2003 Masters Champion Mike Weir Taking Leave of Absence

Canadian Mike Weir, who won the Masters in 2003, announced on Friday that he is taking an indefinite leave from competitive golf, with no timetable for return.

“Family is incredibly important to me and I have decided to take some time to focus on my personal life in children,” Weir wrote in a statement released on his Twitter.

The 45-year-old played in 18 events in the 2014-15 season, but made only one cut at the CIMB Classic in November where he finished T21. His last win on tour came at the 2007 Fry’s Electronics Open.

Weir became the first Canadian male to win a major championship when he won the Masters in 2003 and only the second left-handed golfer to win a major. He was ranked as high as third in the world in 2003, after finishing T3 in the U.S. Open, and spent over 110 weeks in the top 10 between 2001 and 2005. In 2003, Weir won the Lou Marsh award for outstanding Canadian athlete of the year.

Here is the full announcement from Weir’s Twitter account:

I have decided to take some time off from golf competition for personal reasons. Thanks to my fans for their support. pic.twitter.com/hsfB6EXqNa

— Weirsy (@MikeWeir) July 17, 2015