Trevor Ng
The Bridgestone Invitational is a professional golf tournament that was held in the United States. It was founded in 1999 as a successor to the World Series of Golf and was one of three or four annual World Golf Championships until 2021. The tournament was hosted at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, except for 2002 when it was hosted at the Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington. The Bridgestone Invitational featured some of the top golfers in the world, including Tiger Woods, who won the tournament seven times. In addition to the main event, there was also a Bridgestone Collegiate Development Program, which aimed to enhance competitive and mentorship opportunities for golfers from diverse backgrounds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1962 |
| Founding name | World Series of Golf |
| Sponsors | NEC (1984–2005), Bridgestone (2006–2018), FedEx (2019-present) |
| Location | Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio (1999–2018), Sahalee Country Club, Sammamish, Washington (2002), TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee (2019–2021) |
| Organisers | International Federation of PGA Tours |
| Participants | Playing members of the last named Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup teams, top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, tournament winners of worldwide events since the prior year's tournament with an Official World Golf Ranking Strength of Field Rating of 115 points or more, winners of selected tournaments from the PGA Tour of Australasia, Sunshine Tour, Asian Tour, and Japan Golf Tour |
| Number of participants | 75 |
| Notable participants | Tiger Woods, Keegan Bradley, K.J. Choi, Luke Donald, Jason Dufner, Ernie Els, Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Bill Haas, Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Adam Scott |
| Other tournaments | Bridgestone HBCU Invitational, Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational |
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What You'll Learn
The Bridgestone Invitational was held at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio
In 2006, Bridgestone took over as title sponsor, and the tournament became known as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. As part of the sponsorship agreement, the event continued to be held at the South Course of the Firestone Country Club. The course, designed by Bert Way in 1928 and later remodelled by Robert Trent Jones in 1960, offers a total of 54 holes, including the North Course, the West Course, and the South Course, which hosts the Bridgestone Invitational.
The Bridgestone Invitational has attracted some of the top golfers in the world, including Tiger Woods, who has won the tournament a record seven times. The South Course, which measures 7400 yards from the Championship tees, features 82 bunkers and three water hazards, tight fairways, and challenging greens. The 16th hole, a 667-yard par five dubbed "The Monster," is particularly notable as it can often be where the tournament is won or lost with a single errant stroke.
The Bridgestone Invitational was last held in Akron, Ohio, in 2018. In 2019, the tournament changed sponsors and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, becoming the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.
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The tournament was sponsored by Bridgestone from 2006 to 2018
The Bridgestone Invitational was a professional golf tournament held in the United States. It was established in 1999 as the successor to the World Series of Golf, which had been sponsored by NEC from 1984 to 1998. From 1999 to 2005, the tournament was known as the WGC-NEC Invitational. In 2006, Bridgestone took over as the title sponsor, and the event became known as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. This partnership lasted until 2018, when the tournament was last held in Akron, Ohio.
During the Bridgestone sponsorship from 2006 to 2018, the tournament was hosted at the Firestone Country Club in Ohio, with one exception. In 2002, the event was played at the Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington. As part of the sponsorship agreement, the tournament continued to be held at the South Course of the Firestone Country Club, a leading venue that had been associated with the World Series of Golf since 1976.
The Bridgestone Invitational was one of three or four annual World Golf Championships (WGC) events during its tenure. It featured a field of about 75 players, which was roughly half the number for a standard professional golf event. The tournament was sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours, and the prize money was official on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour.
Invitations to the tournament were based on criteria such as participation in the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup teams, rankings on the Official World Golf Ranking, and victories in worldwide events with a high Official World Golf Ranking Strength of Field Rating. The winners of selected tournaments from various golf tours, including the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, were also invited.
In August 2013, Bridgestone extended its sponsorship of the tournament through 2018. However, in 2019, there was a change in sponsorship, and the tournament was relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, with FedEx becoming the new title sponsor. The event was then known as the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational and was held at TPC Southwind.
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The South Course at Firestone hosted the tournament
The South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, has hosted the Bridgestone Invitational golf tournament. The club is a private golf club located in the United States and is considered one of the best world-class golf courses in Ohio. The South Course, renowned for its extensive PGA tournament history, is a par 70, 7,400-yard course that includes some of the toughest, most famous, and most enjoyable holes in golf. It was originally designed by Bert Way and debuted in 1929, but it underwent a significant redesign in preparation for the 1960 PGA Championship. The course has hosted more than 70 professional tournaments, including 18 years of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, 36 years of the World Series of Golf, and three PGA Championships.
The South Course has been the site of memorable moments in golf, such as Tiger Woods' famous "Shot in the Dark" on the 18th hole during the final round of the 2000 WGC-NEC Invitational. With the sun below the horizon, Woods landed a laser 8-iron shot from 168 yards to within two feet of the pin, securing an 11-shot victory. Another notable moment was Jack Nicklaus' remarkable par on the 16th hole during the 1975 PGA Championship. Nicklaus hit a 140-yard 9-iron over a tree, landing 30 feet from the hole and ultimately winning the tournament by two strokes.
The Firestone Country Club comprises three courses: the North, South, and West. The South Course is known for its intimidating, long par-4 holes, challenging golfers of all skill levels. It features holes of varying lengths and difficulties, such as the 469-yard 6th hole, considered the toughest for professionals, and the 471-yard 4th hole, which requires a long and straight tee shot followed by a high approach shot. The club offers a variety of dining options, from casual to upscale, and is also a popular venue for private events, corporate meetings, and group outings.
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Tiger Woods won the tournament seven times
The Bridgestone Invitational Golf Tournament was held at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, United States. The tournament was previously known as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, and under this name, Tiger Woods won the tournament seven times.
Woods' first win at the tournament came in 2000, and he went on to win three consecutive tournaments from 1999 to 2001. After missing the 2002 tournament, he won again in 2005, 2006, and 2007, making it four consecutive wins. In 2008, Woods was absent again, this time due to leg surgery. He returned to the tournament in 2013, winning for the seventh time.
Woods' victory in 2013 marked a return to form after several injury-plagued years. In this tournament, he shot a six-under 274 to win by one stroke over Chris DiMarco. In 2005, Woods won his fifth Bridgestone Invitational title, becoming the first golfer to win five PGA Tour events five or more times. This was also the first time he won under the tournament's new name, WGC Bridgestone Invitational. In 2007, Woods entered the final round paired with Padraig Harrington, whom he outclassed with a Sunday 65, winning by four strokes.
Tiger Woods' dominance at the Bridgestone Invitational is a testament to his exceptional golfing skills and has contributed to his remarkable career in professional golf.
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The tournament was relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, in 2019
The Bridgestone Invitational was a prestigious golf tournament held annually in Akron, Ohio, at the Firestone Country Club. The tournament was sponsored by Bridgestone, a Japanese company that had bought the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in 1988 and moved its headquarters to Nashville.
However, in 2019, the tournament underwent some changes. Bridgestone's contract as the title sponsor ended after the 2018 event, and a new sponsor came on board. FedEx took over as the new title sponsor, and with this change, the tournament was relocated to Memphis, Tennessee. The newly named WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational found its new home at TPC Southwind, replacing the regular tour stop that was previously held there.
The decision to move the tournament to Memphis was announced by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. This move was part of the PGA Tour's strategy to bring premier events to new sites and dates. It was also influenced by the fact that FedEx, the new title sponsor, was based in Memphis. The relocation of the Bridgestone Invitational to Memphis meant that the Senior Players Championship on the Champions Tour would now be played at Firestone Country Club in Akron.
The WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational joined a long tradition of golf in Memphis, with the city hosting a tournament every year since 1958. The move to TPC Southwind in Memphis also allowed for a larger field of players, with approximately 75 golfers participating, which is about half the number for a standard professional golf event. This relocation marked a new chapter in the history of the tournament, previously known as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, and offered a fresh experience for both players and golf enthusiasts alike.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bridgestone Invitational Golf tournament was held at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, United States. The tournament was hosted on the South Course, which features 82 bunkers, three water hazards, tight fairways, and greens.
No, the tournament was held in Sammamish, Washington in 2002 and from 2019 onwards, it was relocated to Memphis, Tennessee.
Notable players in the Bridgestone Invitational include Tiger Woods, Keegan Bradley, K.J. Choi, Luke Donald, Jason Dufner, Ernie Els, Rickie Fowler, and Jim Furyk.
