Weir in contention for second major title
Updated: July 16, 2004, 8:10 AM ET
Reuters
TROON, Scotland -- Mike Weir has given himself a chance to add to his 2003 Masters title by taking a crash course on links golf.
After shooting a 3-under 68 in a strong wind on Friday to move to within two strokes of the British Open second round lead, the 34-year-old Canadian said he had arrived in Scotland early to prepare himself for the Royal Troon course.
"I spent a few days playing other links courses around here -- at Turnberry, Dornoch and Prestwick -- so that I wouldn't be coming straight from playing U.S. Tour golf to links," said Weir. "I've learned to play the shots you need.
"Keeping the ball down in the wind isn't really a problem, because I hit the ball low anyway, but you need to plot your way around the course," said Weir, who shot a 71 in Thursday's opening round. "I was hitting five-irons, for instance, when my partners were playing eight-irons, using my imagination. I'd eyeball the yardages and I played a game with my caddie, telling him before he gave me the distance what it was."
Weir's three successive birdies from the fifth, when the wind was against his swing, put him on the leaderboard.
"It's a tough wind for me going out, a right-to-left wind, so I have to hit a lot of draws. Coming back it's a left-to-right wind, and it sets up a little better for me," said Weir, who birdied the 16th in addition to eight pars on the inward nine. "I'm controlling the ball well. I'm not hanging any wild shots. If I can just warm up the putter a bit, I have chance."
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