Matured Weaver Ready to Tee Off At the U.S. Open

Still an Amateur, Ex-Hokie Confident Heading Into His Third Career Major

Former Virginia Tech golfer Drew Weaver will play in his seventh professional tournament as an amateur in the 109th U.S. Open, which starts Thursday at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y. Though Weaver has never made the cut in a pro event, he'd like to believe this time will be different.

"A lot of amateurs are going to feel like fish out of water," said Weaver, who graduated in May. "That's just how everyone reacts in their first major. For a lot of the guys, it's their first professional tournament, and that's a whole lot to ask somebody who is playing in their first pro event to play well. Thankfully, I've been through this before. I've played in other majors and I know the anticipation is the most difficult part of it."

Weaver, 22, earned a spot in the Open after a 36-hole sectional qualifier held two weeks ago at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, surviving a six-man playoff for the four remaining spots in the 156-player field.

This will be Weaver's third major, after playing the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie, Scotland, and the 2008 Masters, with exemptions earned as the 2007 British Amateur champion, the first American in 28 years to win the prestigious event.

At Carnoustie, considered the most difficult course on the British Open rotation, he missed the cut by two after shooting a 6-over-par 148. Nine months later, Weaver says he suffered a Masters meltdown, succumbing to the heat and linoleum-slick greens, shooting a 12-over 156 and missing the cut by eight shots. This week, he said his experience playing two of the game's most taxing courses could be an advantage.

"I tend to play better on a golf course that's a bit more difficult," said Weaver, who will turn professional in September. "I'm more of a grinder. I don't go really low; I don't shoot 65 or 66 on a regular basis. I'm more of a guy who is really good when scores are around par."

Weaver was a virtual unknown when he won the British Amateur, defeating Australian Tim Stewart, 2 and 1, in the finals at Royal Lytham & St. Anne's. The victory opened countless doors, but also slightly unnerved Weaver, particularly at the Masters.

"It's tough when you win a big golf tournament at a relatively early stage in your career," Weaver said. "A lot of expectations get thrown on you, and that can be difficult. And for me it was. But toward the end of this spring, I've kind of been able to get back to normal and just play golf."

Virginia Tech Coach Jay Hardwick called Weaver "the guy we always count on" and watched his game improve all four years he was in Blacksburg. He also was in Augusta and watched Weaver take a few steps back. Still, he said, he thinks Weaver will fare better at Bethpage Black after a senior season in which he earned all-American and all-ACC honors and had a 71.7 scoring average.

"Now he's in a little different situation," Hardwick said. "Before you play in the majors, you're playing in them and you expect to do well but there's not that kind of pressure, because you're still going back to being a college player. This is kind of the beginning of his pro career. His college career is over, and now it's a different breed of cat."

Weaver is preparing for the challenge by working with Bob Winters, his sports psychologist since high school. Winters said Weaver's state of mind has clearly improved, having already accomplished the most difficult task of all: to stop staring at Tiger Woods and just swing.

"He's had what I call a lot of 'acquaintancing,' " Winters said. "He's had a lot of desensitization from the star-gazing. He's played with a lot of major championship and PGA Tour winners. He's already done the Masters thing. Now it's Drew Weaver really playing for Drew."

Weaver also knows that if he makes the Open cut this week, it would greatly improve his chance to make the U.S. Walker Cup team, which is made up of top amateurs.

"I'm just doing everything I can to impress that executive committee from the USGA that picks the team," Weaver said. "And I definitely think I'm off to a great start."