More on line at Bridgestone this time
AKRON, Ohio – The Bridgestone Invitational always felt like a working vacation.
Since becoming a World Golf Championship in 1999, it has been held the week after the final major of the year. It was a relief, a time to exhale. And with an $8 million purse and no cut, there was nothing to lose.
But that’s not the case this year.
Most of the players in the 84-man field were grinding on the practice range Wednesday, trying to get their games in shape. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were late arrivals, only because they flew in from Southern Hills after practice rounds for the PGA Championship, which starts next week.
Firestone has always been a major test with its deep rough and tree-lined fairways.
Now it’s a major tuneup.
“You can look at it one of two ways,” Woods said. “As you said, the exhale part of it. But I also think it’s a nice way to prepare for next week, being such a demanding golf course. And basically, it’s the same field. We’re just playing back-to-back weeks. It helps. You get to see where your game is going into the last major of the year.”
Stewart Cink won at Firestone in 2004 after being selected for the Ryder Cup team, and he lost in a playoff last year to Woods. He would prefer the Bridgestone be played the week after the PGA, noting that he plays his best when the majors are over.
But he could think of no better place to be the week before a major.
“It’s as tough as any major, with the rough high, and the fairways here are almost impossible to hit – some of them – as narrow and firm as they are,” Cink said. “You come off this week feeling like you got beat up by a major championship course, and then you get to go to the PGA. You’re mentally going to be ready after this week.”
Woods hardly ever plays the week before a major, preparing to practice at home. He didn’t have much of a choice this year, not as the defending champion at a tournament has become an annuity for the world’s No. 1 player. He is a five-time winner at Firestone, and he has never finished lower than fifth.
The PGA Championship has been one exception to his guideline of not playing a week before the majors.