Preview and Predictions for the 2015 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
We're rapidly moving toward the final major of the year with the PGA Championship just two weeks away. Players will be looking for positioning as well as a big-time cash grab at this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
The tournament, which Tiger Woods has dominated in the WGC era, will be without the Striped One, as he failed to qualify. The field does feature the top 70 golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking, however, and is one of the strongest of the year outside of the majors.
Click through for a rundown of all the details you need regarding this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Where to Watch
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Defending Champion: Rory McIlroy
Where
Firestone Country Club (South) in Akron, Ohio; 7,400 yards; par 70
What
Total Purse: $9,250,000
Winning Share: $1,570,000
FedEx Cup Points to Winner: 550
When
Thursday and Friday: 1:30 - 6:30 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
Saturday and Sunday: Noon - 1:30 p.m. ET, Golf Channel; 2 - 6 p.m. ET, CBS
Biggest Storylines
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No Tiger, Rory
Tiger Woods, who has won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational eight times, won't be in the field this week, as his OWGR ranking is too low at No. 262, and he hasn't won recently enough. It's yet another reminder of how far the former world No. 1 has fallen. Rory McIlroy likewise won't be in the field this week as he continues to recover from injury. The absence of the game's two biggest stars will be felt.
Jordan Spieth, Zach Johnson back in action
For the first time since the British Open, Open champion Zach Johnson and Jordan Spieth are competing in a PGA Tour event. All eyes will be on the pair—particularly Johnson to see if he emerges as a regular contender rather than a routine top-10 finisher.
Dustin Johnson pursuing significant feat
Dustin Johnson, who won the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral in Miami, can become just the third man to win two WGCs in the same year with a win at this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. While it's unlikely that DJ has any idea what he's playing for, a second WGC win this season would be an impressive feat, as the tournaments have the strongest fields outside of major championships.
The Favorites
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Jordan Spieth
The tournament favorite, of course, is Jordan Spieth: the man who won the season's first two majors and missed out on the third by a stroke. Spieth's recent form has been, in short, brilliant. Here's a look at his recent finishes: Memorial Tournament (T3), U.S. Open (No. 1), John Deere Classic (No. 1), British Open (T4).
Spieth finished 49th at Firestone last year in his maiden appearance. The 22-year-old leads the tour in scoring average, is second in birdies and first in strokes gained total.
Jason Day
The Australian will be keen to shake off bad memories from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last year, when a flare-up of the vertigo that has plagued him forced him to withdraw. Day tied for fourth in Akron in 2011 but hasn't cracked the top 20 in the tournament in his other starts.
However, he's coming off a victory at the RBC Canadian Open in his most recent start. Day leads the tour in birdie average and is 10th in strokes gained total.
Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson hasn't put a peg in the ground since the Open Championship, where he finished tied for 49th after disappointing weekend rounds of 75. Johnson's best finish in Akron? Fifteenth in 2010. It's Johnson's power, however, that makes him a favorite at the 7,400-yard track, which features many downhill tee shots. DJ leads the tour in driving distance, averaging 318.2 yards per drive this season.
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The Dark Horses
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Brooks Koepka
Here's a dark horse: a guy who's never teed it up at Firestone Country Club, a place where seemingly only major winners triumph.
Koepka, who won earlier this year at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, has recorded top-20 finishes in five of his last six starts, two of which were major championships, and he'll be rested following a week off.
He'll be able to handle Firestone's length, given that he's eighth on tour in driving distance (308.2 yards). He's also 12th on tour in strokes gained total and fifth on tour in scoring average.
Certainly not an oddsmaker's darling this week, Phil Mickelson has an impressive track record at Firestone that earns him consideration if you're a "horses for courses" kind of guy or gal.
Mickelson has five top-10 finishes in Akron, and he tied for 15th last time he competed in the WGC (2013).
His last time out this year, Mickelson tied for 20th at the British Open. Thus, he heads to Ohio coming off a decent showing and with a couple of weeks of rest and practice.
Phil the Thrill is eighth on tour in birdies and still has plenty of length.
Prediction
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Rickie Fowler was nearly victorious at last week's Quicken Loans National, and he won three starts ago at the Scottish Open. So, Rickie's recent form is solid.
Looking at Fowler's history at the Bridgestone, he tied for eighth last year and tied for second in 2011. Thus, the California native plays well at this track.
Ranked fifth in the Official World Golf Ranking, Fowler isn't overwhelming in any one statistical category, but he's a winner, he's in form and he's played well at this venue.
Don't be surprised if the orange aficionado raises a trophy this week.
All stats courtesy of PGATour.com.
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