Tiger Woods makes his long-awaited return at this week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, but it is Rory McIlroy who is the bookmakers’ favourite.
Knee and Achilles injuries have kept Woods on the sidelines for the last four months, with the exception of a failed nine-hole comeback at the Players Championship, and the former long-time world number one will hoping to put the controversy of his split with caddie Steve Williams in the shade with a positive display at Firestone Country Club. However, little is expected of the 35-year-old on a notoriously tough course and he is available at a best price 22/1 with
totesport to return in sensational fashion with a victory.
The bookmakers are backing US Open champion Rory McIlroy to walk away from Firestone with the title, with
bet365 offering odds of 14/1. However, the Northern Irishman has struggled to replicate the form he showed as he romped to victory at Congressional Country Club in June, finishing 25th at the Open Championship and 34th at the Irish Open this past weekend.
Lee Westwood, who had a spell as world number one earlier this year, is 16/1 (bet365) but will need to show vast improvement from his Open Championship display that saw him miss the cut and finish in a share of 72nd place. Meanwhile, current world number Luke Donald will also be hoping to bounce back from his miserable showing at the Open Championship, where he missed the cut as he finished 94th. The Englishman is 18/1 (bet365) to get his season back on track with victory at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
There is plenty of American interest aside from Woods, with Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson all targeting victory at Firestone. Stricker is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour in 2011 with victories at the Memorial Tournament and the John Deere Classic, and he is available at 18/1 (
Boylesports). Johnson, who finished second at the WGC-Cadillac Championship earlier year, is yet to record a victory in 2011, but the 27-year-old heads to Firestone on the back of a fine performance at the Open Championship, where he finished second, and he is available at 20/1 (
Paddy Power). Mickelson, meanwhile, will be eager to put his Greenbrier Classic misery behind him, having failed to make the cut last weekend just two weeks after finishing second at the Open Championship. He can be backed at 22/1 (
SportingBet) here.
A strong field does not end with those men, however, with the likes of Martin Kaymer (30/1
Blue Square), Sergio Garcia (40/1
SkyBet), Charl Schwartzel (35/1
Betfred), Jason Day (40/1 totesport) and Rickie Fowler (40/1 SkyBet) all taking part.
