No Mike Weir was not out celebrating with the Russian juniors in Buffalo, but he is celebrating the fact he has hired a veteran name in caddy circles Pete Bender to start his 2011 season on his bag.
Weir did the media conference call thing with us all yesterday to make the announcement.
Bender is now 60 and has caddied for Ray Floyd and Greg Norman amongst others and has 2 Open Championships to his name, Norman in 1986 and Ian Baker Finch in 1991. Most recently his Aussie connection continued with Aaron Baddeley.
He recently survived throat cancer, is in good health and has earned a reputation as a great reader of greens.
Weir says he is feeling good after his annual practice sessions in Hawaii, his elbow has healed without surgery, he returned to play in Tiger's Chevron Challenge before Christmas.
Why did he select Bender ?? " We have the same outlook and passion for the game, I wanted someone experienced with a passion for winning"
Weir will have 5 events to win $230,000 under a medical exemption. That amount would give him the same as the 125th player on the 2010 money list and therefore full playing status, although if he doesn't make it, his status as the Masters Champion 2003 does carry playing privileges on tour until 2013..
He will start his 2011 season at the Bob Hope Classic on January 29th where he won in 2003 and he will also enter the Northern Trust Open at Riviera ( formerly the Nissan when he won it in 2003,04) and he will play the AT&T at Pebble Beach where he was 2nd on 2005 and '09..
You'll remember Mike and longtime caddy Brennan Little split up this year when Brennan got the chance to caddy for 28 year old star Sean O'Hair... Mike has slipped to 151 on the money list with $560,000 his worst position since 1998, his rookie year.
He has also mentioned that he won't be volunteering for the PGA tours' idea to allow players to wear microphones during TV events this year.. " I don't know if I'd feel comfortable, I don't know if I want other players to know what we are discussing "
PGA tour
Meanwhile in beautiful Maui our RBC Canadian Open winner Carl Pettersson has joined Jonathan Byrd atop the leader board at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Both are at -7, 66
T1 1 Jonathan Byrd -7 F -7 66
T1 1 Carl Pettersson -7 F -7 66
3 3 Ben Crane -6 F -6 67
T4 4 Bill Haas -5 F -5 68
T4 4 Charley Hoffman -5 F -5 68
T4 4 Jim Furyk -5 F -5 68
T7 7 Robert Garrigus -4 F -4 69
T7 7 Stuart Appleby -4 F - 69
T7 7 Anthony Kim -4 F -4 69
T7 -- Francesco Molinari -4 F -4 69
T7 7 Steve Stricker -4 F -4 69
T7 7 Matt Kuchar -4 F -4 69
Ian Poulter is T13 at -3 70 and Graeme McDowell is T19 at -2 71. McDowell has left Callaway and has changed clubs and companies for 2011, here is the release....
Graeme McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champion, has joined Srixon as a member of their PGA Tour staff. Also a six-time winner on the European Tour, McDowell will play Srixon irons, Cleveland wedges and Srixon balls. He will also wear a Srixon hat and glove and carry a Srixon bag.
I have seen this kind of move backfire on guys who can't resist the big bucks they get offered after the kind of year McDowell is coming off. Corey Pavin won the US Open at Shinnecock in 1995 and was the bulldog of the US Ryder Cup teams playing Cleveland irons then he changed to Taylormade and for whatever reason was rarely heard from again
EUROPEAN tour
Halfway around the world the European Tour continues it's swing through South Africa, this time it is the Africa Open, East London GC in the Eastern province. I have been watching this on the Golf Channel. Conditions are breezy and bright on a very undulating, athletic golf course.. The cut looks like +2 where Retief Goosen is and I mention that because he is playing with a pulled muscle in his ribs. He injured himself playing with his kids and is popping pain killers, so probably best if he misses the cut..
Branden Grace is from RSA, Markus Brier from Austria and Miles Tunnicliff from England..
T1 GRACE, Branden* -10 18 -4 67 69 - - 136
T1 BRIER, Markus* -10 18 -7 70 66 - - 136
T1 TUNNICLIFF, Miles -10 18 -4 67 69 - - 136
T4 VAN ZYL, Jaco -9 18 -3 67 70 - - 137
T4 OOSTHUIZEN, Louis -9 18 -6 70 67 - - 137
T4 McGOWAN, Ross -9 18 -4 68 69 - - 137
7 SALTMAN, Elliot -8 18 -2 67 71 - - 138
T8 SCHWARTZEL, Charl* -7 18 -3 69 70 - - 139
T8 OHLSSON, Fredrik* -7 18 -1 67 72 - - 139
T8 QUIROS, Manuel -7 18 -5 71 68 - - 139
RBC note.. Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar and big Ernie Els have now agreed to terms with RBC as one of their sponsors, so watch for the RBC logo on their bags and maybe shirts and hats too..
Bryan Angus bryanangus4@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment