Green Posse » wgc

Notes from the Bridgestone Invitational

Sandy Mitchell — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:46:46 +0000

Eighty of the top golfers in the world are playing just 45 minutes away from my house this week at Firestone Country Club in Akron for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational Tournament. I took advantage of the opportunity to watch them during Tuesday and Wednesday’s practice rounds as I try to do every year. What a great experience.

Sans Tiger, there were just a few hundred spectators for the practice and the pros were generous in their time with the fans. Firestone itself was elegantly dressed for the occasion in typical Ohio fashion–dressy, but not haughty. Below are a few pictures I took of the event (including the one above of the Firestone Club House).

Vijay Singh practicing his chip shots

Ian Poulter Teeing Off at 17

The Water Tower is the Symbol of Firestone CC

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WGC-Bridgestone Invitational

Sandy Mitchell — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:28:27 +0000

The top 75 golfers in the world are heading to my part of the country next week, to Akron for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. The four-day tournament will be held at Firestone Country Club from July 28 to August 3. Barring rain, I hope to bring you lots of photos from the practice rounds.

This is historically Tiger Woods’ tournament. He’s won seven times, including last year, so it’s anyone’s guess who’ll be taking home the trophy this year with Tiger sidelined after knee surgery.

The Bridgestone Invitational Tournament (previously the NEC Invitational) begins at 1130am on Thursday and Friday, July 31 and August 1 and at 730am on Saturday and Sunday, August 2 and 3. Practice rounds are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Single day tickets for the tournament start are $55.

Firestone Country Club is located on the outskirts of Akron at 452 E. Warner Road, about 45 minutes from Cleveland.

^{(photo credit: Newscom)}

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Tiger’s Streak Ends

Sandy Mitchell — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:41:41 +0000

Geoff Ogilvy held on to a one-stroke lead to win the WGC CA Championship at Doral Country Club this morning. Ogilvy finished with a -17, ahead of Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, and Retief Goosen–all tied at -16, and Tiger Woods at -15. In a tournament peppered with weather delays, including one that ended play yesterday at 720pm, Ogilvy kept his head and his game focused. Tiger struggled on Saturday and Sunday, but made his customary charge for the seven holes played Monday, birdying three of the seven. It wasn’t enough.

Woods won his last eight events and hasn’t lost since September 3, 2007. In his characteristic nonchalent style, Woods wasn’t dwelling on his defeat. He was traveling to Orlando to compete in the Ryder-Cup style Tavistock Cup two-day event. As he told ESPN, “It’s going to be a long day.”

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Geoff Ogilvy Leads Tiger by One at WGC CA Championship

Sandy Mitchell — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:21:47 +0000

Australian PGA veteran, Geoff Ogilvy is in an enviable position, or so one would think. He leads the WGC CA Championship at Doral Country Club in Miami by one stroke over Tiger Woods after 36 holes. He’s playing well, with 12 birdies and no bogeys so far in the tournament. Yet the odds are 5-to-1 against his beating Woods. Tiger’s record is that good.

Still it was fun to watch Ogilvy tame the “Blue Monster” at Doral. Here are a few of Friday’s highlights:

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WGC CA Championship at Doral

Sandy Mitchell — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:48:31 +0000

The best 50 male golfers in the world have convened at Miami’s Doral Country Club this week for the WGC CA Championship. The tournament, begun in 1999, has been played all over the world, settling in 2007 at Doral and the resort’s “Blue” course, dubbed the “Blue Monster.”

It would seem that it’s Tiger Woods’ tournament to lose. Not only is he undefeated so far this season, but he has won the event six times in eight starts, never finishing out of the top ten.

For a look at the “Blue Monster,” take a peek at this fly-over of the course:

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