Bridgestone Invitational: Tiger Woods crossing the bridge leading to the PGA Tournament
By Ben, BettingExpert.com | Edited
Google+: Ben Bexpert
This time around, it is no longer a rumour, Tiger Woods will be definitely playing for the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron after an 11 week off from the tournament due to a knee problem. He will be joined by big guns at the Firestone Country Club from 03 – 07 August 2011, with the likes of the recent Major Winners Charl Schwartzel (Masters Tournament), Rory McIlroy (US Open Championship) and Darren Clarke (Open Championship). Along with them vying for the title and the purse money of $8.5M are all the top 10 players in the OWGR such as Luke Donald (No1), Lee Westwood (No2), Martin Kaymer (No3), Steve Stricker (No4), Phil Mickelson (No6), Dustin Johnson (No7), Jason Day (No8), Nick Watney (No9).
The world’s best players will be in Firestone Country Club’s South Course a week before the last major tournament of the year. As the PGA Championship 2011 is just around the corner, Bridgestone Invitational will be the "tune-up" event for the any player who will be in in Georgia. However, not just anyone can get to play in Ohio. Players for the Bridgestone Invitation are, as the name suggests, by invitation only. Players that was part of Ryder Cup 2011, the top 50 of the OWGR on the week that the tournament will be played, winners from Japan Golf Tour: 2010 Bridgestone Open and 2011 Japan Golf Tour Championship, Australasian Tour: 2010 Australian PGA Championship, Southern Africa Tour: 2011 Dimension Data Pro-Am, Asian Tour: 2010 Iskandar Johor Open and past winners with 115 points or more in the OWGR from tournamets that the Federation Tours are considered to be official are only get the invitation to take part.
The Bridgestone Invitational Defending Champion
One year ago, the defending champion, Hunter Mahan won his second title of the 2010 season at the Bridgestone Invitational. The 29-year-old Californian started the final round with a three strokes lead and went on to win the tournament with his 12-under par 268, hitting a final-round 64 to earn a two-shot lead from fellow American Ryan Palmer. A career win that earned him a place in the Ryder Cup 2010. Since winning his biggest title of his career, it has never been a smooth sailing for the world No19. His form this season has failed to show up except at AT&T tournament in Pebble Beach where he came second. The last time he finish inside the top 10 was in May, which is nearly three months ago in Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, finishing T10. Aside from that, three out of his five recent games were outside top 30 and missing the cut at the last two major tournaments. His prospect of defending his title is not looking good that Hunter Mahan is at odds 25/1 to win at the Bridgestone Invitational.
Tiger Woods Comeback Game
The former number one, Tiger Woods is back. This is not just a rumour, it is official that he will be playing in Ohio for the Bridgestone Invitational 2011. It was 11 long week of anticipation in the world of golf when will be Tiger's comeback in the tournament. Rumors were flying around but none were true, but finally, a week before the last major tournament of the season in Atlanta Atheletic Club, he is back. He might have slipped from the world ranking from being No1 to No28, but nonetheless, his appearance will still be a delight not only for the organizer but more over to the golf fans. Woods record herespeaks for itself. However, since his infamous trouble personal life, he has failed to become a threat at any event he has played so far and along with this, his last tournament was nearly three months ago. Bridgestone will be his first competition since his withdrawal at the ninth hole at The Players Championship after suffering from a left knee and left Achilles tendon in Florida. So far this season, the 35-year-old American had only been in seven tournaments, in which his best finish was T4 at the Masters Tournament. Last year in the South Course, he finished three hours before the overnight leaders teed off, he carded two double-bogeys in the last five holes. Scoring 18-over par total of 298, a 30 strokes from the winner Hunter Mahan, Tiger tied 78th in the 80-player field. this was a record breaking for Tiger, it was his worst finished since joining this tournament, his first highest 72-hole PGA Tour aggregate his first time since PGA Championship 2003 to have had four rounds over par. Falling from grace and still not 100% recuperated from his injuries, he will be hoping to make this tournament as his way to prepare for the PGA Championship next week. Tiger Wood is not a favourite by the bookmaker, at odds 20/1, in Ohio’s Bridgestone Invitational 2011 tournament.
Rory McIlroy Tuning-up at Bridgestone
Rory McIlroy won his first major title at the tender age of 22 in Bethesda for the US Open in June, carding 2-under par 69 in the final round, a 16-under aggregate of 268 that gave him an 8 shot lead victory from Jason Day. Since his historic victory, recording the lowest score in the US Open, the Northern Irishman has only played twice. At the Open Championship in Sandwich, the world No5 finished T25 while he finished T34 at the Irish Open last weekend. Last year, McIlroy was placed T9, 5-under par 275, seven shots down from the winner Mahan Hunter. Dubbed to be the next Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy is leading the betting market to win the 2011 Bridgestone Invitational at odds 14/1.
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