Weir Shines at Medinah

Watching the PGA Championship from Medinah on CBS was a treat. No, it wasn't just because I was actually able to sit and watch it.

It was for two reasons.

One- Mike Weir, my favorite Canadian golfer was at one point tied for the lead and shot a brilliant 65 despite having two bogeys and the course being over 7000 yards.
Two- They were actually showing Mke Weir's play.

There have been many times where Mike Weir has been at contention at the Majors and important tournaments. He's won the Masters and 6 other tournaments. He's not just a flash in the pan. He has the support of 30 million canadians behind.

The only problem is that he never gets the air time that he deserves.

I do understand that Tiger Woods and his fellow players have changed the game of golf over the last ten years. I've grown up watching Tiger and know that it's quite a special thing to have seen his play. I'm forever amazed at his achievemens and have the utmost confidence in him when he is in contention at a golf tournament. Tiger has brought a whole new set of fans to the game just like Arnie did and just like Jack did.

I'd argue that it has its pluses and minuses. The fans that he had brought seem to only cheer for him. When I used to work at a golf course in the summer, whenever the golf was on on the weekends the first thing people would ask me is "HOWZ TIGER DOIN???". Most of the time he was not playing that tournament because he was preparing his golf for the upcoming major. They would even want to know when he was barely scraping by. To me, these people are not watching golf, they are watching Tiger Woods. Those are two different things and a Tiger fan won't necessarily be a golf fan.

As a result, some tournaments are not as successful and revenues are guaranteed only when Tiger comes to a tournament.

Of course money talks and the fans and sponsors get what they pay for. PGA players are greatful for what Tiger has done because purses are bigger than they ever have been and have been growing at an alarming rate. It was once incredible if a player got over one million dollars in a year in the early 80s. Now a player can get easily 1 million for winning a tournament thanks to Tiger. That does come at a cost to the other players though...All of Woods' rounds will be shown from the first drive on 1 to the last putt on 18 regardless of his position in the field.

Which brings me back to Mike Weir. He's Canadian. He's a small guy, quiet, not flashy and you certainly won't be quoting him as if he's the Jeremy Roenick of golf. He doesn't make a fool out of himself like Phil, the other lefty can. He works hard grinding around the course. So that's why it was such a treat to watch the golf today. They showed him from tee to green on almost all of the holes. They were even throwing Weir stats left and right as he was climbing up the leaderboard. He finally got some of the respect that he deserved.

Thank you CBS and congrats Mike Weir on your wonderful third round performance.