British Open Champ Darren Clarke qualifies for Bridgestone

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AKRON, Ohio -- With his victory at Firestone Country Club in 2003, Darren Clarke became the first player other than Tiger Woods to win multiple World Golf Championships events in his career. After a one-year hiatus, Clarke is now qualified for a return to the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, thanks to his win at last week's British Open. Clarke will be gunning for his third World Golf Championships victory, August 3-7.

Clarke, who also won the 2000 World Golf Championship-Accenture Match Play Championship, will be playing in his 27th World Golf Championships event. He has qualified for every Bridgestone Invitational in the event's history, except for 2010. Since Clarke's victory in 2003, Phil Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy and Ernie Els have joined Clarke and Woods as winners of multiple World Golf Championships.

Phil Mickelson and fellow American Dustin Johnson tried to chase down Clarke on Sunday, but the 42-year-old from Northern Ireland refused to come back to the field and won the first major championship of his career. Both Mickelson and Johnson will be in the field at the third World Golf Championships event of the 2011 season.

One of the important dates in the qualifying criteria for the 2011 Bridgestone Invitational takes place next week as the top 50 from the Official World Golf Ranking will officially qualify as of Monday, July 25. Players currently inside the top 50 or near the bubble are listed below. Players who do not make it into the top 50 will have one more chance with another qualifying deadline August 1.

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