve Bennett. In the early 2000s, during his most successful period, Weir worked with instructor Mike Wilson. In 2010, he decided to move away from the 'stack-and-tilt' method and focus on reclaiming his swing. He also rehired the 'stack-and-tilt' creators, Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer, in 2011.
Weir has changed golf coaches and methods regularly, which has been seen as a hindrance to his performance. Despite this, he has achieved notable successes, including winning the Lou Marsh Trophy for outstanding Canadian athlete of the year in 2003 and being the sixth player in Nissan Open history to notch back-to-back wins in 2004.
Weir's success is often attributed to his accuracy, consistency, and superb ball-striking abilities. Standing at 5 feet 9 inches tall, he may not match the physical traits of modern golfers, but his discipline and signature move have contributed to a very successful career.
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Notable wins and achievements
Michael Richard Weir, born on May 12, 1970, is a Canadian professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. A left-handed golfer, Weir is best known for winning the Masters Tournament in 2003, becoming the only Canadian man to win a major championship. Here is a list of his notable wins and achievements:
Weir turned professional in 1992 and started on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour, winning three events. He also participated in some events on the Asian PGA Tour early in his career. In 1998, he reached the PGA Tour but lost his playing privileges due to insufficient performance. He quickly requalified by being a medalist at the final Qualifying School tournament.
Weir's first PGA Tour win came at the 1999 Air Canada Championship in Surrey, British Columbia, making him the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour event in Canada in 45 years. In 1999, he shared the 54-hole lead at the PGA Championship with Tiger Woods but finished T-10. He went on to win The Tour Championship in a playoff in 2001.
Weir began the 2003 season with impressive wins at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Palm Springs, California, and the Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club near Los Angeles. In June of that year, he tied for third at the U.S. Open, which propelled him to third in the Official World Golf Ranking, his highest ranking. Weir maintained his position in the world's top ten rankings into 2004.
In February 2004, Weir joined an elite group of players, including Ben Hogan, to win consecutive championships at the Nissan Open. He became the sixth player in the tournament's history to achieve back-to-back wins and the first since Corey Pavin in 1994 and 1995. Weir's other notable achievements include winning the Ontario Junior Championship in 1988 and the Ontario Amateur Championship in 1990 and 1992.
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Current golf ranking and recent performance
Michael Richard Weir, born on May 12, 1970, is a Canadian professional golfer. He currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions.
Weir turned professional in 1992 and started on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour, winning three events. He also played on the Asian PGA Tour early in his career. In 1998, he reached the PGA Tour, but lost his playing privileges due to insufficient performance. He requalified and won his first PGA Tour win in 1999 at the Air Canada Championship in British Columbia, becoming the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour event in Canada in 45 years. Weir shared the 54-hole lead at the 1999 PGA Championship with Tiger Woods but finished T-10.
Weir's most successful period was in the early 2000s. In 2003, he won the Masters Tournament, making him the only Canadian man to win a major championship. He also won the Lou Marsh Trophy for outstanding Canadian athlete of the year. Weir maintained his position in the world's top ten rankings from 2001 to 2005, spending over 110 weeks in the top ten.
Weir's 2010 season ended early due to a torn ligament in his right elbow, and he started 2011 on a major medical exemption. In 2011, he rehired swing coaches Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer, with whom he had worked previously with positive results.
As of 2025, Weir has had no wins or top-10 finishes.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mike Weir still plays golf and currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions.
Weir is a Canadian professional golfer who has had a successful career. He has spent over 110 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking between 2001 and 2005. He is best known for winning the Masters Tournament in 2003, making him the only Canadian man to win a major championship.
Weir is a left-handed golfer. He has experimented with the 'stack-and-tilt' method but has also worked on his natural swing.
