Music: {allcanada} WITH PGA STATUS ON THE LINE, WEIR NEEDS STRONG WEEK

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

{allcanada} WITH PGA STATUS ON THE LINE, WEIR NEEDS STRONG WEEK

It may well be the end of the road for Mike Weir as a full-time member of the PGA Tour.

The 40-year-old from Bright's Grove, Ontario will probably need a top-five finish at this weekend's Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, or face losing his regular Tour card.

Weir missed time last season with a torn ligament in his elbow. He chose to rest and rehabilitate the injury instead of undergoing surgery, and eventually finished 151st on the PGA money list - outside of the top 125 players who automatically retained their 2011 Tour cards.

The eight-time PGA winner was granted a major medical exemption to play this season, but the requirements of the exemption allowed Weir five tournaments to make up the approximately $217,000 in prize money between his placement and the No. 125 ranking.

Last year at the Honda Classic, Vijay Singh and Paul Casey finished tied for fourth, and each earned $246,400.

The 2003 Masters champion has earned just $10,788 through four events this season, and has missed the cut three times.

Should Weir fail to make up the difference this week, he will be limited to playing tournaments based on sponsor's exemptions. As a Masters champion, he has a lifetime exemption to play at Augusta National each April.

Weir can also opt to regain a full-time PGA card through qualifying school this fall if he wishes. He won the Q-School tournament in 1998 to first gain status on the PGA Tour.

After winning the Masters, Weir peaked at fifth in the world rankings. He is now at No. 226.

Weir's results for 2011: