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WGC-Bridgestone Invitational: Power Ranking the top 10 at Firestone

By Mike Randleman

AKRON, OH - AUGUST 06: The Gary Player Cup is seen before being presented to Hideki Matsuyama of Japan during the final round of the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course on August 6, 2017 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
AKRON, OH - AUGUST 06: The Gary Player Cup is seen before being presented to Hideki Matsuyama of Japan during the final round of the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course on August 6, 2017 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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WGC-Bridgestone Invitational Power Rankings
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational Power Rankings: Top 10 golfers at Firestone (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

As we bid farewell to the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone, who will look sharpest in his PGA Championship tune-up?

Adios. Farewell. Goodbye. So long. After over 60 years of hosting a top-end PGA Tour event, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is moving to TPC Southwind in Memphis, the former host of the FedEx St. Jude Classic.

Golf will still be coming to Akron, Ohio, but it will now be in the form of a PGA Tour Champions event. That’s a tough one to swallow as the fan turnout at the Bridgestone has always been stellar, even if the course is nothing to marvel at.

This week’s venue is like playing golf on a runway. Firestone is known to play firm and fast and is architecturally a long, straight course. A lot of pros will say this is one of the courses that’s “right in front of you” as it rewards straight hitting and good putting. Length is useful, but medium hitters can gain plenty of yards on the ground.

Winning scores on the 7,400-yard, par-70 South Course generally land in the low teens and anything double digits deep will guarantee you a big check.

Fairways and greens are bentgrass.

Hideki Matsuyama ran away with last year’s event, posting 16-under (the best score since 2011) to win by five over Zach Johnson.

The forecast looks fairly dry this week, especially during tournament days, so the fairways should play fast and narrow.

Remember, this week is a limited field, no-cut event. Brace yourself for all the armchair golfers upset that last place will make over $40,000.

It’s always tough to whittle it down to a top 10 at WGCs, but here are my picks to catch fire at Firestone.

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