The PGA Tour will make its way to Akron, Ohio this week for the final edition of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. With the St. Jude Classic promoted to WGC status, that event will replace the Bridgestone Invitational on the annual schedule. We broke down the field for this week’s tournament at the Firestone Country Club in order to provide you with the best betting options on the board, including a look at the favorites and some sleeper picks. Here is a look at the eight best bets to win the Bridgestone Invitational this week.
Event Details
Event: WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
Category: PGA
Date: August 2nd-5th, 2018
Location: Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio
Last Five Winners
2017: Hideki Matsuyama
2016: Dustin Johnson
2015: Shane Lowry
2014: Rory McIlroy
2013: Tiger Woods
Bridgestone Invitational Best Bets
Dustin Johnson +800
It’s impossible to argue with Johnson’s form heading into the Bridgestone Invitational. Johnson has won 10 of his last 45 starts overall, including another dominant performance at the Canadian Open last week. With a 22.2-percent win rate over his last 45 starts, Johnson is the obvious betting favorite. However, he is still available at a decent price right now at +800 odds.
Justin Rose +1400
Rose was out of form in each of his last two appearances at Firestone. However, he is still listed at the second-best odds to win the tournament behind only Johnson, so what gives? Well, Rose is on fire this year, including four top-10 finishes since his victory at the Fort Worth Invitational back in May. After rallying to finish second at the Open Championship, Rose is finally in strong form heading into this event. He is a capable contender in Akron this week.
Rory McIlroy +1400
McIlroy is another golfer that is in excellent form following a runner-up finish at the Open Championship. Just as important is the fact that McIlroy’s course form figures read 9-6-5-27-1-5 over his last six starts in this tournament. His tee to green game is so good that he won’t be overlooked this week.
Tiger Woods +1400
Tiger has been extremely popular on the market of late and it has hurt some of his value when it comes to betting on him. That said, Tiger is still a decent option this week at +1400 odds. An eight-time winner of this event, Tiger is starting to show flashes of his elite ability. This might very well be the start in which Tiger finally captures that elusive victory he has been chasing over the past couple of years.
Jordan Spieth +2000
Spieth has shown flashes of his potential but hasn’t been able to put all of his tools together for a full four days and contend for an outright win. Will that change this week in Akron? Spieth has posted three straight top-15 finishes at this event so it’s likely he will be in the mix once again this Sunday. At +2000 odds, it might be worth it to take a chance on Spieth to win the Bridgestone Invitational outright. If you prefer less risk, you can bet him to place in the Top 5 or Top 10.
Jon Rahm +2500
Rahm might very well have been in contantion last year if he hadn’t posted a second-round 77 in his tournament debut. The fact that he still placed in the top-30 is worth discussing heading into his second start at Firestone. Rahm’s consistency since the Masters has been impressive with the most top-five finishes since that major. Similar to Spieth, if you don’t think he’ll win, a decent bet could be for Top 5 or Top 10.
Justin Thomas +2800
There is no doubt that Thomas has struggled to achieve his goal of being more consistent on Tour this season. However, he is still an immense talent with the potential to surprise in any given week. The fact that he’s currently second in FedEx Cup points gives you an idea of his quality. He has a pair of wins and six Top 10’s this season.
Charley Hoffman +7000
In terms of a deeper sleeper, Hoffman certainly fits the bill at +7000 odds. Hoffman tied for third at this event a year ago after firing a 66 in the final round, so he should feel confident that he could build off that result and contend for the win this week. Hoffman currently ranks fourth in greens in regulation over the last eight weeks and he has finished in the top-20 in all three major tournaments this season. 70/1 feels generous for someone who just might be in this.
