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Canadian professional golfer Mike Weir has enjoyed an illustrious professional career spanning almost two decades, with eight wins on the PGA Tour and a series of additional triumphs.
The talented competitor, who spent over 110 weeks in the top ten of the official world golf rankings between 2001 and 2005, enjoyed his most notable win at the 2003 Masters Tournament, where he beat US player Len Mattiace in a nail-biting play-off round.
During the final day of the tournament, Weir overcame Mattiace in a sudden death clinch to become the first ever Canadian to win any of the four major championships, as well as the only left-handed player to emerge victorious at the Masters.
He managed to recover from his disappointing performance on the third day to force a play-off after making a seven-foot par putt on the final hole to force the additional proceedings.
Third round leader Jeff Maggert carded a disappointing 75 to give him a fifth place finish following a triple-bogey on the thirds and quintuple bogey on the 12th, while US star Phil Mickelson also finished two strokes behind Weir and Mattiace.
Born in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970, Weir grew up in the suburb of Bright's Grove, where he began his affiliation with the sport at Huron Oaks Golf Course under the watchful eye of coach Steve Bennett.
He began his athletic life like many Canadian youngsters and took up hockey before adopting his left-handed technique when he hit the greens over the next few years using the special clubs of his godfather's son, which were handed down to him.
Using his earnings as a caddy and pro shop worker, he purchased a new wedge that he used until the grip wore out before taking the crown in a junior tournament at age 12 when he won a complete set of irons.
Weir started his career on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour in 1992, where he won three events, as well as a number of tournaments on the Asian PGA Tour in the early years. He then reached the PGA Tour in 1998, but lost his place due to insufficient performance.
The now 41-year-old's first victory on the US campaign came at the 1999 Air Canada Championship in Surrey, British Columbia - making him the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour event in Canada in 45 years.
More recently, Weir was named alongside 13 other major champions who are set to take part in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on May 24th, including Darren Clarke, Ernie Els and Rory McIlroy.