Mike Weir

Mike Weir, Professional Golfer

If Mike Weir were to retire from professional golf today, he would be guaranteed a spot in the pantheon of Canadian sports legends.

Weir vaulted to stardom in 2003 when he became the first Canadian to win professional golf’s most treasured prize – The Masters.

“It’s such a thrill, something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid,” Weir told the Toronto Star. “This win is a win for me and my family, but it is a big win for Canada and Canadian golf and the fans that have been very supportive of me.”

Although 2003 was Weir’s most successful year as a pro – he also took home the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the Nissan Open – he struggled mightily with his game up to that point, almost dropping out of the game in the mid 90s due to poor results.

Dedication, though, has paid off for Weir in more ways than one. Simply put, he has become a marketing machine.

In addition to more than $21 million he has won as a pro on the PGA tour, Weir commands several sponsorship contracts of $1 million annually. Golf Digest estimates he made nearly $5 million in 2007 off the course.

“Mike has become a big brand and the Masters win was the key,” Bob Weeks of ScoreGolf magazine told Canada’s National Post. “The comparison that comes to mind for me is Gordie Howe. He’s iconic even in years after his career was finished. I think Mike will be the same way.”