It will not go down in history as one of the greatest finishes to the Masters, but Mike Weir no doubt could not care less.
Next month will mark 10 years since Weir three-putted the first extra hole at Augusta National to win a play-off with Len Mattiace and seal his first – and so far only – major title.
Less than an hour earlier, Mattiace had carded his only bogey of the day on the 72nd hole, returning a 65 that left Weir needing to par the same hole to force a play-off.
The left-handed Canadian duly did so, holding his nerve to hole from six feet, and it was Mattiace’s nerve which deserted him in the play-off, running up a double-bogey six on the 10th after pulling his second shot left of the green and finding himself blocked out by trees.
But if it was not quite the stuff of legends, no-one can deny Weir his place in history as the first Canadian winner of a major and the first left-handed winner of the Masters – paving the way for Phil Mickelson and 2012 champion Bubba Watson to follow.
“It’s hard to believe it was 10 years ago,” Weir said on Wednesday in a teleconference. “It was the thrill of my career to win and the one (of the majors) I thought would be the hardest to win.
“But I was so confident and playing well that it seemed like any course I was going to play well on.”
Weir had already won twice that season before arriving in Augusta, but was pleased to still be somewhat under the radar with all the focus on Tiger Woods seeking an unprecedented third straight win.
“My form was very good and I felt great, but it was a wake-up call to miss the cut in Atlanta the week before,” Weir added. “I felt I played indisciplined golf that week. My usual game was strategic, like Jack Nicklaus, and I got away from that in Atlanta so I had a little talk with myself.”
The talk paid dividends and Weir was always in the mix, claiming a share of fourth after an opening round of 70 that was played on Friday after bad weather washed out play on Thursday.
A second round of 68 was then good enough for a four-shot lead at halfway as first-round leader Darren Clarke followed his opening 66 with a 76, but in the third round it was Weir’s turn to struggle.
A 75 left him two behind Jeff Maggert, who had a 66, going into the final round, with Woods two shots further back and Mattiace garnering little attention another stroke adrift.
Mattiace would make everyone sit up and take notice when he picked up six birdies and an eagle to charge into the lead, only to bogey the 72nd hole after driving into the trees to the right of the fairway.
“Len played an incredible round of golf,” Weir said. “He holed a shot on eight, the long putt he holed on 10…but these things happen when you shoot a low round, especially at Augusta.
“But I always felt like I was the player in control from day one. That was the mentality I took into the final round. I was the player in control.”
Despite flawless golf with birdies on the second, sixth, 13th and 15th, Weir still needed to two-putt the 18th for par to force the play-off, and found himself on the bottom tier of the green.
“The pin was just over the ridge to the right, it wasn’t the traditional Sunday position, and I’ve never seen it there again,” Weir added. “Left with eight feet straight up the hill, most tour players would make that every time, but do-or-die for a major championship was a big moment and I was proud to be able to do it.”
Two months later Weir also finished third in the US Open to reach a career-high third in the world rankings, but he has struggled with form and fitness in recent years and last won in 2007.
Major elbow problems which required surgery mean the 42-year-old is playing on the PGA Tour this year thanks only to being in the top 25 on the career money list, and a recent rib problem also threatens his participation at Augusta.
“I’m going no matter what,” Weir said. “The only thing with rib cartilage injuries is rest, so if I have to not hit any balls until Thursday, that’s what I will do because I really want to play.”