Woods, other favourites return to Bridgestone Invitational

“Extreme” is not a word often associated with golf. But when the subject is Tiger Woods’ play at Firestone Country Club, it’s apropos.

This week, Firestone Country Club’s South Course is once again the site of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, which got under way yesterday, Aug. 3, and will continue through Aug. 7. The course has seen the very best of Woods and, last year, the very worst. In an outcome that would have been unthinkable a few years earlier, the seven-time invitational winner finished 18 over par, in 78th place.

Woods’ trying times continued into 2011, including his withdrawal from the Players Championship after nine holes May 12. That was the last time anyone would see Woods, suffering from knee and Achilles injuries, in a tournament, until this week. On July 28, Woods tweeted, “Feeling fit and ready to tee it up at Firestone next week. Excited to get back out there!” You can assume the networks covering the tournament — the Golf Channel (Aug. 4-5) and CBS (Aug. 6-7) — share Woods’ excitement.

Last year, the invitational was won by a golfer whose name was not known to casual fans. Californian Hunter Mahan, who was down by three strokes entering the final round, finished 12 under (71-67-66-64), two strokes better than runner-up Ryan Palmer and 30 better than Woods.

Mahan received $1.4 million for the victory, which was his third PGA title. He’ll be looking for his fourth this week as he returns to Akron.

Another Californian to keep an eye on this week is Nick Watney. The winner of this year’s second World Golf Championship event — the Cadillac Championship in Doral, Fla. — is the current PGA leader in money earned ($4.1 million) and FedEx Cup points (1,798). He’ll hope to improve on last year’s performance at the invitational, when he finished three under, tied for 16th.

Darren Clarke, of Northern Ireland, was not among the 80 golfers invited to last year’s event, but thanks to his recent victory at the British Open, he’s returning to Firestone. He’ll look to reclaim the Gary Player Cup he won here eight years ago.

Much has changed since 2003. Back then, cell phones were about as welcome on the South Course as soccer horns and John Adams’ bass drum. But in a PGA policy change (and an acknowledgment that many fans would go through withdrawal if separated from their smartphones), spectators will be allowed to have their devices with them as they follow the golfers, provided the volume is turned off.

And for those who follow tweets — whether they be from Woods or the guy down the street — a “Social Media Zone” will be set up at the Courtyard near the 13th hole. According to the Bridgestone Invitational website, fans can get access to the zone “by following one of the event’s social media feeds.”

(www.akron.com)