Mike Weir already has experienced one glorious, life-changing event this week. Another is well within his reach.
The 29-year-old Canadian became a second-time father Monday, and after a gutsy round at blustery Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday, Weir is in the running to become a first-time Masters Tournament champion.
Weir weathered the elements and fired a third-round score of 2-under-par 70, and is tied for sixth place with three others at 1-under for the tournament heading into today's final round.
``I couldn't play much better,'' said Weir, who is one of only two left-handers (Phil Mickelson) in the tournament and is the lone Canadian.
``You knew going in you weren't going to hit the ball close and were going to have to get up and down a few times and have some long two-putts. I pretty much did that all day long.''
The Sarnia, Ontario, native arrived more than a day late for his first Masters, but he had a wonderful excuse. His wife, Bricia, gave birth to the couple's second child, Lily, on Monday morning in their hometown of Draper, Utah.
Weir said Tuesday that he would have skipped the tournament if his wife had not delivered by Wednesday.
``It's an important golf tournament, definitely, but it's a golf tournament,'' he said. ``It's not that important.''
Weir shot 75-70 in the opening two rounds to enter Saturday's round at 1-over. After an inconsistent opening, when he made par at Nos. 1 and 3, made birdie at No. 2 and bogey at No. 4, Weir finished strong. Over the final 14 holes, he birdied Nos. 5 and 7 and made par on the rest, including 11 straight to close out his round.
``To par every hole on the back nine was pretty nice,'' Weir said. ``To make only one bogey today in these conditions, I'm happy with that.''
Despite 40-plus mph wind gusts, Weir hit 13 of 14 fairways and fared well on the greens, needing only 26 putts.
The wind, Weir says, may actually have favored him Saturday, because the 5-foot-9, 155-pounder hits most of his shots at a low trajectory.
``I hope it blows like this (today),'' Weir said. ``I hit it low and can fight it through the wind pretty good, so if it stays windy, it's probably a little bit to my advantage.''
Despite the big names atop the leaderboard, the unknown Weir is not intimidated by the notion of battling some of the world's top players today.
``I have as good a shot as anybody,'' said Weir, who had seven top-10 finishes last season and posted his PGA Tour victory at the Air Canada Championship.
``Anything can happen, as long as there aren't too many guys ahead of me,'' he said.
Fresh-faced Canadian shoots into contention