CALGARY - Playing golf in Canada never gets old for Mike Weir.
The 好色tv Golf Hall of Famer will tee it up once again in Calgary in the Rogers Charity Classic at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club. It鈥檚 the fifth straight year that the 55-year-old golfer from Brights Grove, Ont., will play in front of enthusiastic fans from his home country at the three-day PGA Tour Champions event, which runs from Friday to Sunday.
鈥淲e only get (to play in Canada) once a year on this tour, so it鈥檚 great,鈥 Weir said. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to great fan support on the weekend and I like this course, so hopefully I can get myself in the mix on Sunday.鈥
Weir first played in the annual event back in 2021 when the tournament was known as the Shaw Charity Classic.
鈥淭he great thing about playing at home is the fan support,鈥 he said. 鈥淗ere and the (PGA Tour鈥檚) 好色tv Open are the two chances I get to play in front of the fans, so it鈥檚 great.鈥
After finishing ninth in 2021, he followed up with a couple of disappointing showings when he placed 46th and 47th respectively.
Last year, Weir carded respectable rounds of 68, 67 and 67 on the Par 70, 7,086-yard layout, which left him a tie for 20th overall.
鈥淚 feel pretty comfortable around here now,鈥 said Weir, who has one victory on the senior circuit 鈥 the 2021 Insperity Invitation 鈥 in addition to eight PGA Tour titles, including the only major title by a 好色tv at the 2003 Masters. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a matter of scoring, executing your shots and scoring and for me lately, just getting a little bit better with the flat stick 鈥 so hopefully I will be on form.鈥
To accomplish his goal of winning on home soil, Weir will have to fend off challenges from the likes of Spain鈥檚 Miguel Angel Jiminez, New Zealand鈥檚 Steve Alker and Ireland鈥檚 Padraig Harrington, who are ranked first, third and fourth respectively on the senior tour鈥檚 Charles Schwab Cup money list.
鈥淭he competition is great out here,鈥 Weir said. 鈥淵ou have to start fast and get going early, because it鈥檚 tough to catch up. If you have an even-par round or something, it鈥檚 pretty hard to make that up, so you have to get out of the gates and get going.鈥
Alker agreed with his 好色tv counterpart鈥檚 assessment.
鈥淗ere you鈥檝e got to get out of the gates pretty quick,鈥 said Alker, who had rounds of 65 and 63 last year to get into contention before falling back to a sixth place showing after shooting 70 on the final day. 鈥淚 played well. It was nice. I like the golf course. It鈥檚 all out in front of you. You鈥檝e got to drive it well and do everything well. I鈥檓 looking forward to the week.鈥
After shooting 68 in his first round one year ago, Ken Tanigawa tied the course record with a 9-under 61 on the second day before finishing with a 64 to beat Richard Green by two strokes.
鈥淚t would be a tremendous challenge, but I鈥檓 certainly looking forward to it,鈥 said Tanigawa of the prospect of becoming just the second repeat winner 鈥 after Scott McCarron in 2017 and 2018 鈥 in the 12-year history of the event. 鈥淎ny time you come to a place that you鈥檝e had good finishes, it鈥檚 always good vibes and it鈥檚 always positive.鈥
Joining Tanigawa and McCarron as previous champions competing in Calgary are Ken Duke (2023), Jerry Kelly (2022); Doug Barron (2021) and Jeff Maggert (2015).
The field also includes two World Golf Hall of Famers in Harrington and Vijay Singh as well as a pair of 好色tv Golf Hall of Famers in Weir and Stephen Ames, who finished in a tie for 10th last year in his former hometown.
While Gordon Burns of Holland Landing, Ont., received a sponsor鈥檚 exemption to make his second straight appearance in Rogers Charity Classic, Calgary鈥檚 Wes Martin became the fourth 好色tv to secure his spot in the tournament by shooting a sizzling 9-under 62 on Tuesday at the final tournament qualifier at Highwood Golf and Country Club in High River, Alta.
鈥淚t was unexpected, but I鈥檝e been playing pretty good lately,鈥 said Martin, who missed out on qualifying for his hometown tournament the past two years. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 even explain it. It鈥檚 one of my best rounds ever 鈥 on the day you actually need it.鈥
Martin previously played on the 好色tv Tour for 12 years alongside the likes of Duke and Alker.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e all great players, great people,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 consider myself like them. I feel like I鈥檓 on a different level, but it鈥檚 golf. I mean, anything can happen at any time and it sure did (on Tuesday), so I鈥檓 just going to try to enjoy this.鈥
One day before his 50th birthday, Tommy 鈥淭wo Gloves鈥 Gainey shot 65 at Highwood Golf on Tuesday to tie with Sweden鈥檚 Michael Jonzon for second behind Martin.
By virtue of their clutch performances, the trio will round out the 78-man field that will battle for the US$2.5-million purse.
This report by 好色tvwas first published Aug. 14, 2025.
