ESPN.com - Golf - US OPEN 2003 Story

Sunday, June 15

Weir's charge too little too late
Associated Press

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. -- A poor start at the U.S. Open ruined Masters champion Mike Weir's shot at back-to-back major championships.


	Mike Weir's 71 was one of the best scores of the day, but it wasn't nearly enough to catch Jim Furyk.

Weir played solid golf during most of the final three days at Olympia Fields, but by Sunday it was too late and he was too far behind champion Jim Furyk.

''I had big expectations coming here. I felt like the U.S. Open and British Open kind of suit my game of all the majors, this tournament especially,'' Weir said.

He finished in a two-way tie for third with Kenny Perry at 1 under, seven shots back of Furyk.

Weir never overcame his rough opening round of 73 on Thursday, one that featured back-to-back double bogies. He regrouped with rounds of 67 and 68 before shooting a 71 on Sunday, a score that ballooned when he made bogies on the final two holes.

''No one remembers third or fourth,'' Weir said.

''I would have loved to have posted a better number Thursday and been in the ballgame a little more. I was never really in contention. Even though I'm third or fourth, I'm six, seven, or eight back.

''That's a little disappointing that I wasn't quite there.''

In April, Weir won his first major at Augusta by beating Len Mattiace in a playoff, a life-altering experience.

He knows what Furyk was dealing with on the 18th green and what he will be going through Sunday night. He should, he's been there.

''He's going to feel, I think, a flood of emotions run through him,'' Weir said. ''It's an incredible feeling. I'm really happy for him.

''It's fantastic for Jim. He's been such a good player for a while.''

Even though he started Sunday eight shots back of Furyk, he still was watching the leaderboard, hoping for an opening of some kind.

''Early on, I was looking to see what kind of start the guys got off to,'' Weir said.

''I felt if I could get to 6 or 7 under today, you never know what could happen. Maybe I could have shot 4 or 5 under today, but it wouldn't have made a difference.''