Tendinitis cramps Weir’s style at Open

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This article was published 22/07/2010 (5847 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO — It was probably the one time Mike Weir would rather have been talking about trying to end the country’s long drought at the RBC Canadian Open.

Instead, the popular lefty from Bright’s Grove, Ont., found himself discussing a bout of tendinitis in his right arm on the eve of the national championship. Weir’s pro-am round came to an abrupt end Wednesday when he walked off the course to receive treatment in the PGA Tour’s fitness trailer.

Before leaving St. George’s Golf and Country Club, he made it clear that he plans to return for his opening-round tee time this afternoon (TSN, 2 p.m. CT).

Advil

"I can’t see myself withdrawing," Weir said. "I mean, I’ll play through it. I have next week off. Today in the pro-am, it was bothering me on every shot I hit and I thought it was a good time to take it easy.

"(The physical therapist) said, ‘It was a good thing you did that.’ He said, ‘Don’t hit any more shots today.Just keep doing the ice and Advil and rest it.’ "

The nagging injury flared up during last week’s British Open and puts another wrinkle into Weir’s attempt to become the first Canadian to win at home since Pat Fletcher in 1954.

Interestingly, he wasn’t asked about ending that streak during his session with reporters Wednesday. It’s probably the first time that’s happened here in more than a decade.

Even though Weir didn’t talk about it, everyone on the property knows exactly how important the tournament is to him.

"I guarantee that Mike Weir wants it a thousand times more than you could ever imagine he wants it," said England’s Paul Casey. "To win your national championship — that’s what you want. So the fact that (Canadians) want him to win it and (reporters) keep writing about it adds a little bit of pressure, but it’s not stopping him from doing it.

"He just needs a little bit of luck. I think he’s got the game. Maybe this week."

Casey is one of the main competitors who can keep it from happening. He’s the top-ranked player in the field at No. 8 in the world and just days removed from a third-place finish at the British Open.

Eleven of the top 30 in the tour’s FedExCup standings have entered, including Casey, Retief Goosen, Tim Clark, Camilo Villegas, Hunter Mahan and Luke Donald. Only eight of the top 30 participated in the US$5.1-million event last year.

The biggest star might end up being St. George’s, which is hosting the tournament for the first time since 1968. Players have been raving about the Stanley Thompson layout after their practice rounds.

"It’s a great golf course," said Calgary’s Stephen Ames, who first played here 30 years ago. "It’s a ball-striker’s course… You’ve got to think on every shot, where you want to miss it or where you don’t want to miss it.

"How many golf courses do you play like that?"

Added Matt Bettencourt, a winner last week in Reno: "This place is phenomenal."

Even defending champion Nathan Green didn’t mind arriving at an unfamiliar venue to try winning another title. He outlasted Goosen in a Monday playoff last year at Glen Abbey, but welcomed the move to St. George’s.

"I actually like that," said Green. "I think Canada has got so many great golf courses. I think it’s good that they share and do move it around."

Tournament organizers would welcome an event with as much drama as they had here in 1968.

Canadian George Knudson set the course record then with a 6-under 64 to move into a tie for the lead heading into the final round. Knudson faded on Sunday and Bob Charles and Jack Nicklaus waged a head-to-head battle on the back nine that Charles eventually won with a birdie on the 72nd hole.

It’s that kind of history that helped lure Casey to the Canadian Open for the first time.

"It’s the third-oldest national championship in the world," he said. "I put it down as a great event. This is part of history. So I would very much love to win this."

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If Weir is to finally get his name on the trophy, he’ll have to overcome injury to do it. The timing of his ailment couldn’t be much worse.

"I haven’t had a very good year," Weir said. "But I’m still very positive and I’m looking forward to finishing off the year strong. I can still make a good year of it.

"Hopefully, this doesn’t hold me back too much."

— The Canadian Press