WGC Bridgestone Invitational: Tiger's Chosen the Right Tournament for His Return

Tiger Woods returns to Firestone this week—the course where he won his 70th professional tournament and his seventh WGC Bridgestone Golf Championship in 2009. This year, however, he will be without Steve Williams, his caddy of the last 12 years who Woods fired under acrimonious circumstances recently after Williams caddied for Adam Scott without permission.

Replacing Williams on the bag for Woods will be his long time friend Byron Bell, who last worked for Woods at the Buick Invitational back in 1999. The two have both confirmed this will only be an interim measure until a new full-time appointment is made. In the mean time, the question is whether Bell can positively contribute to Tiger's comeback in the game of golf.

Woods heads to Akron, OH having not played four rounds in a tournament since the US Masters in April due to his injured left knee. Reports, however, suggest that the 14-time Major winner has been practicing very hard and is happy with his game.

He has certainly chosen the right tournament to make his comeback, having won the Bridgestone Invitational on seven separate occasions. He has also finished second and fourth but will want to forget his performance here 12 months ago when he finished 78th on 18-over par. Excuses can be made, however, given it was the week that his divorce was finalized.

Tiger's absence from the golf course after another knee injury in 2008, followed by his subsequent infamous marital break-up cost Woods the No. 1 World Ranking. This latest absence has cost him further, seeing him plummet to No. 28 in the World Rankings and a solid effort at Firestone is paramount if he's to stop the slide.

The odds-makers don't fancy Tiger's chances, making the one-time favourite for every event a 20/1 shot. This is the biggest offering for him winning any tournament since before the US Masters in 1997! Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Steve Stricker are all favoured ahead of Woods.

Woods will resume his playing career alongside his old WGC rival, Darren Clarke, winner of the 2011 Open Championship and who sits just two places behind Woods in the rankings at number 30. Clarke won this tournament by four strokes when it was known as the WGC-NEC Invitational in 2003, with a 12-under par total of 268—six shots better than Woods, who finished fourth.

However, having missed the cut at the Irish Open last weekend, Clarke will have to prove that he is not suffering from a 'hangover' following his recent exertions at Royal St George's for history to repeat itself.

The defending champion from last year is US Ryder Cup star Hunter Mahan, who will play alongside McIlroy for the first two rounds. This, while World No. 1, Luke Donald, plays with Masters champion, Charl Schwartzel. World No. 2, Lee Westwood, will be alongside Ryder Cup teammate Graeme McDowell, but there is no debating who all eyes will be on come 13:40 (EST) Thursday.