GREENS WITH ENVY

MASTER LOCKED IN

GREEN jackets could be the dress code for next week’s Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast with a third US Masters winner set to tee it up at Royal Pines.

Canadian Mike Weir will join tournament headliners and fellow US Masters champions Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia in the field on the Gold Coast from next Thursday after he competes at this week’s Australian Open.

Weir, who won the 2003 US Masters, was the assistant captain for the International team at the recent Presidents Cup when he got some early pointers on the Royal Pines layout

“I remember talking to Adam (Scott) at The Presidents Cup about the golf course a little bit and the talent and what a great venue it is, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Weir said. “I’ve known those guys (Scott and Garcia) a long time.

“I’ve played and competed with them for a long time, so it’ll be good to see them.

“I cut my teeth on this (Australasian) tour early in my career and played a lot down here in the early and mid-1990s and made some lifelong friends down here.

“I’m really looking forward to playing. The Gold Coast was one spot I never made it to when I was playing down here”

Playing in two of the biggest tournaments Australia has to offer was an easy decision for the left-handed Weir.

When asked what brought him back Down Under, the 47year-old’s answer was simple.

“The love of the game really, I love golf and I love to compete,” Weir said.

“I just love the golf down here. The golf courses are wonderful and some of the best in the world.”

Weir will tee off alongside Peter Lonard and American Zac Blair in the Australian Open in Sydney today.