In the smaller-than-usual crowd at the Professional Golfer’s Association Grand Slam of Golf, a bunch of the spectators stood out. Maybe it was because they were dressed in red. A large number of the spectators came out to support Canadian
In the smaller-than-usual crowd at the Professional Golfer’s Association Grand Slam of Golf, a bunch of the spectators stood out.
Maybe it was because they were dressed in red.
A large number of the spectators came out to support Canadian national sports celebrity, Mike Weir, in his first Grand Slam appearance.
Clad in Canadian shirts, hats, and carrying the country’s red and white maple leaf flag, Weir’s fans were vocal in their allegiance.
“He’s a very popular person. What’s even more important, he’s such a nice guy, like all Canadians,” joked Bob Racine from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. “As soon as Mike Weir won the Master’s, we booked our flight.”
Bob, and his wife, Barb, were parked next to the sixth hole green. The golfers have been coming to Kaua’i on vacation for years, and had been to the Grand Slam before, in 1999.
But this year was more special, they said, because of Weir.
“It’s been a long, long time there’s been a golfer from Canada of his caliber,” said Barb.
David Sameshira’s trip was much shorter than most of Weir’s supporters.
“It’s just a tank of gas for me,” said the Kaua’i Community College student who moved from Canada to Kaua’i less than a year ago. “It’s a great opportunity to see this caliber of golf.”
Sameshira, who had the maple leaf flag stitched onto his backpack, was also pulling for his countryman. Waiting for the players to tee up on the 8th hole, he planned to follow Weir around all day.
“He gives Canadians something to root for,” he said.
Former Nova Scotia resident, Carol Graham, has been living in Bermuda for thirty years. But Graham and her husband decided to stop over on Kaua’i on a trip to New Zealand to see Weir play.
Clad in a red Canada hat and holding a large flag, Graham was sitting near the 18th green waiting for the culmination of the tournament.
“Basically we don’t have too many Canadian heroes,” said Graham. “And he’s a genuinely nice guy.”
“We’d like to see him win. We’re here for support,” said Barb.
Weir also brought almost a dozen friends from the Mainland. Although some were from Utah, where he lives now, his Canadian friends were vocal and obvious in their support.
Weir finished second in the tournament, eight strokes behind Jim Furyk.
Staff writer Tom Finnegan can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 226)
