Mike Weir isn't a big hitter on the golf course and he certainly isn't one on the baseball field, something he showed Monday morning while taking batting practice with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Not that an abundance of foul tips and weak grounders took away from the experience for the left-hander from Bright's Grove, Ont., who also managed a few line drives and one shot to deep right off Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi.
``It felt great when you hit the sweet spot,'' Weir said afterwards, sweat still dripping from his brow. ``When you missed it, it doesn't feel too good on the hands. You get an appreciation getting out here of how big the field is, how far it is when they unload one out there.''
The 2003 Masters champion, having some fun before teeing off at the Canadian Open later this week, got plenty of advice in the cage from Ricciardi and hitting coach Mickey Brantley. Ricciardi told him to lead with his hands while Brantley went into greater detail, urging him to waggle his hands, use his lower body more and keep his hips steady.
``It's like reading a golf magazine,'' he said off all the coaching he tried to incorporate.
When a line drive followed, Ricciardi quipped: ``Typical lefty, low-ball hitter, high-ball drinker.''
Weir's strength coach Jeff Handler, a former college baseball player, fared better, knocking one over the wall in left. The rest of Weir's entourage, including caddie Brennan Little, also took turns in the cage.
``I was making contact,'' said Weir, who pitched and played first base until he was 14. ``It was fun.''
Taking BP and throwing out the ceremonial first pitch made for an unusual warmup ahead of this week's event for Weir, but it wasn't his most unique. Few things would compare to that experience.
``I flew in an F-16 in Utah about a week before an event once,'' he said. ``That was probably more taxing on my body than anything because you're kind of disoriented after that.''
Either way, Weir wasn't worried that his cuts Monday would affect his swing later this week. He'll be one of the main attractions at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club and expects to be ready after taking the Labour Day weekend off.
``It's a big event,'' said Weir. ``I know myself and all the Canadian guys, it's important to us. We're playing at a great track, I've had some success from 2003 on, I'm looking forward to it. It's a pretty good field here, I know the course will be great, hopefully the weather co-operates.''
Weir is coming off a solid August, in which he finished 20th at the Buick Open, sixth at the PGA Championship and 22nd at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. That followed a mild slump in which he finished 42nd at the Cialis Western Open and 56th at the British Open.
``I'm still not 100 per cent where I need to be,'' he said. ``The game's always a work in progress. ... Lately, I don't feel there are any major problems.''
Weir's best finish this year was a tie for third at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February. Overall he has six top-10s this year in 20 outings, earning $1,815,323 US in prize money.
He'd love to make the Canadian Open his eighth career win and believes he's better suited to handle all the expectations of playing at home now.
``It probably gets a bit easier as I get older, but it's a big event,'' he said. ``Every event that has that kind of feel, and the Canadian has a major feel to it, makes it a little bit more difficult but also makes it more rewarding when you do well at it.''
