With the Open championship right around the corner, many of the best in the world will make the trip to the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. A strong contingent of the top European players will be overseas playing in the Open de France but 40 of the top 50 players in the world will compete with $9.5 million in prize money on the line. That means names like Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Adam Scott are in the field. this will be a very competitive event with lots on the line.
Event Details
Event: World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational
Category: PGA
Date: June 30-July 3
Location: Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio
There will certainly be no shortage of star power on hand in Akron this week including the newly minted major champion Dustin Johnson and world No. 1 Jason Day. 2014 winner Rory McIlroy will not be among those on hand as he competes in the Open de France but the field will be incredibly challenging nonetheless with a ton of talent at the top. A lot of people will be betting on Johnson after his big win; he’s got a lot of momentum right now after winning the U.S. Open, but he might not be the best option here.
Past Five Winners
2015: Shane Lowry -11
2014: Rory McIlroy -15
2013: Tiger Woods -15
2012: Keegan Bradley -13
2011: Adam Scott -17
What To Know About The Course
No winner in the last 12 years has ranked outside of the top-27 in Driving Distance at this tournament so that will be an important statistic to consider this week. Driving Accuracy hasn’t been nearly as important but Greens in Regulation will factor in to the equation as 13 of the last 16 winners have ranked inside the top-10 in that category. The Firestone Country Club course favors distance and the ability to scramble much more than accuracy, so it’s worth taking a long look at those numbers before putting money down on the tournament.
The Field
Day will headline this year’s class as the outright betting favorite at +550 odds followed by the U.S. Open winner Johnson at +750 and Jordan Spieth at +900. Brooks Koepka is expected to figure in to the mix at +1800 odds because he’s got that driving power we’re looking for (along with Johnson). He’s followed by 2012 Bridgestone Invitational winner Adam Scott at +2200 odds. Branden Grace, Bubba Watson (another big hitter), Justin Rose and Matt Kuchar round out the top betting favorites with all four of those entrants listed at +2500 odds.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Brooks Koepka over Bubba Watson
Watson’s runner-up finish here last year marked the first time he has placed in the top-15 in six visits to the Firestone Country Club. It also happened to come on the heels of a runner-up finish in Canada so Watson had some momentum heading in to that tournament. This year will be different as Watson hasn’t finished in the top-25 in five straight events including four consecutive finishes of 37th or worse. Meanwhile, Koepka has strung together three straight top-15 finishes including a 13th place finish at the U.S. Open in his last start and he should be in fine form heading in to this event. Koepka tied for sixth in his first appearance at this event a year ago and he should be a strong pick in a head-to-head betting matchup with Watson.
Top Five Pick: Jim Furyk
Furyk could be an intriguing play to win this tournament outright at +3000 odds for anybody that thinks he can finally break through. Furyk is second all-time in earnings at this tournament despite no wins as he has nine top-10’s at this tournament including a tie for third here a year ago. Furyk followed up a tie for second at Oakmont with another top-25 finish at Congressional last week and should be a strong bet as a top-five pick at the Bridgestone Invitational this week. He might not be the first name that comes to mind but he’s a good play here.
Top 10 Odds To Win The Bridgestone Invitational
Jason Day +550
Dustin Johnson +750
Jordan Spieth +905
Adam Scott +1550
Brooks Koepka +1650
Branden Grace +2050
Justin Rose +2050
Bubba Watson +2250
Matt Kuchar +2550
Hideki Matsuyama +2550
