As I mentioned last week, Mike Weir will not be amongst the luminaries at Riviera this week at what is called the Northern Trust Open these days. It was the Nissan when Mike won it back to back years in 2003 2004.
Both Lorne Rubenstein and my long time broadcast partner Bob Weeks have written about this snub, and we all feel that spots given to others, even International spots (10 exemptions in total) should have gone to their 2 time champion, veteran lefty Steve Fleisch twittered that it was a mockery
However Mike, classy as ever posted a blog on his website late last week with his view on the matter.
He said he understood that organizers had to make the best choice for their tournament and he wished them all the best.
"I was hoping to get an exemption into the field ...but it's tough because there will never be enough spots for all the players who want them."
"Future sponsor exemptions are just going to be coming when I get them. I don't have anything secured at the moment with the exception of one for the RBC Heritage, the week after the Masters. I've been talking with sponsors and tournament directors and hopefully I'll be getting some starts."
Weir indicated late last year that he would use the remaining year of his European Tour exemption for winning the Masters to fill out the remainder of his playing schedule.
As for this week, Weir says he feels good getting back and playing golf again after months of rehabilitating his surgically repaired elbow.
"Although it's only been a month that I've been back playing, I'm pleased with where my game is," wrote Weir. "I feel as if I've been able to simplify everything in my swing and get less technical and more feel-oriented. When I've done that in the past, I've played my best golf."
Weir added he has a new caddie, Mike Bestor, who has previous experience looping for Dean Wilson and Y.E. Yang, and he's working with a new coach in David Woods, originally from Winnipeg.
Mike missed the cut at Pebble after a third round 78. The European tour is in India this week at the Avantha Masters then over here for the WGC Accenture Match Play in Arizona, then the WGC Cadillac at Doral followed by 3 smaller events in Spain, Morocco and Sicily before the Masters so it is unlikely Mike will play any of them.
European Tour before the Masters
Feb 16 Feb 19 Avantha Masters
DLF G&CC,New Delhi,India
€1,800,000
Feb 22 Feb 26 WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship
Ritz-Carlton GC, Dove Mountain,Marana,Arizona,USA
$8,500,000
Mar 08 Mar 11 WGC - Cadillac Championship
Doral Golf Resort & Spa,Florida,USA
$8,500,000
Mar 15 Mar 18 Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol
Aloha GC,Andalucia,Spain
€1,000,000
Mar 22 Mar 25 Trophée Hassan II
Golf du Palais Royal,Agadir,Morocco
€1,500,000
Mar 29 Apr 01 Sicilian Open
Verdura Golf & Spa Resort,Sicily,Italy
It seems more likely to me he wood get an invitation from the PGA tour, perhaps the Mayakoba in Mexico, or the Honda first week of March or even the relatively new Puerto Rico Open the week after. I would think Weirsy needs to get some competitive rounds under his belt to shake off the rust, test the elbow, and as importantly see if what he and Woods are working on can give him a game off the tee he can trust, we all know he can wedge, chip and putt with the best of them even though he has changed to the ever popular belly putter.
By the way David Woods his new coach is not the Director of Golf Dave Woods at Angus Glen who was this country's teacher of the year in 2006, Bob Weeks met him at Pebble last week and writes, "this Dave Woods is from Winnipeg he spent some time working at St. Charles under the great Jim Collins but now is the director of golf at The Vintage Club in Indian Wells, Calif., a very exclusive club in the Palm Springs area.
PGA Tour before the Masters
Feb. 23 - 26 Mayakoba Golf Classic
El Camaleon, Riviera Maya, Mex
Purse: $3,700,000 GOLF
Johnson Wagner (D)
$666,000
Feb. 22 - 26 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship
Ritz-Carlton GC, Dove Mountain, Marana, Arizona
Purse: $8,500,000 GOLF
Luke Donald (D)
$1,400,000
March 01 - 04 The Honda Classic
PGA National Champion Course, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Purse: $5,700,000 GOLF
Rory Sabbatini (D)
$1,026,000
March 08 - 11 Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com
Trump Intrntl GC - Puerto Rico, Rio Grande, PUR
Purse: $3,500,000 GOLF
Michael Bradley (D)
$630,000
March 08 - 11 World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship
TPC Blue Monster at Doral, Miami, Florida
Purse: $8,500,000 GOLF
Nick Watney (D)
$1,400,000
March 15 - 18 Transitions Championship
Innisbrook Resort - Copperhead, Palm Harbor, Florida
Purse: $5,500,000 GOLF
Gary Woodland (D)
$990,000
March 19 - 20 Tavistock Cup
Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, Orlando, Florida
Purse: $2,170,000* (D)
$800,000
March 22 - 25 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard
Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida
Purse: $6,000,000 GOLF
Martin Laird (D)
$1,080,000
March 29 - April 01 Shell Houston Open
Redstone GC Tournament Course, Humble, Texas
Purse: $6,000,000
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
No comments:
Post a Comment