He’s one of golf’s biggest names and his comeback season has taken many by surprise; Tiger Woods is now looking ahead to back to back events, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship.
In his most exciting performance to date at Carnoustie in The Open Championship just a couple of weeks ago, Woods is now not alone in believing that a PGA Tour win isn’t too far away.
His strong form has secured him a place at this week’s WGC event, his first in four years, and a series which he has seen huge success in his storied career. We look ahead to this week’s tournament, remember his history with the Invitational and take a look at his chances of victory once again.
About World Golf Championships
With four tournaments spread out across the year and around the world, aside from the golf majors, all WGC events are up there with the biggest golf tournaments. The series is often in competition with The Players Championship, an even often regarded as golf’s unofficial fifth major, played annually at Sawgrass.
WOULD YOU RATHER WIN…
RT – A WGC event
LIKE – The Players Championshiphttps://t.co/KztwA6z611 pic.twitter.com/BcnkN7T6TM— Your Golf Travel (@yourgolftravel) July 31, 2018
Whether they rank above The Players or not (Twitter doesn’t seem to think so), their importance to the players cannot be questioned, with some great rewards:
- Prize Fund of $10,000,000
- Winner gets three year PGA Tour exemption
How to qualify for WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
So, the prize money is brilliant and you get a tour card for three years, but how do you qualify for this incredible event?
- Member of most recent Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup teams
- Ranked in top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings
- Winner of tournaments with a 115 Strength of Field Rating in previous season
- Winner of tournament selected from Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Sunshine Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.
Tiger Woods’ history with WGC Bridgestone Invitational
Having reached 50 in the golf world rankings, Tiger Woods is set to return to Firestone Country Club this week, looking to win his 19th World Golf Championship, his ninth at the Invitational.
Woods has twice won the tournament in three consecutive years between 1999 and 2001 as well as 2005 to 2007; he is by far and away the events most successful competitor.
To add to these impressive figures, Woods’ affiliation with the South Course at Firestone is further supported by his records on the course, both of which were set in 2000, back when the tournament was called the WGC-NEC Invitational.
However in 2005 Bridgestone took over sponsorship duties, which made little to no difference to Tiger’s form, having won four titles since then. Of course, he plays with Bridgestone golf balls and based on a certain putt at Augusta, they’ll be hoping for some fortunate advertising…
Will Tiger Woods win again?
For many of 2018’s opening months there was still a large cloud of doubt following golf fans when Tiger Woods was mentioned but the hype train is slowly picking up speed.
Tiger Woods’ last major win was in the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines (a course you can play) and he will get the chance to add to that next week at Bellerive Country Club.
His last victory in any stroke play competition was at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in 2013, so there’s definitely reason to believe that this weekend could be the culmination of his comeback.
I think a win for Tiger is certainly coming, but even if he doesn’t top a leaderboard this year, consistent performances will see him push for a playing position on Jim Furyk’s Ryder Cup team at Le Golf National, where he is already a vice-captain.
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