Mike Weir: Another swing doctor to fix his ailments.
Word has it that Mike Weir has jettisoned long-time swing coach Mike Wilson yet again. Weir, who has made a single cut this year after being injured for the second half of last year, has apparently sought out Butch Harmon to take a look at his swing, making a call to Harmon last week.
Last year Weir saw David Leadbetter before announcing he was “taking ownership of his swing.” He then spent time with Jim Flick and Jack Nicklaus (according to reports) before return to Wilson, who worked with him at his peak, including his breakthrough years of 2003 and 2004.
Sources say it isn’t settled that he’ll work with Harmon, but is seeking out options. Bob Weeks at ScoreGolf says Weir has also been working with Randy Smith.
Right now Weir ranks basically last in driving distance, driving accuracy and greens in regulation. On the positive side, there’s only one direction he can go.
Confidence in golf is tough to establish, and so far Weir has given no indication that his driving is improving. That said, there was talk that he was in Utah recently playing with the Brigham Young golf team and carded a score in the mid-60s, something he hasn’t been near this year on the PGA Tour.
So why hasn’t Weir just shut it down when he’s playing so badly? Just a guess, but most endorsement deals are based on golfers playing in a minimum number of events in order to be paid their agreed to amount. Weir has played in 11 events this year, and will likely need to play in at least 15 to get his full payout, including lucrative deals with TaylorMade, among others. Assuming he plays in the Canadian Open (a given), he will still need to pick up some extra events to fulfill his contracts.
That requirement also likely explains why Tiger Woods tipped it up at the Players Championship despite an injury.
Weir is in Toronto this week — though I’m not sure why. He’s also in town next week for his charity event at Angus Glen.
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Eugene Wong, last year’s Jack Nicklaus award winner, and a junior at Oregon, may turn pro rather than complete his schooling, according to a well-placed golf industry source. “I don’t understand it,” the source said. “But that’s apparently what he’s doing.” Wong has been one of Canada’s standout amateurs for the past few years, will follow Nick Taylor and Matt Hill into the pro ranks. Like Hill, Wong will apparently step away from school short of the four years he can play collegiate golf.
But Golf Canada says a decision hasn’t been made: “No decision has been made,” says Golf Canada director of communications Dan Pino.
I played with Wong last year and can attest to his brilliant short game. It’ll be interesting to see how he does if — or when — he turns pro.
