Mike Weir (Stats | Bio) 's victory in the Masters Tournament has been compared to the greatest sports achievements in Canadian history.

But how does he compare to the greatest golfers in Canada's history? He's right at the very top, some would argue.

"Mike is our first true champion that we've had in the game," said Canada's greatest hockey star, Wayne Gretzky. "Even though we've had some good players, nobody has ever won a major - and especially not the Masters."

The maple leaf standard for professional golfing excellence was George Knudson, who died in 1989 as his country's most prolific winner on the PGA Tour.

Knudson, known for his precise ball-striking and smooth swing, won eight times on the PGA Tour, from the 1961 Coral Gables Open to the 1972 Kaiser International Open. In between he won various other minor stops, including Portland, Fresno, New Orleans, Phoenix and Tucson, despite a reputation as a poor putter. He won twice in 1968 and 1972.

Weir, with seven PGA Tour wins, including three last sea- son, makes up for a slight shortage in quantity with an abundance of quality. Along with the Masters, he's won a World Golf Championships-American Express and Tour championship. After defending his title at the Nissan Open in February, Weir has his eye set on eclipsing Knudson's record to leave no doubt who is Canada's best.

"If it were to happen it would be a great honor," Weir said after the 2003 season. "It is something I have always wanted to do. I won't lie to you there. I've always wanted to be the guy who has the most wins. I've still got some years ahead of me."

C. Ross Somerville of London, Ontario, was the first Canadian to win the U.S. Amateur championship, in 1932. (AP/File)

Canadians haven't been strangers to PGA Tour success since Al Balding became the country's first champion in a U.S. event at the 1955 Mayfair Open. Balding finished sixth on the 1957 PGA Tour money list, the highest by a Canadian until Weir's fifth-place finish in 2003.

Stan Leonard and Dave Barr each won three times on the PGA Tour. Dan Halldorson, Richard Zokol and current PGA Tour cardholder Ian Leggatt have each won once.

Canadians have had close calls in majors before, especially the Masters, where 26 Canadians have competed since the first tournament in 1934.

Knudson tied for second in the 1969 Masters, one shot behind champion George Archer (Stats | Bio). In seven Masters appearances, Knudson posted three top-10s, including 10th in his 1965 debut and sixth a year later.

Leonard is the most frequent Canadian visitor to Augusta, with 12 Masters appearances. He finished in the top 25 eight times between 1955 and 1963, finishing fourth in 1958 and 1959, when he led after an opening-round 69 and entered the final round tied with Arnold Palmer (Stats | Bio) for the lead. A Sunday 75, however, left him three shots behind charging champion Art Wall Jr.

Barr's best Masters finish in four appearances was 16th in 1986, the year after he tied for second in the 1985 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills, one shot behind Andy North. Barr was the first Canadian golfer to surpass $2 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour, where he competed for 17 years without having to requalify.

Balding finished eighth and ninth at the British Opens in 1967 and 1968.

Weir has been dubbed Cana-da's first major winner, but even that designation has been challenged and requires a "professional" qualifier.

Before the Masters, the U.S. Amateur was considered one of golf's major crown jewels. Augusta National founder Bobby Jones won his Grand Slam in 1930 by sweeping the U.S. and British amateurs and opens.

In 1932, Canada's C. Ross "Sandy" Somerville defeated American John Goodman 2 and 1 to win the U.S. Amateur at Baltimore Country Club. A year later, Goodman became the last amateur to win the U.S. Open.

Somerville is regarded as Canada's equivalent to Bobby Jones as his nation's greatest "gentleman golfer." From 1926 to 1937, Somerville won six Canadian Amateur titles and was runner-up four other times. He was invited by Jones to compete in two Masters tournaments, including the inaugural Augusta National Invitation Tournament in 1934. In the first Masters, Somerville became the first player to ace a hole at Augusta National, carding a hole-in-one on the 145-yard 16th hole using a mashie niblick.

Another accomplished Cana-dian amateur, Gary Cowan, played in eight Masters. The 1961 Canadian Amateur and two-time U.S. Amateur champion (1966 and '71) tied Deane Beman as low amateur in 1964.

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.