“Stop hitting the driver off the deck, through trees, and over water. And don’t try to ricochet your ball off the clubhouse onto the green.” This is what people would often tell Mike Weir, an avid golf player, when he was growing up in Ontario, Canada. He always felt like he was hitting a golf ball the same way he would hit a slap shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. The demonstration of full shots led to an increase in the quality of his ball-striking and distance.

This happened even without increasing the speed of his clubhead. Mike Weir has been recorded to average a total of 290 yards off the tee in twelve senior starts. Now, the 54-year-old is famous for being a left-handed player. However, he was about to give up on his natural talent amidst geniuses like Phil Mickelson.

Forty years ago, listening to all the other professional players around him, Mike Weir was almost about to switch to being a right-handed swinger. But before making the switch, he wrote a letter asking Jack Nicklaus for advice. In the letter, he asked the Golden Bear about attempting to win his first Major in his career. It looks like Nicklaus had a career-changing plan ready for him. In the post-round presser at the Pro-Am of the Black Desert Championship in Utah, Weir revealed that in 1983, Jack Nicklaus gave him the best advice, “Stick with your natural swing. For God’s sake, stop showing off and start thinking out there. Remember: a tree might be 90% air, but your head shouldn’t be.”

Jack Nicklaus is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He has been a beacon of influence for many players, not just Mike Weir.

Jack Nicklaus was Tom Watson’s biggest influence

Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson started as one of the strongest rival duos. However, with time, they grew into close friends. Later on, it became more of a master-apprentice relationship. Jack Nicklaus turned out to be one of the biggest influences on Tom Watson’s golf swings and gameplay. This helped him earn two green jackets and have a career that was highly regarded by many.

“I saw him hit a 1-iron straight up in the air off the turf, and I knew I couldn’t do that,” Watson told me earlier this year. “I wanted to hit the ball like Jack, but I didn’t swing like Jack.” He talked about how Jack Nicklaus inspired his own game.

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