Virginia Tech's Weaver hopes Open isn't end of road

In June, Drew Weaver shocked the world by winning the British Amateur. This month he played the Scottish Open and the Open Championship. And before he heads back to school, he'd love to make the U.S. Walker Cup team.

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) -- About a month ago, Drew Weaver was just another face in college golf. One month in Britain changed everything for the junior-to-be at Virginia Tech.

He won the British Amateur at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, becoming the first American champion since Jay Sigel in 1979. He played his first professional tournament last week at Loch Lomond, missing the cut in the Baclays Scottish Open.

Weaver's amateur victory qualified him for the Open Championship, and he gave it a good run at Carnoustie.

Despite three birdies on his first six holes, Weaver made too many bogeys the rest of the way for a 72. He wound up at 6-over 148 to miss the cut, but that might not be the end of his summer.

An unknown a month ago, Weaver now should get serious consideration to make the U.S. Walker Cup team.

"It would mean a lot to me to make the Walker Cup team," he said.

He sure gave U.S. Captain Buddy Marucci something to think about. The Walker Cup will be played in early September at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland, and Weaver certainly showed he can handle links courses.

Weaver was upset when he walked off the course, making three straight pars when he needed one birdie to keep playing. Tiger Woods was the last American amateur to make the cut in the Open Championship, and for Weaver to have joined him, it might have been awfully tough to keep him off the Walker Cup team.

"I think some people out there were doubting me," Weaver said. "But I threw myself in the picture. I played as hard as I could. It's out of my hands."

Whatever happens with the Walker Cup, he has set himself up nicely for next year. Weaver will play in the Masters as the British Amateur champion, and his summer in Britain has done wonders for his confidence. "A couple of times it hit me today, like when I made three birdies in six holes," he said. "It made me realize I've got what it takes."

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