Tiger Woods is back to defend his World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational title at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
The current world No.1 has proved almost unbeatable here in the past winning seven of the 11 editions. In fact, he has never finished worse than fourth and lines up here as defending champion having fended off the challenges of Padraig Harrington and Robert Allenby to triumph by four shots 12 months ago - but what a difference a year makes!
Woods, who was last seen finishing a never-threatening 23rd in the Open, has not won in seven starts on the PGA Tour this season and his putting, in particular, has looked well short of his usual high standard in recent weeks. With some tough pin placements on greens that read 13 on the stimpmeter, he'll have no room for mistakes.
Even his long-held position at the top of the world rankings is under threat this week with both Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood close enough to trade places if he doesn't perform. He's a best price 9/2 with Stan James and is a lay for me at that price.
My Three Off The Tee:-
Lee Westwood @ 14/1 Paddy Power
European golf has never looked so good and I fancy Westwood can keep the ball rolling. A winner in the States less than two months ago, he's since finished runner-up in the Open (albeit a distant one) - to go with his second at Augusta and in the Players Championship - and this course sets up perfectly for him, as shown by his record of five top-20s, including a second in 2008 and ninth last year. Well-rested since St Andrews, he will be raring to go and there can be no better incentive to win than being crowned world No.1. OK, I would have liked a bigger price but I still think the 14/1 underestimates his chance and there is also the potential to trade out at some stage to ensure a profit.
Luke Donald @ 33/1 bet365
Donald's wins to runs ratio is poor, admittedly, but I like what he said after finishing third at the recent Canadian Open: "I need to win more tournaments. Just contending isn't good enough if you want to be the best. You've got to go out there and beat the best continually, which I haven't done in the last few years." Does that mean we are going to see a more aggressive Luke this week? I hope so. Certainly, his game has no major weaknesses - a slight lack of driving distance is his only real handicap and that's less of a problem this week - and his iron play, in particular, is simply majestic at times. Around Firestone, which places a premium on hitting greens in regulation, it's hard to imagine him not contending and 33/1 is more than fair in what is a limited field of around 80 players.
Jim Furyk @ 35/1 William Hill
From one shortish hitter to another and one who loves playing Firestone: ""It's always been one of my Top 5 courses on Tour, as far as ones that I really like. I've played well here in the past. I always get excited about coming here, and I enjoy teeing it up." That's borne out by his results, which include a second (beaten in a play-off), a third, a fourth and two top sixes from numerous starts, and he's playing well enough this season - two wins and a couple of top-10's coming into this - to suggest he can cap them all with a win. At 35/1, he also looks to have slipped under the bookmakers' radar.
Bubbling Under: Rickie Fowler (90/1 Totesport)
Is making his Firestone debut but has the game to well here (ranked third on Tour for GIR Percentage) and was second the last time he teed up in the State, at the Memorial Tournament. He's rewarded each-way backers on four other occasions this season and could do so again here, but a bet on him to finish in the top-10 at 7/1 (Totesport) looks the sensible option.
Punters Beware: Tiger Woods & Phil Mickelson
Tiger, for the reasons already given. Mickelson, because he's struggled here since the course was toughened up earlier this century, failing to make the top-40 in five of his last seven visits. His most recent form has been mediocre too. Oppose him in match bets and three-balls.
Recommended Bets:-
Lee Westwood 2pts each-way @ 14/1 Paddy Power
Luke Donald 1pt each-way @ 33/1 bet365
Jim Furyk 1pt each-way @ 35/1 William Hill
Rickie Fowler Top-10 Finish 1pt @ 7/1 Totesport