Expert Picks: WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
Aug. 2, 2011
The World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational is this week at Firestone Country Club. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized up the top contenders. Make your picks here.
| Expert Picks: WGC-Bridgestone Invitational |
Ryan
Smithson |
 |
 |
STEVE STRICKER. It's a bad week to have the first pick. Tiger's an unknown. Both Donald and Kuchar are struggling, and Phil's never won at Firestone. That leaves Strick, who has won two of his last four starts. Top 10 at Firestone the last two years. |
| |
Lauren
Deason |
 |
 | TIGER WOODS. I'm not sure if this is a smart pick since he's coming off an injury and hasn't played since May. However, his record at Firestone is unbelievable and Woods claims that he's ready to win again -- this is the perfect spot for a comeback. |
| If Deason had the top pick ... Woods |
John
Swantek |
 |
 |
ADAM SCOTT. The Aussie has come up big in big events this year; runner-up at the Masters and sixth at the WGC-Cadillac Championship. Drives it long and straight -- which you must do at Firestone, where he finished ninth last year. |
| If Swantek had the top pick ... Scott |
Chris
Dunham |
 |
 |
NICK WATNEY. The FedExCup leader has his eyes on the top spot entering the Playoffs and with his No. 5 ranking in Strokes Gained - Putting and his worst non-major finish (when playing the weekend) a T20, he's got what it takes to get there. |
| If Dunham had the top pick ... Watney |
Mike
McAllister |
 |
 |
BO VAN PELT. Shot four rounds in the 60s at Firestone last year to finish T3. Plus, he's finished inside the top 15 in each of his last six starts on U.S. soil since late May. This is strictly a hot-hand pick. |
| If McAllister had the top pick ... Stricker |
Helen
Ross |
 |
 |
RORY MCILROY. He tied for ninth at Firestone a year ago, shooting four rounds in the 60s. The lush, tree-lined course seems tailor-made for the young Irishman, who won the U.S. Open by eight shots on a similar par-70 in Congressional. |
| If Ross had the top pick ... McIlroy |
Anne
Szeker |
 |
 |
GARY WOODLAND. He's has had some notable finishes lately, including a T4 last week at The Greenbrier and a sixth place at the Memorial. Plus, SiriusXM's Michael Collins recently said Woodland has the "prettiest" swing on TOUR. I trust him. |
| If Szeker had the top pick ... Stricker |
John
Schwarb |
 |
 |
DUSTIN JOHNSON. I can't shake the vision of his out-of-bounds shot at the 14th hole on Sunday at the British Open, but Johnson can -- and that's why he is contention time and again in big spots. This will be another. |
| If Schwarb had the top pick ... Watney |
Amanda
Balionis |
 |
 |
LUKE DONALD. The world's top player won earlier this year at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship but is still looking for a stroke-play win on TOUR in 2011. No reason why this can't be the one. |
| If Balionis had the top pick ... Donald |
Brian
Wacker |
 |
 |
RICKIE FOWLER. He's played big in some big events this year with top-10s in the first two WGC events and a tie for fifth in the British Open. He keeps putting himself in position and is going to break through at some point. |
| If Wacker had the top pick ... McIlroy |
|
| Standings after 32 events |
LAST WEEK: Behind Bill Haas' T2 at The Greenbrier Classic, Brian Wacker extended his points lead:
|
| Position |
Name |
Wins |
Top-5s |
Top-10s |
Top-25s |
FedExCup points |
| 1 |
Brian Wacker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
8 |
12 |
22 |
2878.32 |
| 2 |
Mike McAllister
Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
6 |
7 |
16 |
2471.21 |
| 3 |
Lauren Deason
Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
2 |
7 |
9 |
13 |
2376.88 |
| 4 |
Ryan Smithson
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
2 |
6 |
8 |
15 |
2168.82 |
| 5 |
John Swantek
Host, On The Tee |
1 |
5 |
10 |
16 |
1880.86 |
| 6 |
Anne Szeker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
4 |
7 |
21 |
1722.32 |
| 7 |
Helen Ross
Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
2 |
7 |
14 |
1665.60 |
| 8 |
John Schwarb
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
3 |
8 |
14 |
1616.12 |
| 9 |
Chris Dunham
Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
3 |
9 |
13 |
1515.49 |
| 10* |
Amanda Balionis
Host, PGA TOUR Today |
0 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
771.25 |
|
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