PGA Betting – WGC-Bridgestone Invitational Preview & Pick
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Date: Thursday August 3 – Sunday Aug. 08
Event: World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational
Course: Firestone Country Club (South Course) – Akron, Ohio
Purse: $8.5 million
Defending Champ: Tiger Woods
FedEX Cup Points Up For Grabs: 550
Time to let the big dogs eat. The South Course at Firestone Country Club, host of this week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, plays as the Tour’s longest par 70. It’s also imperative to hit greens this week, however.
So the long hitters have to make sure their approaches are on target.
Here’s a look at the hot picks.
THE ELITE
Tiger Woods
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational odds: +415
His odds won’t correct themselves until perhaps next year if he goes winless in 2010. We’ll have to just accept that sportsbooks still expect us to bet on this slumping Tiger at almost the same odds he had as a powerhouse last year. But he makes for a decent pick if you don’t mind the small return. He’s won this event seven times in its 11-year history and his length off the tee should help him again. Maybe Firestone can be his “happy place”?
Phil Mickelson
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational odds: +1215
Because of his risky style, Lefty is hit-miss at the Bridgestone. He sandwiched a fourth-place finish between two dud efforts there over the last three years. He’s not hot entering this year’s tourney so I’m not sure he’ll light it up.
Lee Westwood
WGC Bridgestone Invitational odds: +1415
Plenty of reasons to bet on Westwood. His last venture was a runner-up finish at the British Open. He’s also cracked the top-10 at his last two Bridgestone Invitationals. Hard to argue with that combination of good history and hot play.
THE CONTENDERS
Rory McIlroy
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational odds: +2050
Rory McIlroy will be hungry for revenge after starting strongly at the British Open only to slip and finish third. And he’ll take out that frustration on the golf ball by launching his famous monster drives. He’s definitely one of the best bets this week. 
Steve Stricker
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational odds: +2250
Stricker certainly looks strong on paper this week. He finished sixth at the Bridgestone last year and was second in the field in birdies. He’s also still one of the best putters out there. But you know what you get with Stricker: a great golfer who wins the little tournaments, not the bigger events with star-studded fields.
SOLID PICKS
Luke Donald
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational odds: +3250
The +3250 value is pretty good for Donald, who has a lot going for him right now. He has two top-10 finishes at the Bridgestone and leads the Tour in four different categories: Scrambling, scrambling from the rough, putting inside five feet and sand saves.
Paul Casey
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational odds: +3250
The Brits continue to pop up on this list of contenders. The British bomber has four top-10 finishes on Tour this year. He also ranks 31st in driving distance, and 14th in the all-important greens in regulation category. But Casey isn’t accurate off the tee and he’s fresh off a missed cut at the Canadian Open.
THE SLEEPER
Dustin Johnson
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational odds: +5250
He’s a sleeper but he actually has a decent shot to win this thing. Johnson is the third-longest hitter on Tour but, like Casey, also does a good job hitting greens in regulation. Given the value he gives you, Johnson makes for a cool pick. But I still can’t get his epic U.S. Open collapse out of my head. The WGC-Bridgestone isn’t a major but its field is major-caliber and Johnson would be under the microscope again if he led on Sunday. Can we trust him?
THE PICK
There are plenty of good picks this week. Even Tiger is a legit play. But I’m torn between Westwood and McIlroy. It could really go either way, so I’ll take the guy with slightly better value. McIlroy has the length needed at Firestone and can really score low when he gets hot. I think he will this week.
Pick: Rory McIlroy +2050
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