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

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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AKRON, OH – JULY 31: Francesco Molinari of Italy looks on with his caddie on the 16th green during the first round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course on July 31, 2014 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Francesco Molinari doesn’t have a great track record at Firestone. With the way he’s been playing, does that even matter?

No one on the planet is hotter than Molinari, who turned his good form into his first career major victory at the Open Championship.

His flawless Sunday at Carnoustie was the capper to a stretch of results from May to July where the Italian finished 1-2-T25-1-T2-1 with wins also at the BMW PGA Championship and the Quicken Loans National (by eight shots!).

Molinari is known worldwide for his ball striking; the stats support the narrative.

Molinari is second in strokes gained tee to green on the PGA Tour, gaining over seven strokes on the field each tournament.

His putter has been steady in recent weeks and his short game (33rd strokes gained) helped him to a pair of bogey-free rounds on the weekend at the Open.

At Firestone, Molinari’s best finish in seven starts is a T15 in 2011. He’s finished top-40 five times and was T24 last year.

He’s not among the bombers who have won here like Rory or DJ, but at 53rd in driving distance and 42nd in approaches over 200 yards (ninth between 175-200) he’s got the chops to turn around his fortunes in Ohio.

Molinari played a TON of golf prior to taking last week off. We’ll see if he’s ready to recalibrate and recharge for the home stretch of the season.

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