|
Mike Weir wrote himself into Canada's sporting history here yesterday.
He had long dreamt of being the first from this country ever to win one of golf's major championships and, in the gathering darkness at Augusta National Golf Club, it all came true.
The native of Bright's Grove, Ont., battled all day in one of sport's most intense pressure-cookers -- the Masters -- and didn't blink, eventually beating American Len Mattiace on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
"It's something I've dreamt of and something I've worked very hard for," he said. "It's a huge day for me and for my family but I realize also what a big win it is for Canada. I've had so much support from so many people.
"I thought of George Knudson out there today and wished that he could have been here to see this."
He also thought of Bob Charles, the only left-handed golfer ever to win a major, until yesterday. Charles, a New Zealander, won the British Open in When Tiger Woods, the 2001 and 2002 champion, slipped the green jacket (size 42 regular) over Weir's diminutive shoulders, Weir said simply, "It feels good."
[ 04-14-2003, 04:28 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]
|