The third World Golf Championship event of the year is back in its usual slot preceding the final major this week when the WGC Bridgestone Invitational attracts the attention of many of the leading players in the game.
The USPGA comes next week but this is a very important event in its own right and will get the focus of everyone whether they are heading to Quail Hollow next week or not. Dustin Johnson will aim to defend his title here.
Recent Winners
2016 – Dustin Johnson
2015 – Shane Lowry
2014 – Rory McIlroy
2013 – Tiger Woods
2012 – Keegan Bradley
2011 – Adam Scott
2010 – Hunter Mahan
2009 – Tiger Woods
2008 – Vijay Singh
2007 – Tiger Woods
The Course
We are back at the Firestone Country Club this week which is notoriously one of the hardest par 70s on the circuit. One of the reasons for that is the fact it measures 7,400 yards. Usually it doesn’t play to its full yardage but there is rain in the forecast for the opening two days this week so we can expect it to play long.
Traditionally the fairways here are among the hardest to hit. The greens have been hard to hit too although the softer conditions will dampen the speed of the ball so I am expecting lower scoring than usual but not too low because it is Firestone after all.
If we look at the previous winners above they are all excellent drivers of the ball and in the main lengthy hitters too. I think those who can get it out there but keep it in play will be the ones who do well this week.
The Field
Even though the final major of the year takes place next week the field is as good as it gets here. The field is down to just 77 players after Brandt Snedeker’s withdrawal. Anyone who is anyone is in the field not least the three major champions of the year so far who we know will be paired together for the opening two rounds next week – Sergio Garcia, Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth.
Dustin Johnson returns to defend the title with former winners Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott looking to add to their number of WGC Bridgestone titles. Class acts such as Rickie Fowler, Alex Noren, Henrik Stenson and Justin Thomas are among those looking for their first.
Market Leaders
The champion golfer of the year Jordan Spieth is the 8/1 favourite this week. Who would count against him winning a third title in a row? He will have to go some though with the soft conditions likely to give him a disadvantage but we know he is playing excellent golf right now and he probably is the main to beat.
Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy are the joint second favourites for this tournament at 10/1. Johnson looked better last week but you can tell he still isn’t fully fit and even though he defends this week I can’t see him pushing it too much with the final major next week. All eyes will be on McIlroy after he split with his caddy in what looks like the classic ‘it isn’t my fault I’m playing shite’ move. The fact is he is playing crap and he can’t be backed at that price former winner or not.
Rickie Fowler has been quiet for a last couple of weeks but he can light up at any point and could be worthy of support here at 18/1 but even then that is on the short side. Brooks Koepka is a couple of points bigger and is probably the best value of those named so far given his excellent form. It is 22/1 bar the quintet.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Main Bets
Clearly this week we need excellent drivers of the golf ball. The rough is said to be three inches thick which is significant enough but with the softer conditions the bigger hitters should come to the fore. I’m taking two as main bets.
Jon Rahm has finished third and second in the two WGC events so far this year and having won at Torrey Pines which can be a brute of a track at the best of times he will be well geared up for this test even if he is facing it for the first time. We know he is hitting the ball well by the way he dotted up in Ireland a couple of weeks ago and with this course setting up to Rahm’s driving strength he is well worth a bet here at 25/1.
Tommy Fleetwood was runner up in Mexico earlier in the year and having won in Abu Dhabi and in France his confidence will be sky high right now. He is driving the ball as well as anyone in the world in terms of accuracy and length and that should open this course up nicely for him. He disappointed at The Open but he was on a hiding to nothing there and I’m going to forgive him that. His game is such that this course should suit him perfectly and 45/1 is a very appealing price.
Outsiders
I’ll go for three outsiders this week too. We know we’re getting four rounds from all three which is a positive and I’ve a feeling they could run hot at various points. I hope that is the case at least.
I’ve struggled to back Rafa Cabrera Bello in recent times before of his Sunday flaws but after the Scottish Open and The Open we can put those concerns to bed now and with the confidence he comes in here with not to mention the tee to green class he has a big chance this week. His putting has been off the charts this week and he is plenty long enough to get around here. He is a dark horse with a bit on top.
Xander Schauffele has suddenly caught fire having contended on a long track at the US Open before landing the Greenbrier Classic. He was in the top 20 at The Open too and would have been much further up the leaderboard if he didn’t get caught up in the nasty weather of the second day. Schauffele sits 24th in total driving on the PGA Tour and I would wager he’s been better than that recently. He’s a big price at 125s.
Harold Varner III needs points badly this week as he sits eight spots outside the FedEx Cup playoffs with just two weeks for him to get into the top 125 but I’ve a feeling he could make some of them up this week. He is from Akron so he isn’t going to lack for support here and sitting in the top 30 on the PGA Tour for total driving the course should set up well for him. He was right there after 54 holes in Canada last week but couldn’t get it going on Sunday but having won the Australian PGA Championship to qualify for this we know he can play in the wind should it blow as it is forecasted to do. He is a long shot who could well give us a decent run for our dough at an insane price.
Tips
Back J.Rahm to win WGC Bridgestone Invitational (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 with Coral (1/4 1-5)
Back him here:
Back T.Fleetwood to win WGC Bridgestone Invitational (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 46.00 with Bet365 (1/4 1-5)
Back R.Cabrera Bello to win WGC Bridgestone Invitational (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 61.00 with Bet365 (1/4 1-5)
Back them here:
Back X.Schauffele to win WGC Bridgestone Invitational (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Betbright (1/4 1-5)
Back him here:
Back H.Varner III to win WGC Bridgestone Invitational (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 301.00 with Unibet (1/4 1-5)
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2017
