In the first Major Championship of 2003, Mike Weir became the first Canadian and the first left-handed golfer ever to win the US Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, USA. Weir overcame a three-shot deficit on the back nine Sunday and went on to beat Len Mattiace at the first extra play-off hole. As a result, the 67th US Masters Champion moves up 5 positions on the Official World Golf Ranking to World No.5 – his highest ever career position and the highest position ever held by a Canadian golfer on the World Ranking.

Weir started 2003 at World No.46 but victories in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the Nissan Open and the US Masters have meant an accumulation of 260.03 World Ranking points – more than any other golfer in the world.

Phil Mickelson, playing in his 43rd Major Championship, finished outright third and he makes a welcome return to the World No.3 slot while runner-up Len Mattiace improves 31 positions this week to World No.26 – the highest position of his career. Third-round leader Jeff Maggert finished fifth but he makes a return to the Top-100 at No.81 while Jim Furyk posted his third career Top-10 finish at Augusta National and remains at World No.9.