Predictions: Bridgestone Invitational

It’s that time of week again golf fans, with the Bridgestone Invitational starting tomorrow.

No LPGA or Champions tour events this week, so we’ll be focusing on Phil Mickelson‘s return, as well as Tiger’s chances to win in back-to-back weeks.

Also, British Open champion Stewart Cink will be playing for the first time since his victory at Turnberry last month.

This week’s field includes all the household names you’ve come to recognize, so it should be a very exciting event to watch.

Let’s get started with the predictions!

The Darkhorse

Though there are plenty of guys that could go in this spot, I’m going with Kenny Perry. No, he’s not a guy you tend to forget it about when it comes to these types of tournaments, but I don’t think he’s given enough credit.

He can play well in tournaments such as this one, and as long as he’s hitting the fairway, I’ll take his iron play above a lot of other guys, so he’s got the advantage there.

With the return of Phil, Tiger’s shot to win again, and Cink playing for the first time since the British, there won’t be much pressure on Perry here in this one. I could see a strong finish here for him.

The Favorites

Here’s the list: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan, Lee Westwood.

Honorable mention: Sergio Garcia, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh, Paul Casey.

For actual betting favorites, go here.

This is quite an impressive list, and as we said, the best of the best are playing in the Bridgestone this week. So we’ve gotta start eliminating them one by one until we can figure out the winner.

Furyk just hasn’t been playing well, and though this could be a breakthrough spot for him, I’m just not seeing it. He’s out.

Mickelson has probably had times over the past month that are simply unimaginable to most of us. It’s hard to fathom what he’s going through. I hope he has a chance to win going into Sunday, but for now I’m going to say there are other guys with better chances.

Cink has had quite a layoff himself, and I can’t see him coming right out and playing his best golf. He’ll contend, but he won’t win. Next….

Mahan tied for tenth here last year, and though he’s certainly talented enough to win it, I simply can’t take him this year.

The Final Four – Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen, Anthony Kim, Lee Westwood

Goosen has been playing very well as of late, but hopefully the playoff loss at the RBC Canadian Open won’t be in the back of his mind heading down the stretch. He’s been putting the ball in the fairway (for the most part), and can hit it a mile, which will help him at this type of course. I like him for a top ten finish, but not to win.

Kim needs a win like this. Badly. With this kind of field, where the best players in the world are competing, this could be a win unlike any other for Anthony Kim. I think that he’s going to make a nice run, and maybe even have a lead at some point, but until he can win a tournament like this, I can’t go with him.

Tiger Woods vs. Lee Westwood

Well we’ve reached the end, with Woods and Westwood the two left standing. We’ve seen these situations before, particular when the two were playing at Torrey Pines last year in the U.S. Open.

Woods is coming off a victory, while Westwood has been thinking about what might have been at the British Open, where he should have at least been a part of the playoff with Tom Watson and Cink.

But Westwood has got to win one of these sooner or later right? He’s gotta knock off Tiger at some point, and this is a good chance for him to do it.

However, he won’t. And Tiger Woods will be your 2009 Bridgestone Invitational winner.

As Dan Hicks said at the U.S. Open last year…..expect anything different?

Yes I know it’s no fun to pick Tiger. But I think he’s starting to play better, and with improved putting, he’s unbeatable.

Feel free to leave your comments and predictions for the week! Have a great day everyone!