Mike Weir, left to play alone, pleased with even-par first round at Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The goal of everyone teeing it up at the Masters is to be able to, at one point, stand alone.

They just don’t expect it to be on a Thursday.

Mike Weir, celebrating the 20th anniversary of his Green Jacket victory, was left to play the final nine holes of his opening round by himself with playing partner Kevin Na withdrawing due to illness on the 10th tee.

“I can’t remember the last time I played as a single,” said Weir. “So that was a strange back nine.”

Weir, to his credit, shot an even-par 72. He made a bogey on the par-4 11th after missing a 10-foot par saver. But he hit a nifty tee ball on the par-3 12th and converted the birdie. Weir birdied No. 15 as well but gave it back with a bogey on No. 16.

Still, the 2003 Masters winner was pleased with his day.

“I played really well. Seventy-two is a nice score. That could have been a really, really good score today,” said Weir. “I drove it well. I made some nice putts to get the round going early, maybe a six or seven-footer on No. 1 for par and another one on No. 3. So that was some nice momentum early, and then I just played really well the rest of the day.”

Weir, 52, said he used to try to get out first when he was younger for practice rounds, but, with a laugh, he said his rounds on PGA Tour Champions start at a “more civil” time.

The Canadian admitted he had to try to slow down his process when Na headed back into the clubhouse.

“I think it was just the pace. I think that's the biggest thing is just getting the pace right of your walk and not kind of getting too caught up in my own game and just kind of having a laugh with my caddie and just kind of enjoying it. That's the approach I look,” said Weir. “I knew I didn't have to hustle, but I didn't want to be super slow.”

Weir finished about an hour before the next-closest group.

Officials from Augusta National would confirm later in the afternoon whether Weir would be re-paired with a competitor in the field from another group for Friday, or if a non-competing marker would be utilized instead. He’s set to tee off at 11:06 a.m. ET for the second round.