Regular readers will recall references here regarding Fred Daly's aversion to left-handed practitioners - "I'm sorry, I don't teach deformed golfers." But Jack Nicklaus takes a much more kindly view of such sinister people, fortunately for leading Canadian left-hander Mike Weir.

When, as a lad of 14, Weir watched Nicklaus in an exhibition match, he wrote to the great man seeking career guidance. The reply, dated December 5th, 1984 read: Dear Michael, I just wanted to thank you for writing and to wish you the best of luck in your hope of becoming a professional golfer. I have always believed that a left-handed player is better off sticking with his natural swing. In my new book, The Full Swing, I've devoted a whole section to tips for left-handed golfers, and it uses what I considered to be the key instructional photographs of my swing, 'flipped' to show them from a left-handed perspective. Best wishes for continued good golfing. Sincerely, (signed) Jack Nicklaus.

Given Weir's career earnings to date of close on $6 million, helped by victories in the 1999 Air Canada Championship and last November's American Express Championship, it could be said that the Bear's advice was right on the money.