Masters champion to play Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary

Canadian golf legend Mike Weir is in Calgary to play in the Shaw Charity Classic for the first time.

Weir is theonly Canadian man to ever win a major he won the Masters Tournament in 2003 sohe'sexcited to compete in the tournament this weekend, which is the only Canadian stop on the PGA Tour Champions schedule.

"Any hometown, home country event that I could play in, I want to be there," he toldThe Homestretchon Wednesday.

It's Weir's first time seeing the Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club, where the tournament has been held since2013.

"It's in tremendous condition and has a good mix of holes, some long holes, some short holes,and pretty much using every club in the bag around here."

With 10 top-10 finishes and one win during the Champions tour this year, Weir has played well but he said he has "a long ways to go" to contend for the Charles Schwab Cup, the final event of the season.

Different atmosphere, similar quality of play

The PGA Tour Champions is the professional golf tour for men over 50 years old,but that doesn't mean their game has slowed down much, said Weir, who is 51.

"I heard that guys don't work as hard, but that's not true," he said, adding the players stillpractise hard and take pride in their skill.

"We surely don't hit it as far as the regular tour guys, but... the wedge shots, the bunker shots, the putting is still very, very high. So you really have to be on your game."

Though the play is still very competitive, Weir noted the atmosphere of the Champions tour is lighter compared with the PGA partly because there are fewer coaches and physiotherapists travelling with the golfers.

"We're not so much like that on the Champions tour," said Weir."We're all kind of in it together. And, you know, so there's more camaraderie. And we pal around a little bit more than maybe the regular tour does."

And, he said, many of the players are now empty nesters and travel with their significant others.

"It's not such a lonely existence by yourself on the tour in a hotel room," he said.

It'll be a little lonelier on the golf course during the Shaw Charity Classic, though. In atypical year, the tournament attracts about 40,000 fans throughout the week. This year,2,000 people a day will be allowed to watch in person.

But Weir said even that reduced number will be great, especially because many events in the past year didn't allow any fans due to public health restrictions.

The Shaw Charity Classic starts this Friday and runs until Sunday.

With files from The Homestretch.