Mike Weir focused on fitness and fresh start in 2016
After a successful season, theScore-sponsored professional golfer Mackenzie Hughes is back on the Web.com Tour, fighting for a spot on the coveted PGA Tour. As part of our regular "Mac Meets" series, the young Canadian player sat down with fellow countryman and major champion Mike Weir to chat fitness, fresh starts, and Tiger Woods.
Mac Hughes: Great to connect with you again, Mike.
Mike Weir: Likewise, Mac.
MH: I know you've had some time off recently, just curious what you do when you have time off and what you enjoy most when you do take time away from the game.
MW: Well, the biggest thing for me was spending time with my girls. We went on a trip to Europe, to France for almost two weeks. They both play high school soccer, so I spent a lot of time at soccer pitches watching lots of soccer this fall. It's been great. That was basically how I spent my time this fall, just hanging out with family, traveling a bit and enjoying their soccer. We're in Hawaii right now, but when we're back home, we'll be doing some skiing, so we're looking forward to that.
MH: Sounds like a good time. What are you doing in Hawaii?
MW: Just getting some practice time in. Nice to get out of the snow and practice.
MH: Great. I know you've been battling a few injuries, just wondering how the health is and how you feel heading into 2016?
MW: Healthwise, getting better. That's the one thing I did this fall is concentrated on that. A little more physical therapy on my elbow and wrists, trying to get more mobile just over time, you know, some arthritis and scar tissues built up and scars and limited mobility in my forearm, my hand, limited range of motion, so, trying to gain some of that motion back and with that, take some of the pain away, take some of that stiffness and soreness away. So that's been good, so that's something I'm going to focus on, going forward, so, stay on top of that a little better.
MH: Yes, I hear you. I mean I don't have so many serious injuries but I know that the more I play in the middle of the summer it becomes more and more important to watch your body and make sure you're not wearing yourself out. I know you're in Hawaii right now, but what's a day like for Mike Weir in Utah when you're in full-practice mode when you're gearing up for the season.
MW: I'm normally up very early. My daughter is out the door probably about 7:30 to school. I'm usually up with my dogs early and I might go down and do a little warmup, do a little stretching and then come back up, make my girls some breakfast, get them situated, get whatever they need to get out the door to school and then I usually start my day. Whatever type of workout I'm doing that day, whether it's a cardio day or strength training day, mobility day, explosive training day, whatever day it is, I'll start with that. Then I head down to the course and work on what I feel like I need to work on. Lately, I've been trying to play more, just kind of warming up and get my body loose and trying to get on the course and play a little more and not get too technical with practice. When my girls are done with school, I get home with them and start my recovery time. Then I do exercises on my forearm and self-massage or see my physical therapist. I do that a couple times a week. At the end of the day, I do a big stretch while I watch a hockey game or another sport on TV.
MH: I'm sure winning the Masters is probably the career highlight for you, so, how often do you allow yourself to look back on that and reminiscence about certain shots you hit that day or that week from some of your epic wins? Any favorite memories?
MW: I can't think of the last time I thought about my wins. I mean, it's special, but I just don't think about it very much, you know? It happened a while ago and my mind is focused on what I'm trying to do right now and get my game ready now. If someone brings it up, which happens a lot or says; "Hey, I was there that day, I saw you hit that shot on the 6th hole," but overall I stay focused on the future. My favorite memory outside of actual tournament play was after I won the Masters and was hosting the champions dinner the next year and a great friend of mine, Alastair Mackay, who I grew up with and is a chef in Canada, put together the dinner and afterwards, I was sitting beside Mr. Byron Nelson and he was telling me how much he enjoyed what my friend Alistair put together. I told Mr. Nelson that Alistair was downstairs, so he invited him upstairs into the champions' locker room where we're all having dinner and Alistair was able to come up and everybody stood up and gave him a round of applause for putting together such an awesome meal.
MH: Wow, that is really cool. What did Alistair cook that night?
MW: He served elk that night. I asked him to put together a real Canadian-themed meal, so wild Canadian elk was his dish. It was fantastic.
MH: I’ve never had elk. Is it anything like venison?
MW: No, it's a little sweeter and more tender than venison. It definitely has a lot of flavor.
MH: You have played in five President's Cups. What was your favorite place to play the President's Cup? Any memories stand out to you?
MW: I think it was obviously really special to have the event in Canada, in Montreal. It was great to feel that support and have the people come out supporting me and obviously, the entire international team. My first President's Cup was great too, but 2003 in South Africa was very memorable with how it concluded, ending in a tie after a really tight battle. Every shot was so important. After I finished my matches, it was great to stay out there and support my teammates. The last day in South Africa we were out there running all over the course and getting on carts and trying to follow and support Nick Price and then obviously, Ernie and Tiger in the playoff. The atmosphere was amazing. Walking with Jack and Gary and listening to their commentary during the playoff was really cool.
MH: Was that the best playoff you've ever seen?
MW: I wouldn't say it was the greatest display of golf but definitely the greatest display of clutch putts, They went to number one and I think Tiger had a birdie putt and Ernie was over the green in an impossible spot. It was impossible from that ground to get the ball up and out and he hit this beautiful little pitch and bump and made an eight-footer in the dark. The putts they made were incredible.
MH: Tiger’s made some news lately with his injuries. Can you kind of relate to his struggles a little bit in that you know what he's going through?
MW: Yes, it's definitely hard when you have that feeling that can do it. You want to get back out there, but it’s about being able to practice and build that confidence again. If you're not able to put in the work and you just keep getting little setbacks, you practice hard for a week and then something else comes up and then you have to not practice for four or five days, you feel like you're almost starting over again so yes that's the frustrating part, so I can relate to that for sure.
MH: Do you think Tiger can still pass Jack's career major record?
MW: I certainly wouldn't rule it out. I've seen it all from that guy. People forget quickly, but what he did when he was playing his best was so electric. I've never seen anything like it. I would never rule out that he could still pass it.
MH: Mike, I really appreciate you doing this and all the best next year. I'm rooting hard for you.
MW: Thanks, buddy, you too. All the best to you on the Web.com Tour next year. Go kick some butt.