Where Mike Weir hails from in Sarnia, Ontario, left-handed golf equipment represents about 33 per cent of sales overall, which is more than double what one might expect in the US. So, we shouldn't be too surprised by the Canadian left-hander's triumph in the USPGA Tour Championship in Houston last weekend.
By sinking a five-foot birdie putt on the first tie hole, Weir beat Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els and reigning USPGA champion, David Toms, in a play-off for a top prize of $900,000. This was only marginally less substantial than the $1 million which Weir collected for winning the end-of-season American Express Championship at Valderrama 12 months ago.
As the 15th different winner of the Tour Championship in as many years, Weir produced wonderfully consistent rounds of 68, 66, 68, 68 for a 14-under-par aggregate of 270 in warm, breezy conditions. In the process, he gained the distinction of becoming the first non-American to win this event since it was instituted in 1987.
"What a fantastic day - an unbelievable finish to the year," said Weir afterwards. And what of his penchant for winning in November? "I'll take them anytime I can get them," he replied. Bernhard Langer was tied 10th ($136,667) a stroke ahead of the 1999 winner, Tiger Woods.
Interestingly, last year's winner was Phil Mickelson and another left-hander, Russ Cochran, lost a play-off to Craig Stadler in 1991. Weir developed as a left-hander mainly because of a background in ice-hockey and, in fact, practised with the NHL's Washington Capitals for a two-week spell in 1999.
As a 13-year-old he wrote to Jack Nicklaus, asking whether he should switch to playing right-handed. Not alone did the great man take the trouble to write back, but he advised the lad to stick to his natural swing. Which he has done, to splendid effect.
Winning golf also comes naturally to Annika Sorenstam, who has set a money-winning record for the LPGA Tour. With birdies on the last two holes, the irrepressible Swede wrapped up the Mizuno Classic on Sunday by three strokes from Laura Davies, for her eighth win of the year.
Apart from securing Sorenstam the tour money title for a fourth time, the win virtually assured her of ending the season as the first player to win more than $2 million on the LPGA Tour.
Last week, the Swede wrapped up "Player of the Year" honours by beating Se Ri Pak in the World Women's Matchplay Championship. Now, Sunday's cheque for $162,000 has secured the money title as well.
As it happens, a season's haul of $1,990,868 broke Karrie Webb's total of $1.88 million for last year and has allowed Sorenstam to top the money list for the first time since 1998. She will eclipse $2 million by finishing in the top-26 in the end-of-season Tour Championship.
"I worked a lot on my short game, especially my putting, during the off-season and I think that made a big difference to my performances this year," she said.
