Tour News
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational: Picks and Preview
Forty-nine of the top 50 players in the world are in Akron, Ohio this week for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Rounding out the by-invitation-only field at Firestone Country Club are an additional 23 top golfers, making the tournament one of the strongest non-major fields on the PGA Tour calendar.
Firestone’s South Course has been one of a handful of playground courses for Tiger Woods. The golfer, who most recently struggled with his putter en route to a T6 finish at the Open Championship, has won the Bridgestone Invitational a record seven times.
A 7,400-yard par-70 seems like a cruel joke. However, an abundance of elevated tee boxes and sloping fairways lead to some ludicrous driving distances at Firestone. The course averaged 0.69 strokes over par last year, making it the 16th most difficult track on the Tour. However, it’s worth remembering that a small, major-quality field tees it up at Firestone, which likely skews results in comparison with other tournaments.
With long holes, penal rough, tree-lined fairways, and undulating greens (which are equal parts small and fast), the South Course is a thorough examination. The winner will likely need to shoot an average of three to four under par each day to raise the signature Greek vase trophy.
Click here to see the inside-the-ropes photos we’ve snapped at Firestone.
Here’s a look at who could do that.
Tiger Woods: 9-2 odds*
No surprise, here. If the consensus is that Tiger was undone at the Open Championship by a combination of conservative play and an inability to adapt to slower greens (and perhaps lack of preparation), Tiger fans shouldn’t be concerned heading into the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Woods, who knows this course as well as anyone, knows too that he needs to make birdies to win in Akron. Historically, he’s dominated the course and had great success on its fast greens.
Whatever is happening on the weekends at majors aside, Woods is still best player on Tour this season, and his career scoring average at Firestone is 68.3. Translation: If the World No. 1 plays to his average, he’ll win his eighth Invitational this week.
Adam Scott: 18-1 odds
The Masters winner was dominant at Firestone in 2011, cruising to an impressive four-stroke victory. He notched his first top-10 at Muirfield since winning the green jacket, despite faltering on the back nine.
The Australian is driving the ball well this year, and he’s hitting nearly 69 percent of greens in regulation on approach shots with his Titleist 710 MBs. At a course he’s comfortable with, this likely means Scott will have enough looks at birdie to win this week. The question, as always with Scott, is will he be able to sweep in enough putts to contend?
Brandt Snedeker: 25-1 odds
Last week’s winner, Brandt Snedeker seems to have recovered from the nagging rib injury that bothered him through much of the year. There’s no doubt that Snedeker (now ranked seventh in the Official World Golf Ranking) took a step forward with his Tour Championship victory last year and his hot start to 2013.
With a convincing win at the RBC Canadian Open on the heels of a T11 finish at the Open Championship, Snedeker appears to have returned to both form and health. Whether he can play well for a third week in a row (difficult, under any circumstances), remains to be seen. However, the streaky Vanderbilt grad seems to be peaking again as we head toward the season’s final major.
Matt Kuchar: 25-1 odds
Matt Kuchar finished tied for second at the RBC Canadian Open last week after a quality showing (T15) across the pond at the Open Championship the previous week. Although the Memorial Tournament winner isn’t likely to be well-rested heading into Akron, he’ll be returning to a course he played well last year: Kuchar fired a final-round 66 to finish tied for eighth at the South Course in 2012.
Phil Mickelson: 14-1 odds
It’s tough to imagine Phil Mickelson winning this week. He’s due for a post-Open letdown, as he’s been parading across two continents with the claret jug for the past week, and despite his win in 1996 he hasn’t played Firestone well in the past.
All this being said, however, it seems more of the old “givens” with Mickelson are out the window, as he’s won in Europe (twice) and he’s won the Open Championship. He’s finished inside the top three four times in his last six starts. If his fine form continues, there’s no reason to think Phil can’t win this week, and his odds at major sportsbooks reflect this fact.
*odds according to Bovada.com
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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