From Deseret News archives:
Weir getting plenty of attention this time around
The tee times were finally announced Tuesday and Weir was given the 1:19 p.m. time (11:19 a.m. MDT) with former British Open champion Justin Leonard and Australian amateur Nick Flanagan.
But look who's right behind him.
Yup, Tiger Woods is in the next group, playing with Denmark's Thomas Bjorn and U.S. Amateur runner-up Casey Wittenburg. So you can bet Weir's group will get a lot of the overflow from Woods' group as fans, sorry, patrons scramble ahead for position.
So far, Weir seems to be handling all the extra attention he's been getting as the defending champion of one of the world's most prestigious tournaments.
Tuesday, between nines of his practice round with Fred Couples, he made a trip to the large interview room in the Masters Press Center, where he had sat a year earlier as the new champion, and answered a couple of dozen questions from the assembled media.
Weir said the biggest difference is that he's not "under the radar" like he was last year, even though he had already won two tournaments. Now everybody recognizes him and wants to talk to him, not just his loyal cadre of Canadian writers.
During a three-week layoff, Weir came back to Augusta in mid-March and played a round with his father and a friend, which gave him a chance to reminisce about some of his shots from his 2003 win. Then he played the last two weeks, at the Players Championship and in Atlanta. When he made it to Augusta Sunday night to register at the club, they had left a space at the top of the list for him to sign, which Weir appreciated.
"It's been fun," he said. "People give you a nice applause when you get on the range, which I've noticed in years past that they do for all of the former champions when they walk onto the range. It's a nice touch."
Tuesday night, Weir hosted former Masters champions at the traditional Champions Dinner in the library room in the Augusta National clubhouse. Only former champions are allowed, no family or friends, along with a special guest and the chairman of the club at the private dinner.
Weir planned the menu along with a boyhood friend who works as a chef, including several items reflecting his Canadian heritage. Among the menu items were wild boar and chanterell mushroom bundles, roasted rack of caribou and British Columbia mushrooms, lobster and Canadian beer (if he wins against this year, perhaps for next year's dinner Weir could serve something Utahn, like green jello, funeral potatoes and chocolate milk).
Weir shouldn't have a lot of distractions with his wife Bricia and two young daughters back at their Draper home (however, if Weir is in contention on the weekend, Bricia may fly out to join him to be there for another victory hug). Weir's two brothers are here along with his father and his sports psychologist, Rich Gordin from Utah State University, who was coming in Tuesday night.
By the time the tournament begins Thursday, Weir hopes to be focused and have his game back on track.
"I think possibly I've been putting a little too much pressure on myself," Weir said. "Maybe I've been trying to swing too good and make everything too perfect. Maybe I've been doing that a little bit, because I've been working hard. Hopefully it will all pay off this week and I can put it all together."
E-mail: sor@desnews.com
