Mike Weir a Key Player for Team U.S. in 2010 Ryder Cup
The unfortunate halt in the Professional Golfers’ Association Tour has given a much needed break to Canadian born golfer Mike Weir. Even though Weir is playing some of his best golf since his infamous 2003 stand-out year, he blames aging for his persistent and frequent injuries.
Weir almost pulled out of the BMW Championship in St. Louis, Missouri in September because of a disc problem in his neck that caused muscle problems in both his right shoulder and right elbow. "Now that I'm pushing 40, these things seem to be cropping up more often," Weir said to Canada.com.
Despite being an over-the-hill athlete, Mike Weir proudly endorsed the American team for this year’s Ryder Cup Celtic Manor Open in early October. Europe is a favourite to win, but Weir points out that the U.S. team has young professional golfers like J.B. Holmes who is “hungry” for victory. Holmes was part of the winning U.S. team that brought home the Walker Cup in 2005. Weir may not have a win yet this year, but he is just as eager as his younger teammates.
Why should Team Europe be concerned? With the youth and fortitude of his fellow members on the U.S. Team, Weir brings experience and strong statistics to the Ryder Cup. He has been a professional golfer since 1992 and part of the PGA Tour since 1998. The Ontario, Canada native is also revered as having the best wedge in the PGA tour.
Despite joking that he needs to be the best wedge player to make up for his inability to drive the ball a long distance, Weir has enough drive to have ranked two spots ahead of fellow Canadian golfer Stephen Ames—a professional PGA golfer holding dual citizenship in Trinidad and Tobago, and Canada—at number 25. Impressive as this is, Team Europe needs to be weary of Weir as this ranking is well below his dream of getting back to his 2003 ranking of No.3 in the world.
“My goal is to get as far up the list as I can,” Weird told Canada.com.
The Bridge Opens to Celtic Manor
The Twenty Ten Bridge transporting Weir to a chance at his dream officially opened on July 7, 2010. The open marks a celebratory beginning to a long wait for Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones and Celtic Manor Chairman Sir Terry Matthews, who won the bid to host the 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor back in 2001. Both enthusiastically walked the two metre distance across the bridge alongside Ryder Cup Director Richard Hills to cut the ribbon leading to the new Celtic Manor practice ground.
The new bridge offers a spectator stand for fans, as well as access to the grounds for transporting golf equipment, players and emergency vehicles if ever needed. On the other side of the bridge stands the Celtic Manor Resort with its new course, a clubhouse and other amenities like restaurants and spas. The bridge symbolizes the anticipated beginning of the 2010 Ryder Cup this coming October, as well as the feud between Team Europe and Team U.S.
Ryder Cup U.S. Team Captain Corey Pavin believes that young players are key to his team’s success at the tournament because they love the air of competition and of going head-to-head with other players. However, Pavin is just as sure of Weir’s abilities on the new course since it is set up in such a way that calls more for “accuracy than power,” he told Golf 365. With Weir’s newfound time to rest and his drive to win with a competitive wedge, Team Europe might be wishing the new suspension bridge were a drawbridge instead.
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