WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
July 31 – August 3, 2014
Firestone C.C. (South)
Akron, Ohio
Par: 70 / Yardage: 7,400
Purse: $9 million
with $1,530,000 to the winner
Defending Champion:
Tiger Woods

This week’s field includes:
The field includes 53 of the top 54 in the latest Official World Rankings. Dustin Johnson has withdrawn, he was ranked 16th.
The field includes 24 of the top 25 on the FedEx point standings for 2014. # 4 Dustin Johnson has withdrawn.
The field includes 24 players in the top 25 on this year’s PGA Tour money list. #3 Dustin Johnson has withdrawn.
The field includes 30 players that have won 36 events on the PGA Tour this year: Jimmy Walker (Frys.com Open, Sony Open in Hawaii & AT&T Pebble), Webb Simpson (Shriners Hospitals); Ryan Moore (CIMB CLassic), Chris Kirk (McGladrey Classic), Harris English (OHL Classic at Mayakoba); Zach Johnson (Hyundai T of C); Patrick Reed (Humana & Cadillac); Scott Stallings (Farmers); Kevin Stadler (WM Phoenix); Bubba Watson (Northern Trust & Masters); Jason Day (WGC-Accenture); Russell Henley (Honda); John Senden (Valspar Championship); Matt Every (Palmer); Steve Bowditch (Valero Texas); Matt Jones (Shell Houston); Matt Kuchar (RBC Heritage); Seung-Yul Noh (Zurich); J.B. Holmes (Wells Fargo) Martin Kaymer (Players & U.S. Open); Ben Crane (FedEx St. Jude); Brendon Todd (Byron Nelson); Adam Scott (Colonial); Hideki Matsuyama (Memorial); Kevin Streelman (Travelers); Justin Rose (Quicken Loans National); Angel Cabrera (Greenbrier); Brian Harman (John Deere); Rory McIlroy (Open Championship and Tim Clark (RBC Canadian Open).
Only PGA Tour winners in 2014 not in the field are Chesson Hadley (Puerto Rico) and Dustin Johnson (WGC-HSBC).
The field includes 5 past Bridgestone champions: Tiger Woods (2013, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2001, 2000, 1999), Keegan Bradley (2012), Adam Scott (2011), Hunter Mahan (2010) and Phil Mickelson (1996)
A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the WGC-Bridgestone field is our performance chart listed by average finish. Another way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at the WGC-Bridgestone field in the last five years or check out our sortable 8-year glance at the WGC-Bridgestone field.
A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.
Another cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmaker in Las Vegas.
Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:
Who’s Hot in the field for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
Player | Canadian Open | Russian Open | British Open | John Deere | Scottish Open | Greenbrier Classic | French Open | Quicken Loans | BMW Inter. | Travelers | Irish Open | U.S. Open | FedEx St. Jude |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rickie Fowler (329 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T2 (200) |
DNP | T8 (50) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 (66.67) |
T13 (12.33) |
Rory McIlroy (311.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | Win (264) |
DNP | T14 (36) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
T23 (18) |
DNP |
Sergio Garcia (302 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T2 (200) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T12 (25.33) |
T2 (66.67) |
DNP | T35 (10) |
DNP |
Justin Rose (299.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T23 (54) |
DNP | Win (132) |
DNP | DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T12 (25.33) |
DNP |
Graeme McDowell (286.33 pts) |
T9 (45) |
DNP | T9 (90) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 (40) |
T28 (14.67) |
T24 (8.67) |
Jim Furyk (285.33 pts) |
2 (100) |
DNP | 4 (160) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T12 (25.33) |
DNP |
Tim Clark (199 pts) |
Win (132) |
DNP | DNP | T5 (70) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | T19 (10.33) |
Marc Leishman (192.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T5 (140) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T8 (33.33) |
DNP | T11 (26) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Brian Harman (192 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T26 (48) |
Win (132) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T42 (5.33) |
DNP | DNP | T6 (20) |
Angel Cabrera (186.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T19 (62) |
DNP | DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | T24 (17.33) |
DNP | T11 (26) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP |
Ryan Moore (179 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T12 (76) |
T7 (55) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T5 (46.67) |
DNP | T48 (1.33) |
DNP |
Keegan Bradley (174.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T19 (62) |
DNP | DNP | T4 (53.33) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T31 (12.67) |
DNP | T4 (53.33) |
DNP |
Adam Scott (170 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T5 (140) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T9 (30) |
DNP |
Stephen Gallacher (158 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T15 (70) |
DNP | T4 (80) |
DNP | T18 (21.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP |
Brendon Todd (144 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T39 (22) |
DNP | DNP | T4 (53.33) |
DNP | T5 (46.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T17 (22) |
DNP |
Henrik Stenson (142 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T39 (22) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 (66.67) |
DNP | DNP | T4 (53.33) |
DNP |
Fabrizio Zanotti (142 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T59 (0) |
DNP | T9 (30) |
DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | T14 (24) |
DNP | DNP |
Dustin Johnson (140.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T12 (76) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T31 (12.67) |
DNP | T4 (53.33) |
T24 (8.67) |
Jordan Spieth (131 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T36 (28) |
T7 (55) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T11 (26) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T17 (22) |
DNP |
Thongchai Jaidee (130.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T39 (22) |
DNP | T48 (2) |
DNP | T2 (66.67) |
DNP | T5 (46.67) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP |
Phil Mickelson (120.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T23 (54) |
DNP | T11 (39) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T28 (14.67) |
T11 (13) |
Francesco Molinari (119.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T15 (70) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T26 (16) |
DNP | T12 (25.33) |
DNP | DNP | T23 (18) |
DNP |
Matt Kuchar (118 pts) |
T4 (80) |
DNP | T54 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T31 (12.67) |
DNP | T12 (25.33) |
DNP |
Charl Schwartzel (110.33 pts) |
T43 (7) |
DNP | T7 (110) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP |
Martin Kaymer (106.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | 70 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T12 (25.33) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | Win (88) |
DNP |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who’s Not Hot in the field for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
Player | Canadian Open | Russian Open | British Open | John Deere | Scottish Open | Greenbrier Classic | French Open | Quicken Loans | BMW Inter. | Travelers | Irish Open | U.S. Open | FedEx St. Jude |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lee Westwood (-40 pts) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-20) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Jonas Blixt (-33.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-20) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
T35 (10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP |
Richard Sterne (-30 pts) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-20) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T56 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Scott Stallings (-14 pts) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-20) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T35 (10) |
DNP | T71 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T32 (6) |
Jason Dufner (-13.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T51 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP |
David Lynn (-13.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T45 (3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Miguel A. Jimenez (-8.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-20) |
DNP | T35 (15) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T45 (3.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP |
Russell Henley (-7 pts) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-20) |
T27 (23) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T60 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Tiger Woods (-6.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | 69 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Joost Luiten (-5.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-20) |
DNP | T51 (0) |
DNP | T18 (21.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who to watch for at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
Best Bets:
Jim Furyk
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T9 | T2 | T23 | T6 | T51 | T27 | 3 | T24 | T22 | T6 | T6 |
Have to pick him for the second straight week. He could of easily won the Canadian if not for the great final round by Tim Clark, so Furyk is really due. He has had a fair amount of close calls at Firestone and this should be his year.
Rory McIlroy
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T27 | T5 | T6 | T9 | T68 |
Showed us a lot at Hoylake, feel that the good play will continue into this week and next.
Keegan Bradley
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T2 | Win | T15 |
This is his time to shine, coming to a course in which he is 27 under par on for just 12 rounds.
Best of the rest:
Justin Rose
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T17 | T5 | T33 | T19 | T29 | T27 | T2 | T33 | 5 |
Can’t forget about him, he wins on great courses like this and he should be in the running this week.
Adam Scott
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T14 | T45 | Win | T9 | T51 | T56 | T36 | T10 | T36 | T55 | T64 |
Past champion at Firestone, his game has been sharp this summer and you know he will contend.
Rickie Fowler
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T21 | T60 | T2 | T33 |
Has played well and contended most of the summer, was runner-up in this event back in 2011.
Sergio Garcia
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T40 | T29 | T53 | T22 | T22 | T36 | T20 | T22 | T13 | T16 | T30 | T58 |
Is flying under the radar scope, game is good and he could win in the next couple of weeks.
Solid contenders
Jason Dufner
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T4 | 7 |
Showed us in his last two starts that he can play well at Firestone.
Graeme McDowell
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T40 | T24 | 65 | T22 | T45 | T56 | WD | T52 |
He is fighting for a berth on the Ryder Cup team, doing it with some good play including a win in France.
Henrik Stenson
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T2 | 80 | T29 | T16 | T41 | T31 | T13 |
Good course for him, he didn’t play great at Hoylake but will do well at Firestone.
Martin Kaymer
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T9 | T29 | T29 | T22 | T60 | T68 |
Time for him to focus in on another major, he could win at Firestone.
Long shots that could come through:
Hideki Matsuyama
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T21 |
Hasn’t done anything since his Memorial win, but it’s time for him to start playing well again.
Tim Clark
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T58 | T29 | T20 | T6 | 74 | T51 | T48 | T64 |
Now that he isn’t worried about the 2016 long putting ban, his game has sparkled. Could be another good week for him.
Steve Stricker
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13 | T2 | 14 | T9 | T6 | T43 | T41 |
You never know, he has played well at Firestone maybe that could help him this year.
Tiger and Phil, it’s been a tough year
Tiger Woods
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | T8 | T37 | T78 | Win | Win | Win | Win | T2 | T4 | 4 |
Has the best record of anyone at Firestone, but I can’t see him winning. I can see a possible top-ten, but his game is no were close for a victory.
Phil Mickelson
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T21 | T43 | T48 | T46 | T58 | T4 | T46 | T54 | T51 | T43 | T23 | T9 |
Has had a tough time with the putter all year long and can’t see that improving this week.
Tiger and the Ryder Cup…I don’t think the TV, Sponsors, the tournament trustees etc would let Tom Watson NOT pick Tiger Woods on the team.
Too much $$$ in ratings and sponsor exposure, and fan interest to not have him on the team.
Of course NBC/Golf Channel want Tiger in the Ryder Cup. So does the PGA of America who want to see the highest possible ratings. In a way since they signed like a 20 year TV contract extension for the Ryder Cup it really doesn’t matter, their revenue is set in stone. But they do want to see high ratings and without Tiger that may not be possible.
The PGA of America are I think honorable men and would probably “suggest” to a captain that Tiger is the good financial choice, but I don’t think they are going to put undue pressure for a Tiger pick. Doesn’t really matter because Tom Watson is going to do what he thinks is best for the team and would not be “swayed” if told to pick Tiger.
I would also tell you that the European Team would love to see Tiger get picked because they think he is very weak and really doesn’t have that great of a Ryder Cup record.
Be interesting to see which way it goes, the next two weeks I think are very important for Tiger to have any chance of playing the team, if he doesn’t play close to what we know of Tiger I don’t think Watson will pick him.
Curious why Leishman didn’t hit your radar this week Sal. Thoughts?
Easy, yes Leishman has played well finishing 5th at the British, 8th at Quicken Loans and 11th at Travelers. At the end of the day I based my decision on not because he was hot but because I feel he doesn’t play well at Firestone. I can tell you this, if he has another top-ten, and I would say that is probably Leishman’s goal for the week, I will think of him at the PGA.