A thank you note to Gary Player from Mike Weir
As told by John K. Abendroth
Dear Gary…I mean Mr. Player.
I wore black on Sunday to help pay tribute to you, and say thanks for my win at the Fry’s Open in Arizona.
Had it not been for you picking me for the President’s Cup team in my home country, even though I now live in Utah, I may have slipped further into the golfing abyss, and been resigned to just playing “fun golf” with David Duval and Chip Beck.
With my win I jump from 48th in world ranking points to 30th and from 84th to 33rd in money ranking. Mr. Player, how many ways can I thank you?
Not having won on the PGA-Tour for some time, I even changed my swing (which I know you did not like), and even tried playing amateur golf again, in the Silicon Valley Challenge at Stanford University. I shot 65, and was the low player, but then was told the money all went to charity…I felt good about that, but what about my family…so I came to Arizona, to give it another try.
Mr. Player, you may have saved my life by picking me to play in the President’s Cup, and you even let me go against Tiger Woods. Oh boy, that was fun. I actually beat him in match play!
You once said that “…Golf is a puzzle without an answer…and that to play golf you must have courage…” You helped with my puzzle and you inspired me to have courage and to win again.
Thank you again,
Mike Weir
Canada
