Mike Weir earns major medical exemption for start of 2011
Being forced to sit out for the past couple of months, Mike Weir did not make enough money on the PGA Tour last year to earn playing privileges for 2011. But now he will enter next year
on a major medical exemption and will be forced to play well if he wants to keep his card for 2011.
The 2003 Masters champion is exempt for five events to start the season, needing to equal or surpass the money winnings of the 125th ranked player in 2010. The top-125 on the PGA Tour
money list automatically qualify for the following year.
Missing the cut in eight of 19 events this season, Weir earned $559,092. With one event remaining on the PGA Tour schedule, Troy Matteson currently sits at 125 on the money list, having
won $723,328. Weir is confident he can pull it off.
"I'm going to come out prepared and ready, and I fully believe I won't have any trouble reaching that goal," Weir wrote on his website.
The 40-year-old Canadian suffered from a torn ligament in his right elbow this past July at the British Open and hasn’t played in a tournament since the Wyndham Championship this past
August. He gave his fans an injury update through his website.
"In the last week or so I've been actually taking a few shots -- nothing too serious, just doing a little pitching and chipping and hitting a couple of 5-irons off a tee," he wrote. "I'm
slowly trying to see where it is and how it feels and so far, so good. My doctors are pleased with how the recovery is going.”
"I'm not yet ready to try hitting into the ground -- I'm still a little worried about impact -- but these small steps have been encouraging. Still, there's no guarantee about anything
yet in the recovery. It's a day-to-day thing."
Weir plans to play at the Shark Shootout, the Greg Norman-hosted event taking place from 10-12 December in Naples, Florida. He also recently announced that he would be parting ways with
swing coach Mike Wilson.
"It's all about taking ownership of my game," Weir said.
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