U.S. Open champ McIlroy ready for third start at Firestone South

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Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy claimed the second consecutive U.S. Open victory for his country in historic fashion, besting a field of the world's best by eight shots to win the second major championship of 2011 at Congressional Country Club. In the process, McIlroy set the 36-hole, 54-hole and 72-hole scoring records at the U.S. Open and became the first player to win the event with four rounds in the 60s since Lee Janzen in 1993. Already qualified for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio August 3-7, as a member of the 2010 European Ryder Cup team, McIlroy will now arrive in Northern Ohio as the reigning U.S. Open champion.

With rounds of 65-66-68-69, McIlroy's lead was never seriously threatened over the final 36-holes at Congressional as he became the first wire-to-wire winner of the U.S. Open since Tiger Woods in 2002. McIlroy will attempt to duplicate another Woods feat when he arrives at Firestone Country Club in just over six weeks. In 2000, Woods became the only reigning U.S. Open champion to win the Bridgestone Invitational in the same year, following his 15-stroke triumph at Pebble Beach Golf Links with an 11-shot victory in Akron.

McIlroy, now No. 4 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), will make his third start at the Bridgestone Invitational and the 11th of his young career in a World Golf Championships event. He carded four rounds in the 60s at Firestone Country Club's South Course in 2010 and finished T9. He finished T68 in 2009. McIlroy's career-best result in the World Golf Championships came at the 2009 HSBC Champions where he finished 4th.

Joining McIlroy in the field for the Bridgestone Invitational is Harrison Frazar, who earned his first victory on the PGA TOUR in his 355th start earlier this month at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. A 14-year veteran of the PGA TOUR, Frazar defeated Sweden's Robert Karlsson on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff to earn the breakthrough victory. The 2011 Bridgestone Invitational will mark Frazar's first appearance in a World Golf Championships event.

McIlroy and Frazar are two of 59 world-class players already qualified for the 2011 Bridgestone Invitational.

Qualifying criteria for the Bridgestone Invitational include playing members of the 2010 U.S. and European Ryder Cup teams, the top 50 players, including any tied for 50th place, from the OWGR as of Monday July 25, 2011 and Monday, August 1, 2011, tournament winners, whose victories are considered official, of tournaments from the Federation Tour since the prior year's Bridgestone Invitational with an OWGR Strength of Field Rating of 115 points or more and the winners of the following tournaments:

Japan Golf Tour: Japan Golf Tour Championship (2010) and Bridgestone Open (2010).

Australasian Tour: Australian PGA Championship (2010).

Southern Africa Tour: Dimension Data Pro-Am (2011).

Asian Tour: Iskandar Johor Open (2010).

Tickets to the Bridgestone Invitational can be purchased by visiting www.worldgolfchampionships.com or calling 330-644-2299.