TORONTO (PA) -- Former Masters champion Mike Weir believes that including golf as an Olympic event would help the game grow as a global sport.

The Canadian made the comments at a golf clinic he was conducting at the Capilano Golf and Country Club on Tuesday, also saying that he believed it would be difficult for the PGA Tour not to be affected by the current global economic downturn.

"There are a lot of banks that sponsor events, car companies," Weir said according to The Toronto Sun. "It could have an adverse affect down the road.

"The commissioner did a great job locking in some of those (sponsors) for a long term and hopefully we can get this thing turned around," he added. "But the PGA Tour is not immune to what the rest of North America is feeling."

Weir said that watching the Beijing Olympics on television this past summer made him think that it would be exciting to be part of the parade of athletes during the Games' opening ceremony.

"It would be a thrill," he said. "It would be an honor to represent your country in the Olympics. I think it would be great for the game."

Golf is only one of seven sports vying for Olympic inclusion in the 2016 Games, and a decision is set to be made by the International Olympic Committee on Oct. 2, 2009.

"By the time it passes I might be senior tour material, but hopefully I'll still be competitive enough to play," said the 38-year-old. "It would be something to work towards if we knew it was out there, the apple out there in seven or eight years."

Weir has had a strong 2008, which included six top-10 finishes and over $2.7 million dollars in prize money, the most he's won since 2004. He also finished sixth in the FedExCup playoff standings.

Weir credits his successful year to the help Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer have done to improve his swing.

"It's part of a progression," Weir said. "I've worked with these guys a couple of years. I just want to keep chipping away at it, getting better and more comfortable with the changes I've made."

With his game in good shape and the prospect of Olympic glory still a possibility, Weir isn't thinking too much about how much he has left in the tank just yet.

"I'm passionate about it," he said. "I've moved up significantly in the world rankings. I still think I can go a lot more.

"I'll just keep playing. I don't have any plans to stop."

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