Its been 11 years since Mike Weir raised his arms in celebration after tapping in a short putt to win the Masters. For sure, April 2003 was a magical time for the lefthander. But it was April 2010 that may end up being just as significant. It was that month in that year that he conked a root with his swing and injured his elbow during play at the Heritage. That started the long spiral down from which he is still fighting to recover. Since that fateful day in Hilton Head, Weir has played 73 tournaments and missed the cut 53 times with four withdrawals. Hes had surgery and taken time away to recover from various ailments. Hes switched coaches and hes tried different swings. But through it all, one thing Weir has never done is lose hope. As good as his game has been over the years, as talented as he was with the putter and as precise as he was with the wedges, its his dog-on-a-bone determination, his will and self-belief that have been his biggest assets. And that only increases when it gets close to Masters time. "I really think I can contend there," Weir said of the years first major. "I still believe in myself, more than anything. When I step on the grounds there, I have confidence. I know how to play that golf course. I have a great strategy for that golf course that doesnt really change." Weir is playing the PGA Tour on the second of two lifetime money list exemptions but he has a lifetime pass to Augusta, so no matter what happens down the road, he can keep coming back. But he doesnt want to be there in a ceremonial way; he wants to see his name on the leaderboard again and he believes that can happen even if he admits that might surprise a few people. "Im definitely under the radar," stated Weir, who hasnt been under par at Augusta since his opening round of 2010. "I hope to build on the next couple weeks. Its obviously a course I love. Good vibes and memories there — and I definitely know how to play that golf course." During much of his period of struggle, its been the driver thats been the weak link in his bag but lately the troubles have come at the other end. "Ive been really struggling on the greens, which is unlike me. My last start in Tampa, I made only two birdies, from four and five feet. I think Ive just spent so much time on the golf swing — 80/20, probably — I just needed to put more attention on the short game, which Ive done." Even with renewed confidence in his big stick, Weir knows that to conquer Augusta National, hell need to have all parts of his game going. As a medium to short hitter, tackling a 7,700-yard layout is going to put pressure on his wedges and putter. The course is so different than the one he played on in his first Masters in 2000 and the one he won on in 2003. Its longer, has a first cut (aka rough) and trees have been planted that remove some the possible angles that can be used to get at pins. But mostly, its just so much longer. "It takes a special kind of week to win there," he stated, "for someone outside the bombers. But it can still be done." It would certainly be special to see Canadas most successful golfer in the hunt again at the Masters, or anywhere for that matter. If he doesnt, it certainly wont be from lack of effort. Weir has spent long hours on the range and the putting green, trying to find the magic once again. Perhaps it will finally come together for him at Augusta National. Custom Carolina Panthers Jerseys . “The shootout, theres nothing wrong with it, I think its an exciting part of the game but its just one small aspect,” said Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman. “Its a skill exhibition. If you can get it back closer to regular hockey and have it decided that way; that would be my preference.” “I dont think its a knock on the shootout, I think more of the managers would like to see it end in overtime,” added Washington Capitals GM George McPhee. Authentic Carolina Panthers Jerseys .Mihajlovic was sent off minutes from the end of Thursdays 2-0 win over Brescia and has been punished for using a disrespectful expression toward the fourth official and throwing the contents of a bottle of water at him, thus assuming an intimidating attitude. http://www.cheappanthers.com/. Their 9-19 record remains identical to the crosstown rivals in Brooklyn and trails both Toronto and Boston in the Atlantic Division. Raymond Felton, their declining point guard, is back on the sideline nursing his third injury of the season. Cheap Carolina Panthers Jerseys Online . -- The way Ted Ligety carved into turns looked so easy. Wholesale Carolina Panthers Jerseys . The American secured his first back-to-back ATP match wins since June to leave Tsonga relying on his performance at next weeks Paris Masters to clinch one of the final three places for the season-ending event in London. Tsonga would have moved up one spot to No. 6 with a win over Querrey at the City of Arts and Sciences, but his serve deserted him in the second set as the 116th-ranked American broke twice to reach the quarter-finals.Nassau, Bahamas (SportsNetwork.com) - The 18th-ranked Gators got an unexpected boost from freshman Chris Chiozza, who came off the bench and supplied 13 points with six steals in Floridas 56-47 win over UAB in the second round of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Chiozza, who went scoreless in Wednesdays overtime loss to Georgetown in round 1, had scored just 19 points in his collegiate career prior to Thursdays win. The reserve guard made three of Floridas seven 3-pointers, including consecutive triples during a crucial stretch midway through the second half. Tosin Mehinti made a layup around Chiozzas 3s and UAB scored the next five points to tie the game at 39. The Blazers led by two after Mehinti split a pair of free throws out of the final media timeout. But Florida climbed in front when Chris Walker and Jon Horford made two free throws and Kasey Hill had a layup with 1 1/2 minutes to play. After Hakeem Baxter missed twice at the rim out of a timeout, Dorian Finney- Smiths dunk and more free throws secured the game for the Gators.dddddddddddd Michael Frazier II scored a game-high 14 points for Florida (3-2) while Hill and Horford netted eight apiece. Robert Brown was the only Blazer to score in the first 15 minutes of Wednesdays loss to Wisconsin, but his teammates stepped up in the opening stages of this one. Mehinti had five of UABs first 10 points and Brown was scoreless as the Blazers jumped out to a 12-5 lead midway through the first half UAB flipped the script in this one, keeping every Gator besides Hill off the scoreboard until Walkers dunk at 9:20. Hill had Floridas first five points. Florida led by as many as seven late in the first half, but Brown made it 27-22 at halftime with his jumper before the buzzer. Brown and Mehinti both scored 12 points to lead UAB (2-4). Game Notes UAB has lost nine of 10 against ranked opponents ... Florida will play UNC in the final day in the Bahamas, while UAB awaits a meeting with UCLA ... UAB made five of its seven free throw attempts. 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