Canada’s Mike Weir feels 2024 Presidents Cup will be ‘a thrill’ at Royal Montreal Golf Club | CityNews Montreal

For over 150 years, the Royal Montreal Golf Club on Île-Bizard, has been a special place where championships have been won — and this fall, the Presidents Cup is making its big return to the course.

“Very competitive, high intensity, very fun,” said Canadian professional golfer, Mike Weir. “You get to see 24 of the best players in the world.”

The Canadian sports icon, is a Team Rogers athlete and the 2024 International Team Captain.

“It’s an honor,” he said. “Especially this happening in Canada.”

“I’ve been an assistant three times,” he added. “And you know played a number of them as well.”

The Presidents Cup began in 1994, and is where the world’s best players come together to compete for the Presidents Cup trophy.

“The international team is made up of all the players outside of continental Europe,” explained Weir. “We have players from Korea, Australia, South Africa, of course Canada, and in Mexico and the Americas, if they made it this year, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.”

The competition — a biennial tournament between the United States and an international team.

“It’s match playing and match play is different than stroke play,” explained Weir. “It’s more head to head.”

In 2003, he won the Masters Tournament — one of the four men’s major golf championships in professional golf.

His win, still the only victory by a Canadian in a men’s major championship.

As for the Presidents Cup — Royal Montreal will become the second international venue to host this event more than once.

It was last held there in 2007, where the United States team took the win.

But Weir had a notable singles match, outlasting Tiger Woods.

“What I remember about 2007 was the fans,” he explained. “They helped pull me through that match.”

“My mindset was to try to get ahead of Tiger early,” he added. “So all the players, all the fans could see that I was leading and to create an energy around the property to maybe hopefully rally our whole team.”

“I was able to get a nice win,” he explained. “But we still lost the cup, and that still hurts.”

Weir — a driving force for Canadian golf — hopes to lift the trophy with his team on home turf this year.

The competition, takes place from Sept. 24 to 29 — Montrealers and beyond, welcomed to spectate.

“The crowd energy is incredible,” explained the Sarnia, Ontario born athlete. “There’s lots of chanting and screaming and songs being sung.”

“It’s such a different atmosphere than a regular PGA tournament,” he added. “If you come out here, you’re going to really have a great time.”

“You get to see the best players in the world up close, which is always a thrill.”

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