Mike Weir is still planning to play a full PGA Tour schedule this season and doesn't expect to use sponsors' invitations or other exemptions available to him to do it.
The Canadian left-hander is back in action Thursday at the Puerto Rico Open, joining Calgary's Stephen Ames, Matt McQuillan of Kingston, Ont., Chris Baryla of Vernon, B.C., and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., in the field.
Despite officially losing his full status on the PGA Tour last week, Weir figures he'll get into as many as 25 tournaments in 2011 -- roughly the number he's averaged each year over the last decade.
The 40-year-old was on a major medical exemption to start the season after suffering ligament damage in his right elbow last August. That gave him five events to try and bring his earnings up to the equivalent of 125th on last year's money list, but he only made one cut and slightly less than US$11,000.
However, it was enough to place Weir in the non-exempt group of players ranked between Nos. 126 and 150 on the money list, which should get him into 10 to 12 events in 2011, including this week's tournament in Puerto Rico.
Beyond that, he's exempt for five additional events on account of participating in the 2009 Presidents Cup.
Weir's next start after Puerto Rico will come from that group at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which will be held March 24-27. Then it's on to the Masters in April, where he has a lifetime invitation thanks to winning the green jacket in 2003.
Even if Weir is unable to finish inside the top 125 on this year's money list, he'll be able to regain his card for two more seasons through career earnings. With some $27 million in career PGA Tour earnings, he holds exemptions for two seasons for sitting inside the top 25 and top 50 on the all-time money list.
Essentially, the eight-time PGA Tour winner is guaranteed a full calendar of events through 2013. His biggest concern is making a full recovery from the elbow injury and getting his game back in form -- Weir's world ranking has plummeted to 235th and the 85 he shot in the second round of last week's Honda Classic was the worst of his PGA Tour career.
An interesting subplot to this season will be Weir's fight to extend his streak of consecutive majors. He's played in 47 straight dating back to the 1999 U.S. Open, but will need to qualify for June's U.S. Open and July's British Open after appearing in his 48th consecutive at Augusta National next month.
It's something he's prepared to try and do.
"I've done it before," Weir told The Canadian Press in October. "It's been a long time, but you look at all the guys out on Tour -- David Toms has to go to it, Davis Love, Justin Leonard's gone the last few years. Guys kind of in the same boat I've been.
"That's the nature of the game, it's a tough game."
Weir also posted thanks on his website this week to everyone who had shown him support recently.
"It means a lot to me to know that there are so many people who believe in me, even when times are tough."
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A look at Mike Weir's tentative schedule over the next two months:
-- Puerto Rico Open (Thursday-Sunday)
-- Arnold Palmer Invitational (March 24-27)
-- Masters (April 7-10)
-- Valero Texas Open (April 14-17)
-- The Heritage (April 21-24)
-- Zurich Classic of New Orleans (April 28-May 1)
