Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
30 Jan 2003 - 02 Feb 2003PGA West, La Quinta, California
To be honest, I am a little surprised that it came so quickly. I did feel good going into Phoenix. I worked with my coach, Mike Wilson, the week before and I was hitting it solid. I was just hoping to keep it rolling going into the Hope. I felt if I could get a good game plan together I might have a good week there and I did.
I haven’t won early in the season in my PGA Tour career, so it was probably a little surprising. On the other hand, I was playing really well and I did win a number of college tournaments at the start of the year when I was at Brigham Young.
Strangely enough, I think what I went through last year definitely helped me begin this year well. I think I just needed a little time away from the game to refocus and get my head straightened out. I think some of the adversity of what I went through last year made me prepare more for this year.
I was definitely hungry to put 2002 behind me. I spent a lot of my off-season working on my fundamentals – things like my grip and my stance. I also spent time putting in my basement and looking at my putting posture in mirrors I have set up down there.
Even for professionals, we sometimes stray away from the basics that are the foundation of every golf swing and I needed to re-visit those. (There’s a lesson in there for all you amateurs, too).
Certainly some of the things I worked on last year didn’t pan out; I went down the wrong path with some and really, I got away from just playing the game. I was working so hard on my swing and I didn’t pay attention to getting the ball in the hole.
So at the Hope, I was definitely excited to go to the first tee on Sunday. It was a good feeling to be in the last group for the final round and to be in the hunt again. I said to Brennan during the round that this is why we play, this is what it’s all about.
I can also say I wasn’t unhappy to see the wind blowing – I felt that I probably had a little bit of an advantage because I hit the ball low as opposed to Tim Herron, the leader going into the final round, who hits it high, and I was striking it solid, which helps in windy conditions.
Something else that buoyed my spirits was the large contingent of Canadian fans following me around. They were sensational. On the seventh hole, after I rolled in a birdie putt from the fringe, they erupted and Jay Haas came over and asked if we were playing the Bell Canadian Open. They stayed that way for all 18 holes.
And as happy as I was for myself and Brennan for winning, I was especially happy for all my fans back in Canada. Last year, I felt like, in some way, and on some level, I kind of let them down. It wasn’t for a lack of trying but I didn't play up to where I wanted to. I want to take Canadian golf to another level and with that there's a little bit of a sense of responsibility.
The fans give me so much support and at times last year, when some people criticized me for the way I was playing, the fans were always encouraging me and saying nice things. That’s so important and special for me. It meant a great deal. I’ll always remember that.
This week, though, some of those fans might not even know I’m playing. That’s because I’m playing with the Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky, in the AT+T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Ironically, it was after one of my biggest losses – the 1999 PGA Championship – that I first made contact with Wayne. He called me and told me not to worry, that I’d learn from that defeat and get better. Of course he was right – a few months later I won the Air Canada Championship in Vancouver.
Since then, we’ve played in the Wayne Gretzky & Friends Charity Tournament and enjoyed each other’s company. He’s an amazing athlete and it will be a lot of fun to tee it up with the greatest hockey player ever.
In closing, I want to thank all of my fans and members of MikeWeir.com who have continued to support me along the way. Your words of encouragement over the last few days especially, are greatly appreciated.
Mike Weir
