Weir to feel right at home

After impressing at The Open last week Mike Weir is handily priced at 16/1 with Sporting Odds to take the tournament he considers to be the fifth major, the Canadian Open this weekend. Weir has run into decent form after finishing eighth in his last two tournaments and his performance at the toughest of all Open venues will have given him great confidence going into this weekend. The 2003 Masters Champion particularly looks forward to this tournament, which takes place at Markham, in his home state of Ontario, and he has previous there, finishing runner-up to Vijay Singh in 2004, although this year the event takes place on the North course at Angus Glen. With the help of Davis Love III, the course has been narrowed, as opposed to lengthened, which should benefit Weir who excelled on the thin links strips of Carnoustie. The 37-year-old, who has the added incentive of trying to qualify for the President's Cup, should have no trouble finding the large greens of Angus Glen. "My short game's getting really good," he said this week. "I made a number of great saves [at Carnoustie], my putting's good, and I'm more encouraged about that than anything. I'm rolling the ball good, making a lot of nice putts, doing everything around the greens well." Jim Furyk also came away from Scotland with credit on Sunday and his 12th-place finish will stand him in good stead to defend the title he won last year. He is in excellent form having managed four top-fives in the last six tournaments but punters may find the 7/1 (VCBet & Stan James) too skinny. If so, Pat Perez might make for more appeal. The 31-year-old from Arizona came 20th at the Open, has come no lower than fourth in his last six appearances and set the competitive course record when this event was played on the South course at Markham with a final round 63 in 2002. Perez can be backed at 40/1 (general). Verdict: 2pts Mike Weir @ 16/1 (Sporting Odds); 2pts e/w Pat Perez @ 40/1 (general)