LDS Golfer wins first PGA Victory (He learned from his failure at the PGA)
London Ontario Free Press 6Sep99 L3
By Morris Dalla Costa: Free Press sports columnist

and

Buddy's talk calmed Weir
Ottawa Canada Sun 6Sep99 L3
By Sun staff, wire services

At the Air Canada Championship yesterday in Surrey, British Columbia, LDS Church member Mike Weir scored his first PGA Tour victory.

Three weeks ago the former BYU golfer had a chance to become the first Canadian to win a golf major when he entered the PGA Championship's final round at Medinah as the co-leader with Tiger Woods. But the 29-year-old stumbled to an 80 and finished 10th.

Few people really understand the realities of playing on the PGA Tour, nor understand how difficult it is to even make the tour.

Last year, Weir lost his right to play on the tour by not making enough money. At age 30, He could have crumbled at the idea of having to go through tour school qualifying yet again. Instead he won the school qualifying tournament.

"It was tough watching the PGA but he learned a lot. He learned to be more patient," a friend said. "He turned that experience into a positive."

Weir also learned how to play under intense scrutiny with a tournament on the line.

How well did he apply what he learned?

He never faltered at this one. Over the final two days of the tournament, he shot twin 64's to finish the tournament 18-under par. He made the shot of the tournament on the 14th hole. He holed a 147-yard approach shot from the left of the fairway for an eagle two that moved him into the lead.

He became the first Canadian to win a PGA event since 1992 and the first to win on home turf since 1954, picking up a $450,000 check. Canada is pretty proud of Mike right now."

Born May 12, 1970, in Sarnia, Toronto, Canada, the 5-foot-9, 155 lbs. Mike Weir now lives in Draper, Utah. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1993, the year after he turned pro in 1992

Some of his career highlights are:

* Gold medallist at 1998 PGA qualifying school in field of 169 golfers.
* Won 1997 Canadian Tour Order or Merit.
* Named Canadian Tour rookie of the year in 1993.
* Won 1990 Ontario Amateur Championship.
* Finished second at 1999 Motorola Western Open.