It sucks watching your idols grow old.
For me that’s meant watching Mike Weir struggle down the Back 9 of his career.
Now he’s not a childhood idol, but he has been a favourite of mine since he burst on to the golf scene in the late 90s and winning the Masters in 2003.
He was soon joined by Stephen Ames as two of the top golfers in the world and, best of all, they were Canadian.
They have carried Canada’s golfing banner for the better part of the last 15 years, but as is the case with all great athletes, they have started a slide down the ranks as they have aged.
At their peak they were both consistent residents among the Top 50 in the world — Mike Weir topping out at No. 5 and Stephen Ames at No. 19.
But it’s been a while since those glory days,.
Weir, 41, has battled injuries and swing changes and has slipped all the way down to 252 while Ames, 47, has struggled and fallen to 132.
Red Deer golfer Mitch Evanecz hasn’t given up on a late career renaissance from either after seeing them at the RBC Canadian Open this past weekend.
“Watching them hit golf balls, they still got it, but there’s a lot of young guys that are hitting it well and playing really well too,” he said. “It’s a different generation, and you look at (Weir’s and Ames’) results and what they’ve done in the game of golf, it’s pretty amazing.”
That new generation is what Canadian golf fans should be keeping an eye on.
The early and mid-2000s was as close as Canada has ever come to being mistaken as a golf power.
We as Canadians are flat out at a disadvantage when it comes to weather, meaning serious golfers are forced to leave Canada as a permanent residence for the warmer climes of Arizona or Florida. Beyond being a sacrifice as far as being close to family and friends it is also a very expensive proposition.
Canada Golf has certainly stepped up its efforts in recent years with a more aggressive approach, and that has certainly helped.
“The Canadian national squad and the RCGA squad have done a great job with development and their amateur programs,” said Evanecz. “There’s a lot of younger players that are coming through the ranks that are scratching at their heels and ready to turn professional and have successful careers.”
Evanecz is certainly among those “scratching at their heels”.
The Team Canada member got his first taste of PGA golf at the Canadian Open on the weekend and is preparing to turn pro in September.
Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., also made some big noise at the Open as he started the final round in second place and finished in a tie for second. Before that he finished second in the U.S. Open Qualifier and then 39th at the U.S. Open.
But Hadwin and Evanecz are not alone. There is a large group of Canadian golfers waiting to break through and take that next step, to pick up the torch from Weir and Ames.
Guys like Weyburn, Sask., native Graham DeLaet, Kingston, Ont., product Matt McQuillan, David Near of Brampton, Ont., Winnipeg’s Nick Taylor and Calgary’s Wes Heffernan.
In all there were 17 Canadians at the Canadian Open, most of them falling into that young and up and coming category.
The problem is bridging the gap. Unless someone makes that breakthrough tomorrow, there is the potential for a lull.
Now that may not sound like a big deal, but to have a Canadian that is consistently in contention has a giant impact on young Canadian golfers.
Weir’s early success did on me, and I can only imagine the inspiration his green jacket provided for serious young golfers in Canada like Red Deer’s Zack and Katie Griffiths, Carson Kallis, Jesse Teron, Matt Codd and Brett Pasula.
It’s a heavy burden to ask of any golfer, but it is an important mantle that needs to be carried.
jaldrich@www.reddeeradvocate.com
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