Weir still has time to play way onto International squad PGATOUR.com staff Canada's biggest annual golf event was in full swing last week, but the buzz around Angus Glen wasn't about defending champ Jim Furyk or the field's other top player, Vijay Singh. ![]() Mike Weir scored back-to-back top-10s at the AT&T National and the Open Championship. (WireImage) Mike Weir, Canada's top golfer, was on everyone's minds and Canadian golf fans want to know one thing: Will he or won't he make this year's International Team for The Presidents Cup? With the Presidents Cup being held at Royal Montreal Golf Club in September, his loyal fans want to see him on that team. But Weir needs to climb into the top 10 in the standings to earn one of the automatic spots when the team is finalized at the end of the PGA Championship. International Captain Gary Player will then complete his team with two picks on Aug. 13. Weir, a three-time Presidents Cup team member, has been on a roll lately, turning a so-so year around in the last month with a tie for 20th at the U.S. Open and eighth-place ties in the AT&T National and Open Championship. Weir's tie for 34 th this week at his country's national open affected his Official World Golf Ranking, the ranking that is used to determine the International Team. Despite the fact that Weir moved down one spot to No. 18, some say that Weir is still a top contender. "I think Mike is a serious choice," Jim Furyk said. Furyk is currently No. 2 in the American standings, which are based on points from this year's earnings, which are then doubled. "I think his strong finish in the British definitely would help with his chances." Furyk also adds that Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, would be a smart choice based on the course the Presidents Cup will be played on. "I think Mike's game favors that [course]," Furyk said. "He's got a real good game for a course like that. It's not a bomber's paradise; it's for a guy that can work his way around the golf course." While Weir's play has been top-notch this summer, others have also been playing well. Another name thrown into the mix is one of Weir's countrymen, Stephen Ames, who tied for 27th this week.
"I wouldn't want to be in Gary's shoes," said U.S. Captain's Assistant Jeff Sluman. "If he picked Mike and/or Stephen they would be great picks. They're both wonderful players, and players have a certain ability to really rise to the occasion, especially in a format like this in their home country." Sluman feels Weir has serious potential to be picked based on his recent play, but said other players are still being taken into consideration. "If you look at Mike's record lately, his game is getting better and better," Sluman said. "Unfortunately, there would be other players that are just as deserving and that is just the way these teams go." Weir feels that as of right now, his game is very strong, and although he doesn't know where he stands in Captain Gary Player's mind, he is hoping to keep playing like he is, and hope it is good enough. "Where my game stands is good," Weir said. "I've played well these last few weeks. I would like to play well in the next three weeks and be in the top 10 by then." There were no changes in the top 10 in either team's rankings this week. Weir and Ames moved down one spot, to Nos. 18 and 19 in the International rankings, and Andres Romero jumped up eight spots to No. 13. In the American rankings, Hunter Mahan is slowly climbing his way up, and now stands higher than he ever has just four spots shy of making the team. Players have just two weeks left before captains Nicklaus and Player finalize their teams. Possible Captains Picks: 1. Chris DiMarco, No. 36 -- DiMarco has a successful 6-3-1 Presidents Cup record amassed over two different Cups, but more than anything the XM Radio personality gets incredibly fired up when competing for his country. 2. Brandt Snedeker, No. 48 -- Top PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year candidate Snedeker is having a breakout year posting four top-10 finishes, most recently finishing T7 in the Canadian Open. International: 2. Andres Romero, No. 13 -- Romero is making his name known on the international golf circuit and helping the Argentines put their country on the golf map. He followed up his T3 in the Open Championship with a win at the Deutsche Bank Players' Championship of Europe with a win.
|