Fantasy Golf Predictions – The 2013 WGC Bridgestone Invitational

Fantasy Golf Predictions for the 2013 WGC Bridgestone Invitational Aug 1 – 4, 2013

Preview: Did we mention that we love picking winners?  The Golficity staff has successfully picked 4 winners in the last 8 weeks (the last 3 in row) and two of those were Majors (Justin Rose at US Open and Phil Mickelson at The Open Championship).  Last week we told you to look out for Brandt Snedeker as the FedExCup Playoffs begin to stare these guys in the face.  Our picks last week included Snedeker (Winner) as well as Kuchar and Dustin John (Both T2).

As we look at this week’s field at the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational, we see some young guns that may claw it out to earn some last minute FedExCup points before the playoffs kick off on Aug 22. The field will be competing at Firestone Country Club’s South Course and Keegan Bradley will back in town to defend his title.

The Course: Firestone Country Club (South) measures 7,400 yards and plays as a par 70. Originally this course was an employee perk provided by Harvey Firestone (from the famous tire company) but the club has since expanded its horizons to become a true test of the game at even the highest levels.

The South course opened in 1929 but was redone by Robert Trent Jones for the 1960 PGA Championship. Forecasts this week are calling for dry conditions which will undoubtedly lead to long drives, and the seasonably cool temperature this week should keep players a bit more focused.

Photo by ClubCorp.com

Weather for The 2013 WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, OH (from weather.com)

• Round 1: Thursday (Aug 1) 75 degrees, 60% chance of rain, scattered T-Storms.
• Round 2: Friday (Aug 2) 73 degrees, 10% chance of rain, partly cloudy.
• Round 3: Saturday (Aug 3) 75 degrees, 20% chance of rain, partly cloudy.
• Round 4: Sunday (Aug 4) 72 degrees, 0% chance of rain, sunny.

2012 Results: Keegan Bradley won his first WGC title with an outstanding back-nine 31, even though it took Jim Furyk’s closing double bogey to open the door for Keegan’s win. Bradley began the final day four shots behind Furyk and finished with a 6-under-par 64. When he approached the 18^th tee he was trailing by just one stroke. After extricating himself from a plugged lie in a greenside bunker, Bradley was able to drill a 15-foot par save. Furyk on the other hand, sailed his 7-iron from the fairway long which forced him to chip from behind another bunker. A playoff still looked possible when Furyk faced a 5-foot bogey chance, but he left it wide and it cost him the tournament.

Notes: Tiger loves winning at his usual stomping grounds such as Torrey Pines, Doral, Bay Hill and Muirfield Village, but he’s yet to recapture that feat at Firestone. Last year’s tie for eighth was his best in his three visits to this course.  Phil Mickelson is pretty hot as of late and he will be teeing it up for the first time since his Open Championship win at Muirfield.  Kuchar and Snedeker are playing some action packed, playoff style golf, so keep your eye on them as they tee off this Thursday.

Top 5 Picks/Odds to Win the 2013 WGC Bridgestone Invitational

• Tiger Woods (Golficity Odds 8/1): Woods has a total of seven victories in this event (1999-2001, 2005-2007, 2009) with a 68.396 scoring average in 48 rounds at Firestone.  Although struggling of late, Tiger has four wins in his pocket this season and is in the driver’s seat for the playoffs. This is his first start since a T6 at Muirfield but we love Tiger in events like this.
• Phil Mickelson (Golficity Odds 12/1): Phil is easily one of the hottest players on TOUR right now. Despite four top 10s, Firestone hasn’t been his favorite course over the years, but neither was The Open Championship which we won in style. We love the golf he is playing right now and we feel he has a strong chance of carrying that momentum into Firestone.
• Matt Kuchar (Golficity Odds 18/1): Kuch had an up-and-down week at the RBC which resulted in a T2 finish (his fourth top-two finish of the season). He currently has seven top 10s in 2013 and leads the TOUR with 21 consecutive cuts made. Kuch will undoubtedly be coming into this week looking move up even more in the FedExCup standings as the playoffs rapidly approach.
• Brandt Snedeker (Golficity Odds 25/1): Snedeker comes into this week after a three-stroke victory in Canada which gave him a co-leading eighth top 10 of the season. During the last week’s tournament he led the field at Glen Abbey in par-4 scoring.  He’ll certainly be able to score well at Firestone so don’t be afraid to go with Sneddy this week.
• Adam Scott (Golficity Odds 32/1):  The Australian wonder finished third place at Muirfield for his first top 10 since winning the Masters. Scott almost won at Firestone in 2011, one of three top 10s here. Adam has a good chance to win this week, but don’t pick him as your first choice.

Sleeper Picks/Odds to Win:

• Lee Westwood (Golficity Odds 40/1):  This is Westwood’s first appearance since his T3 at The Open Championship which was his eighth top 10 worldwide this year and left him still looking for the first career major.  Maybe a WGC event win is a good place to start?
• Henrik Stenson (Golficity Odds 50/1): Stenson has been improving in his last four starts  with a T3 at the Scottish Open and solo second at Muirfield. He leads the PGA TOUR in fairways hit, ranks second in greens in regulation and sits 10th in adjusted scoring. Henrik is a long shot, but if we have to pick one…this is the guy. Vegas odds on Stenson may be higher…

Last Week’s Fantasy Golf Predictions Results (2013 RBC Canadian Open):

• Hunter Mahan (Golficity Odds 10/1): WD
• Matt Kuchar (Golficity Odds 12/1):  T2
• Brandt Snedeker (Golficity Odds 17/1): WINNER
• Graham DeLaet (Golficity Odds 23/1): MC
• Charl Schwartzel (Golficity Odds 29/1): T28

Sleeper Picks/Odds to Win:

• Dustin Johnson (Golficity Odds 50/1): T2
• David Hearn (Golficity Odds 75/1):  T44

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(Cover Photo Credit)