CALGARY – Being the international captain for the (quickly) upcoming Presidents Cup has meant Mike Weir’s actual playing schedule on PGA Tour Champions has been reduced significantly.
But he’s in Calgary this week for the Rogers Charity Classic after teeing it up last week at the Boeing Classic. He’s also got half an eye – well, maybe more than that – on the first leg of the FedExCup Playoffs, and the other half on notching a good result this week at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club.
“It's always great to come home for sure. This is the only time we get to do that on the Champions Tour right now. To come home here is awesome. It's a great golf course,” Weir said Wednesday.
Weir has teed it up 12 times on the over-50 circuit and has recorded two top-10s, including a runner up at the Dick’s Open in June. Weir also played his usual PGA Tour double dip – the Masters and the RBC Canadian Open. He nearly made the cut at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, but stumbled home with two bogeys in a row on Friday.
Weir, who recently joined Team Rogers, knows this week is an important one for him both on and off the course.
“For me, it's on the top of mind – the Presidents Cup. My game is secondary. Even though I'm working on my game and playing, my mind is constantly thinking about it,” Weir said. “(There are) calls before rounds, calls after rounds, texting with guys, our analytics guys. I’m trying to get all the information I can in regards to the players so I can make the best decision upcoming in the next couple weeks.”
There are currently no Canadians inside the top six automatic qualifiers, but Corey Conners is right there at No. 7. Weir said Wednesday it would be hard to not pick No. 7 and No. 8 (currently Australia’s Min Woo Lee). He’s long admitted that it’s “not Team Canada,” although Weir would love nothing more than to give the Canadian crowds plenty of homegrown talent to cheer for. Presidents Cup executive director Ryan Hart said recently that a ticket has been purchased for Royal Montreal by someone who lives in every province in the country.
“As I've said all along, it's an international team,” Weir said. “A lot guys are playing well. I really like our team the way it's shaping up. Guys are very excited. Been engaged with the players since the get-go, since I became the captain. Players have reached out to me and they're very excited to be on the team.”
On PGA Tour Champions there are plenty of guys who have captained teams before for Weir to bounce his ideas off of. He said Darren Clarke – who captained a European Ryder Cup team – told Weir with a smile that once the Presidents Cup is done, he could get his “life back” and focus on his own game.
Weir is teeing it up at the Rogers Charity Classic for the fourth straight year, with his best result, tied for ninth, coming in his 2021 debut.
“I played a few less tournaments this year and just your headspace is constantly thinking (about the Presidents Cup),” Weir said. “A little bit harder to play but still fun. I found a nice balance.
“I feel rested and ready for this week and hopefully that leads to good play.”
While Weir is excited to try to notch another fine finish on PGA Tour Champions, there are five Canadians in the field at the first leg of the FedExCup Playoffs in Memphis – and don’t think for a second Weir doesn’t know that, too.
“It’s crunch time for a lot of players,” Weir said. “We have six automatic spots off the world rankings and then there’s six picks with a lot of Canadians in the mix so hoping they’re going to really play well the next couple weeks and then I can pick them for the team.”
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