CPGA Member Mike Weir ties the late George Knudson for most PGA Tour wins by a Canadian

CPGA Member Mike Weir ties the late George Knudson for Most PGA Tour wins by a Canadian

ACTON, ON (October 22, 2007) - Congratulations to Canadian PGA Member Mike Weir who won his first PGA Tour victory in over three years this past weekend at the Fry’s Electronics Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The victory was the eighth of Weir's PGA Tour career, which ties him with the late Canadian PGA Member George Knudson for the most by a Canadian.

Knudson won his titles between 1961 and 1972.

Weir shot a 2-under 68 Sunday to win the Fry's Electronics Open putting him at a 14-under 266, one stroke ahead of Mark Hensby. This win earned Weir US$900,000 to jump from 84th to 33rd on the money list at $1,986,053.

Weir's last victory came at the 2004 Nissan Open, but he has been playing better in the last month or so. After missing the cut in the PGA Championship, the 2003 Masters champion improved from 41st to 30th to 10th in his next three PGA Tour events. And he beat Tiger Woods in the Presidents Cup three weeks ago.

"I can't put it into words," Weir told The Golf Channel. "It's been a long time coming, three and a half years, and I put a lot of hard work in."

Weir secured the win with a six-foot par putt after hitting his approach on the par-4 18th into a greenside bunker.

Weir took the lead with a birdie on the par-4 15th, rolling a chip shot to a foot, then held off Hensby over the final three holes on a warm, blustery day at Grayhawk Golf Club.

Hensby closed with a 69.

Billy Mayfair, a Scottsdale resident and Arizona State product, shot a 68 to finish third at 10 under.

Carl Pettersson, who led after three rounds, and Sean O'Hair tied for fourth at 9 under. Pettersson shot a 74, and O'Hair had a 69.

O'Hair briefly shared the lead after birdieing the 16th. But he double-bogeyed the 17th and bogeyed No. 18 to drop out of contention.

Play crawled along as players coped with 25 mile an hour gusts, which kicked up dust in the desert bordering Grayhawk's 7,125-yard Raptor Course.

Pettersson opened the day with a one-stroke lead over Hensby and Weir.

By the second hole, they were all tied for the lead. But Pettersson dropped another stroke on the par-3 fifth hole, and fell behind by bogeying the 10th, 11th and 12th.

Hensby and Weir duelled the rest of the way, with no more than a shot separating them over the entire round.

Hensby missed a chance to pull even on the par-4 17th. Weir hit his second shot on a slope to the left of the green, but Hensby's second shot also sailed past the green. Both players chipped within a few feet to save par.

On 18, Weir hit his second shot into the greenside bunker but chipped to about 6 feet. Hensby's second shot landed on an embankment and came to a stop a few feet above a water hazard. He chipped to a foot and tapped in for par.

Hensby, who lives in nearby Mesa, missed the cut in seven of the first 24 events he played this year and withdrew from two others.

He didn't have a lot of momentum coming into the tournament, having missed the cut and withdrawing in his previous two starts. Hensby's best previous finish this year was a 12th-place tie at the Crowne Plaza Invitational in May. His lone career victory came in the 2004 John Deere Classic.

- With files from Canadian Press
- Front Page photo courtesy of www.pgatour.com (Feldman/WireImage)

About the Canadian PGA:

Established in 1911, the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association is a non-profit Association comprised of approximately 3,700 golf professionals across the country with a mandate to promote and advance the game of golf, serving the needs of both its membership and the golf public through professional and junior golf development programs and high-calibre competitive events. The National Office is located in Acton, Ontario with nine Zone Offices across the country. For more information, visit www.cpga.com

For more information contact:

Erica Bury
Communications Coordinator
Canadian PGA
(519) 853 5450 ext 234
erica@cpga.com