By Mike Weir

It’s great to be back in Canada this week to play the Canadian Open. Most players on the PGA TOUR only get four majors every year but for the Canadians out here, this is a fifth major. Whether you’re a veteran or a first-timer, it’s an important week for every one of the 16 Canadians entered and so for us, it does feel like a major.

And we’re lucky this week to be playing on one of the best courses we’ll tee it up on all year. Hamilton is a great layout, the type we don’t get to play much any more on TOUR. You have to move the ball both ways here, have to get it on the right part of the green with your approach shots and make sure you stay out of the rough. For me, these types of courses really demand a lot of focus. You can’t let your attention stray here or you’ll end up in trouble.

Right now the course is playing a little soft with all the rain in the area over the weekend. But I expect it will probably dry out somewhat by Thursday and that should make it even more of a test.

As I mentioned the Open is an important week for the Canadian players. It’s also a busy one. There are a lot of extra duties and time required of us this week and you have to accept the fact that you’re going to be a little of your regular program this week. There is extra attention from the media, the fans and the sponsors, and while every extra few minutes add up, you realize these demands are for a good reason.

And there are also some benefits. On Monday, I got to take batting practice at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays General Manager J.P. Riccardi invited me down and was gracious enough to let me bring a few friends including Brennan and my trainer Jeff Handler, who was once drafted by the New York Yankees. He really could crank the bat, sending a few over the fence.

I got some batting tips from hitting instructor Mickey Brantley and by the time I was finishing up, I was starting to get the hang of it. It’s a much different swing than a golf swing, although there are some general similarities.

I certainly did get an appreciation for just how talented the players are. When you see how far they can hit it with the ball coming in at them at 90 miles an hour, it’s impressive.

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