Mike Weir

Mike Weir Bio

Michael Richard Weir, CM OOnt (born May 12, 1970) is a Canadian professional golfer widely recognized as the only Canadian man to win a professional major championship. He currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions after a long career on the PGA Tour, and he spent more than 110 weeks inside the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking between 2001 and 2005. Nicknamed “Weirsy,” he plays golf left-handed even though he is naturally right-handed, a quirk that traces back to his early days as a hockey player in Ontario.

Early Life and Background

Mike Weir was born in Sarnia, Ontario, and grew up in the nearby suburb of Brights Grove. He learned the game at Huron Oaks Golf Course, where he was coached by Steve Bennett and later worked in the pro shop and as a caddy. Like many Canadian boys, his first sport was hockey, and his natural left-handed shot on the ice led him to play golf left-handed as well. A family connection handed him three woods and four irons, and with money earned from his club work he bought a left-handed wedge that he used until the grip wore out.

When Weir was 12, he won a junior tournament and used the prize of a complete set of irons to upgrade his clubs. At age 11, he met Jack Nicklaus when the legend visited Huron Oaks for an exhibition, a meeting that would shape his career. He gave up hockey in his early teens after deciding he would not grow large enough for the sport, and golf took over as his main pursuit. He attended St. Michael Elementary School in Brights Grove and St. Clair Secondary School in Sarnia.

Path to Professional Golf

While still a teenager, Weir wrote to Jack Nicklaus in 1984 to ask whether he should switch to playing right-handed. Nicklaus wrote back quickly, advising, “If you are a good player left-handed, don’t change anything—especially if that feels natural to you.” Weir kept that letter, now framed, in his home and never reconsidered his stance again. He went on to study Recreation Management at Brigham Young University, where he was named an All-American in 1992.

Weir captured the Ontario Junior Championship in 1988 and the Ontario Amateur Championship in both 1990 and 1992. He tied for second at the 1991 Canadian Amateur Championship and finished a clear second in the same event in 1992, results that established him as one of Canada’s top amateurs. He turned professional in 1992 and began his career on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour.

Mike Weir Career

Early Career (1992-1998)

Mike Weir turned professional in 1992 and quickly found success on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour, winning three events during that developmental period. He also played selected events on the Asian PGA Tour, gaining valuable experience across different conditions and courses. In 1997, he won the Canadian Tour Order of Merit, confirming his status as the top Canadian-based player of that season.

Weir first reached the PGA Tour in 1998 but lost his playing privileges due to insufficient performance. He regained his card by being medalist at the final PGA Tour Qualifying School tournament, an emphatic statement that set the stage for his breakthrough on the game’s biggest stage.

PGA Tour Breakthrough (1999-2003)

Mike Weir’s first PGA Tour victory came at the 1999 Air Canada Championship in Surrey, British Columbia. The win made him the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour event held in Canada in 45 years, a milestone that resonated across the country’s golf community. He followed that with a share of the 54-hole lead at the 1999 PGA Championship alongside Tiger Woods, eventually finishing tied for 10th. In 2001, he captured The Tour Championship in a playoff, cementing his reputation as a clutch performer.

The 2003 season began with two West Coast Swing wins, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Palm Springs and the Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club. Then, in April 2003, Weir won the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, defeating Len Mattiace in a sudden-death playoff. He became only the second left-handed golfer to win a major after Bob Charles, and the first Canadian man ever to win a professional major. He added a tie for third at the U.S. Open later that summer, which lifted him to No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking, his career high.

Weir opened 2004 by winning the Nissan Open for a second straight year, joining Ben Hogan and others on a short list of repeat champions at that event. For his standout 2003 play, he received the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s top athlete of the year. He also added multiple Lionel Conacher Awards during this peak period.

Later PGA Tour Years (2004-2019)

After his 2004 repeat at Riviera, Weir went more than three-and-a-half years without a PGA Tour win. A swing change with instructors Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer produced mixed results, including a tie for eighth at The Open Championship in 2007. That same year, he was picked as a discretionary Presidents Cup selection by International captain Gary Player and went on to beat Tiger Woods in singles, a moment Weir later called “maybe even more special than winning the Masters.” The Presidents Cup momentum carried him to victory at the Fry’s Electronics Open in October 2007, his eighth PGA Tour win, tying him with George Knudson for the most PGA Tour victories by a Canadian.

A torn ligament in his right elbow shortened his 2010 season and required surgery. He began 2011 on a major medical exemption and struggled to make cuts, eventually dropping to the Past Champions category. He later relied on career-earnings exemptions to keep his PGA Tour card and competed on both the PGA and European Tours during 2012. In 2014, he finished runner-up at the Byron Nelson Championship, his best result in years, which moved him more than 350 spots up the world rankings.

Weir withdrew from the 2015 RBC Canadian Open and took an indefinite leave from competition. He joined the TNT broadcast team for the 2016 PGA Championship as an on-course reporter and served as a captain’s assistant at the 2017 and 2019 Presidents Cups. In 2019, he played the full Web.com Tour season, preparing for a transition to senior golf.

PGA Tour Champions Era (2020-Present)

Weir turned 50 in May 2020 and joined the PGA Tour Champions that same year. In May 2021, he won the Insperity Invitational in The Woodlands, Texas, his first worldwide victory since 2007. The win signaled a strong start to his senior career and added to his already substantial legacy in Canadian golf.

Notable Events and Milestones

Among Mike Weir’s most enduring milestones are his 2003 Masters victory, his consecutive Nissan Open titles in 2003 and 2004, and his tie with George Knudson as the all-time Canadian leader with eight PGA Tour wins. His 2007 Presidents Cup singles win over Tiger Woods remains a defining moment of his career, while his election to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2009 and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 confirmed his lasting impact on the sport.

Mike Weir Career Wins

Mike Weir has built a deep and varied resume with 14 professional wins across multiple tours. He has eight PGA Tour victories, two European Tour wins, one PGA Tour Champions title, three Canadian Tour titles, and additional wins in other events. He is tied with George Knudson for the most PGA Tour victories by a Canadian player and remains the only Canadian man to capture a major championship.

PGA Tour Highlights

Weir’s eight PGA Tour titles span from the 1999 Air Canada Championship to the 2007 Fry’s Electronics Open. His first PGA Tour victory in Canada in 45 years announced him as a national star, while his playoff win at The Tour Championship in 2001 cemented his reputation under pressure. The 2003 Masters, won in a sudden-death playoff over Len Mattiace, stands as the crown jewel of his PGA Tour career.

Other Wins & Performances

Weir won three events on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour and the Canadian Tour Order of Merit in 1997. He added two European Tour victories and a PGA Tour Champions win at the 2021 Insperity Invitational. Together, these titles illustrate a career that has produced results across tours, continents, and decades.

Mike Weir Family

Family Background and Personal Life

Mike Weir was raised in the Brights Grove community of Sarnia, Ontario, and credits his upbringing there for his introduction to golf at Huron Oaks. He has spoken often about the influence of his early coach Steve Bennett and his childhood encounter with Jack Nicklaus, both of which shaped his path in the sport.

Personal Life

Weir was married to Bricia Weir from 1994 until their divorce in 2014, and the couple has two daughters. He later married Michelle Money in 2023. He currently lives in Sandy, Utah, where he continues to play and train on the PGA Tour Champions.

2025 Season Outlook

Mike Weir enters the 2025 PGA Tour Champions season as one of the circuit’s most respected veterans and one of its few major champions. Building on his 2021 Insperity Invitational breakthrough, he is expected to be a regular contender in major senior events and full-field championships. His continued association with longtime swing coaches and his renewed focus on tournament play position him as a potential winner on the 50-and-over circuit.

With more than two decades of professional experience, a Major championship pedigree, and a loyal Canadian fan base, Weir brings leadership and stability to every Champions event he enters. His story continues to inspire a new generation of Canadian golfers, and 2025 represents another opportunity to add to his Hall of Fame legacy.