The Starter: Bridgestone Invitational, Round 4

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Aug. 9, 2009
By PGATOUR.com Staff

The first groups are ready to tee off in the final round at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, and here's who we are following:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
2:00 p.m. ET, Hole No. 1		Padraig Harrington, Tiger Woods All eyes will be on Tiger as usual, but if there's one player who won't fold under the massive shadow of Woods, it's Harrington.
1:50 p.m. ET, Hole No. 1		Jerry Kelly, Miguel Angel Jimenez With a solid fourth round (and a little bit of luck), Kelly could capture his second win of 2009.
1:30 p.m. ET, Hole No. 1		Angel Cabrera, Stewart Cink Cabrera and Cink both have majors under their belt already this year, so the pressures of a final round being within reach won't slow these two.

Check out the updated FedExCup Projected Points here

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR on-site correspondent John Maginnes previews Sunday's round:

Sunday's forecast

Partly Cloudy
Temp: 90 high/73 low
Partly cloudy with near record high temperatures. Winds from the southwest at 15 to 25 mph.

Tiger Woods finds himself in a familiar position going into the final round. Sunday will be the sixth time that Tiger has played the final round in the final group at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. Oh, by the way, he has won here six times as well. But Tiger trails Padraig Harrington by three shots.

If it is surprising that Padraig Harrington is leading after struggling all year, it is even more surprising that he has authored his resurgence here at Firestone. In his career Harrington has never been in contention here at Firestone. As a matter of fact, he has never even finished in the top 10.

But we know that Harrington has the fortitude to hold off a charging Tiger. He has won two majors since Tiger won his last. He will defend his PGA Championship title next week, a tournament that he won sinking three consecutive putts on the last three holes from outside 10 feet.

There is a pack that will try to insert themselves into the mix on Sunday but at 5 under and five shots back, Tim Clark and Jerry Kelly will have an awfully tough time reeling in players like Harrington and Woods. I would expect for one of them or any of the 10 guys six shots back to make a run, but Tiger isn't one to drive with an eye in the rearview mirror. Harrington has shown that he is a pretty good front-runner as well.

Sunday should be more great theater regardless of who wins. If the title is decided in the final group, and that seems likely, either the defending champion will enter the PGA Championship on his first high note since last year or Tiger Woods will come in on a winning streak.

Stat of the day

Tiger Woods is attempting to win the Bridgestone Invitational for a seventh time (1999-2001, 2005-07). Only Sam Snead has more victories in a single tournament, with eight wins in Greensboro, N.C. Woods has never finished lower than fourth at the Bridgestone Invitational (4-2002, T4-2003).

The Film Room

	PGA TOUR Today: August 9, 2009 Win McMurry updates action from the third round of the 2009 World Golf Championship - Bridgestone Invitational and previews what to watch for in the final round. Watch it
	Harrington stays in the lead after three rounds of the Bridgestone Invitational At the 2009 World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational, Padraig Harrington stayed in the lead after a third round 67. After signing his card he spoke with Matt Adams with the PGA TOUR Network on SIRIUS XM radio. Watch it
	Shot of the Day: August 8, 2009 Tiger Woods knocks it close with his third shot on the par-5 16th hole during the third round of the 2009 World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational. Watch it