Preview: WGC Bridgestone Invitational

This week sees the final WGC event of the season - the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone CC. Tiger Woods has won this event in each of the last three seasons. He's out with injury so it's time for a new champion to step up to the plate.

2007 WGC Brigestone Invitational Champion Tiger Woods
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Lowdown: Firestone has been a happy hunting ground for Tiger Woods - he’s won this tournament six times including each of the last three year’s. In 2007 he won by a staggering eight shots. The World Number One’s absence throws the tournament wide open and the 39 European Tour members making their way to Ohio have reason to be optimistic. Open Champion Padraig Harrington will spearhead the European challenge and Justin Rose, who finished second here last year, will be ably supporting. Brits Ross Fisher, Richard Finch, Steve Webster and Oliver Wilson will be making their Bridgestone Invitational debuts. The South Course at Firestone is known as “The Monster” following the comments of Arnold Palmer after the 1960 PGA Championship. At 7,400 yards with a par of only 70 it’ll certainly present a tough challenge. Last year only Woods finished the week under par. All the top players will be looking to hone their games with just one week to go before the year’s final Major – the PGA Championship. Venue: Firestone CC, Ohio Date: July 31- Aug 3 Course stats: 7,400 yards, par 70 Purse: $8,000,000 Winner: $1,350,000 Defending Champion: Tiger Woods (-8) TV coverage: Thursday 31 – Live on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm Friday 1 – Live on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm Saturday 2 – Live on Sky Sports 2 from 7pm Sunday 3 – Live on Sky Sports 2 from 7pm Player watch: Geoff Ogilvy – The Australian could join Tiger Woods as the only men to have won all three WGC events. Stewart Cink – He won here in 2004 and will be hoping to repeat that feat. He currently leads the US Ryder Cup rankings. Justin Rose – Second here in 2007, the Englishman will be aiming for one better this time round. Key hole: 16th. A 667 yard par 5 that’s a true three shotter. A pond in front of the green means even the longest hitters can’t get there in two. Skills required: Strength – Not only does this course require long hitting but the super-thick rough also demands powerful recovery play. Although the rough is set to be shorter than last year, expect the long straight hitters and the strong “escape-artists” to cope well.

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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