WGC at Firestone

UPDATE:  Robert Allenby tore knee ligaments in a fishing accident last weekend.  He's out at least three weeks.

I really enjoy the WGC events.  Most of the top players in the world play, there is no cut in the stroke play versions (so my picks look better!), and the courses are difficult enough where Stuart Appleby would be more likely to shoot 59 on the back than on the full 18.

This week, the Bridgestone is up, and it's played at Firestone CC in Ohio, which is a course that has been owned by one Tiger Woods.  Woods has won the event seven times in ten tries (including his last four) and never finished worse than fourth at the course...a record that you'd be hard pressed to better searching the annals of golf history.  That makes Tiger the favorite, even if he couldn't win at Augusta, Pebble, or St. Andrews, his other three faves, this season.

The rest of the field is good, so if Tiger stumbles, this thing is wide open.  Paul Casey, Luke Donald and Justin Rose are on form, and all have two top tens in this event.  Westwood has played like the Champion Golfer of the Year in 2010, although he didn't earn the title in Scotland, and he's got top tens in his last two appearances at Firestone.

As for the non-Euros, Furyk and Vijay have played this course very well, with Vijay winning in lieu of Tiger's ACL in 2008.  I'm not sure either is the winner, but top 20s are very likely.  Robert Allenby can play this course too, he finished second last year....and don't count out Americans Nick Watney and Dustin Johnson, who are primed for breakout wins on the semi-major stage.

Of course, as I pointed out earlier, the field is very strong, and any number of players could win.  Phil and Ernie are here too, though this doesn't appear to be their favorite venue.  Stricker and Louis Oosthuizen both have wins in the last month too.

Most Talent
Woods
Mickelson
Westwood
Els
McIlroy

Who's Hot?
Westwood
Oosthuizen
Stricker
Rose
Casey

Who's Not?
Woods
Garcia
Cabrera
Weir
Cink

Course History
Woods
V. Singh
Furyk
Z. Johnson
Westwood

My Picks
Woods
Casey
Rose
D. Johnson
Stenson

Cheers,
TFAM