Balance After Winning the Masters
by Stephanie Morgan, Columbus Wired Columnist

Fresh off of the practice round, Mike Weir is seemingly unfazed by his Defending Masters Champion status. In coming to The Memorial, Weir has been concentrating on his putting game. Today’s practice with Jack Nicklaus was a chance to get an even better idea of the changes made to this year’s course. While most may assume that constant practice was high on Weir’s list after The Masters, what Weir found most important was taking time off to spend with his family.

At thirteen, Weir sought golf advice from Jack Nicklaus himself. In a short letter, Weir asked Nicklaus whether he should switch to playing right-handed. While this may have seemed a bold move for a teenager, Weir is the first to admit “that it was just cool getting a letter back from Jack Nicklaus.” (Nicklaus advised he should stick with his natural swing.)

While the serendipitous pairing of the two during the practice round might indicate the meeting of two driven professionals, Weir’s demeanor was decidedly calm. And while he has spent the last few years perfecting his fitness regime and game, Weir is a man of priorities. In the time after The Masters, what was most important to him were the weeks away from golf spent reconnecting with his family.

While winning The Masters brought more media appearances and the chance to drop the puck at a Toronto Maple Leafs playoff game (dropped left-handed), hard choices needed to be made. Weir turned down a Dave Letterman appearance due to scheduling conflicts – first, it was Mike’s time to spend with his family, then it was Dave’s vacation, then it was time to start practicing for The Memorial.

While this week’s competition is a high priority, there is another person that Mike Weir is thinking of - Adam Oates. Oates is currently skating with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, in the run for the Stanley Cup. Weir is firmly on the record as “pulling for Oatie and the Ducks.” While last night’s loss to New Jersey might sway lesser fans, Weir predicts that Anaheim will come back and win. As he sees it, “this may be his [Oates] last shot at a Stanley Cup. A guy that’s been in the league that long, that’s such a solid player, you’d like to see him go out on a high note.”

Another perk of winning The Masters? Going home to Draper, Utah and having the mayor declare your birthday “Mike Weir Day.” And just how did this champion spend the day? As he tells it, “I spent the day at a golf clinic for my daughter’s school. And the rest of the day, I cleaned out the pool house, sat around the pool and spent the day with my wife and kids.”