WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
Encyclopedia
The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is one of the annual World Golf Championships
for male professional golfers. It is sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours and the prize money is official money on both the PGA Tour
and the PGA European Tour
. The event, sponsored by NEC through 2005 and known as the WGC-NEC Invitational, was established in 1999 as a successor to the World Series of Golf, which was also sponsored by NEC.
The tournament changed sponsorship in 2006, with Bridgestone
taking over from NEC as title sponsor. As a part of the original five-year sponsorship agreement, the event continues to be held at its traditional site of the Firestone Country Club
in Akron, Ohio
; the sponsorship has now been extended to 2014.
From 1999 to 2001, only the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams were eligible and the field was about 40 players. Prior to 2011, both Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams were eligible.
All of the events up to 2005 were held in the United States
, and all except the 2002 edition at Firestone Country Club.
The most frequently shown finish in the event's history occurred in 2000, when the final round was delayed and Tiger Woods
capped a record 11-stroke win by sticking his approach on the final hole to within 2 feet in near-total darkness. As his arms rose in victory, he was immediately illuminated by dozens of camera flashes from the gallery and press around the green.
at that time, and twice as long as is given even for winning a major now. The field consisted of the winners of all the high status men's professional golf tournaments around the world in the previous twelve months. This was quite different from the criteria for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational listed above, but produced much the same sort of global field.
* Note: played at Sahalee Country Club
in Sammamish, Washington
World Golf Championships
The World Golf Championships are a group of four annual events for male professional golfers created by the International Federation of PGA Tours, with a fifth to be added in 2012...
for male professional golfers. It is sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours and the prize money is official money on both the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
and the PGA European Tour
PGA European Tour
The PGA European Tour is an organization which operates the three leading men's professional golf tours in Europe: the elite European Tour, the European Seniors Tour and the developmental Challenge Tour. Its headquarters are at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England...
. The event, sponsored by NEC through 2005 and known as the WGC-NEC Invitational, was established in 1999 as a successor to the World Series of Golf, which was also sponsored by NEC.
The tournament changed sponsorship in 2006, with Bridgestone
Bridgestone
The is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese....
taking over from NEC as title sponsor. As a part of the original five-year sponsorship agreement, the event continues to be held at its traditional site of the Firestone Country Club
Firestone Country Club
The Firestone Country Club is a private golf club located in Akron, Ohio, United States.The Club comprises three courses—those of the North, South, and West—each of which hosted a televised golf event, respectively the American Golf Classic, the CBS Golf Classic and the World Series of Golf, in...
in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
; the sponsorship has now been extended to 2014.
The WGC-NEC/Bridgestone Invitational
The current event has a field of about 75 players, roughly half the number for a standard professional golf event. Invitations are issued to the following:- Playing members of the last named Presidents CupPresidents CupThe Presidents Cup is a series of men's golf matches between a team representing the United States and an International Team representing the rest of the world less Europe. Europe competes against the U.S. in a similar but considerably older event, the Ryder Cup. The Presidents Cup is held biennially...
or Ryder CupRyder CupThe Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
teams (whichever was played last). - Players ranked among the top 50 on the Official World Golf RankingsOfficial World Golf RankingsThe Official World Golf Ranking is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers...
(one week and two weeks prior to event). - 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.
- The winner of one selected tournament from each of the PGA Tour of AustralasiaPGA Tour of AustralasiaThe PGA Tour of Australasia is a professional golf tour for men. Official events on the tour count for World Golf Ranking points. The tour was formed in 1973 as the PGA Tour of Australia and adopted its current name in 1991....
, Sunshine TourSunshine TourThe Sunshine Tour is a men's professional golf tour based in Southern Africa. For much of its history it was known either as the South African Tour or the FNB Tour, but it rebranded itself in an attempt to broaden its appeal...
, Asian TourAsian TourThe Asian Tour is the principal men's professional golf tour in Asia except for Japan, which has its own Japan Golf Tour, which is also a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours. The Asian Tour is administered from offices in Singapore...
and Japan Golf TourJapan Golf TourThe Japan Golf Tour is a prominent golf tour. It was founded in 1973 and as of 2006 it offers the third highest annual prize fund out of the regular men's professional tours after the PGA Tour and the European Tour. However since the early 1990s, the growth in prize money has not kept pace with...
.
From 1999 to 2001, only the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams were eligible and the field was about 40 players. Prior to 2011, both Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams were eligible.
All of the events up to 2005 were held in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and all except the 2002 edition at Firestone Country Club.
The most frequently shown finish in the event's history occurred in 2000, when the final round was delayed and Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
capped a record 11-stroke win by sticking his approach on the final hole to within 2 feet in near-total darkness. As his arms rose in victory, he was immediately illuminated by dozens of camera flashes from the gallery and press around the green.
The World Series of Golf
Up until 1998, there was a tournament called the World Series of Golf, which was also played at Firestone Country Club for many years, and sponsored by NEC. It was founded as a four man invitational event in 1962, but later became a PGA Tour event, and eventually one of the leading events on the Tour. For many years a victory in the World Series of Golf gave a golfer a 10-year exemption on the Tour, which was the same as was granted for a victory in a major championshipMen's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
at that time, and twice as long as is given even for winning a major now. The field consisted of the winners of all the high status men's professional golf tournaments around the world in the previous twelve months. This was quite different from the criteria for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational listed above, but produced much the same sort of global field.
Winners
| Year | Player | Country | Winner's score |
To Par | Margin of victory |
Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WGC-Bridgestone Invitational | ||||||
| 2011 2011 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational The 2011 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was a professional golf tournament contested from August 4–7, 2011 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio... |
Adam Scott | 62-70-66-65=263 | -17 | 4 strokes | 1,400,000 | |
| 2010 2010 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational The 2010 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is a golf tournament that was contested from August 5–8, 2010 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio... |
Hunter Mahan Hunter Mahan Hunter Myles Mahan is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.-Amateur career:Mahan was born in Orange, California. He had a successful amateur career, winning the 1999 5A Texas State High School Golf Championship while attending McKinney High School and the 1999 U.S. Junior... |
71-67-66-64=268 | -12 | 2 strokes | 1,400,000 | |
| 2009 2009 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational The 2009 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was a golf tournament that was contested from August 6–9, 2009 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio... |
Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... (7) |
68-70-65-65=268 | -12 | 4 strokes | 1,400,000 | |
| 2008 2008 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational The 2008 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was a golf tournament that was contested from July 31–August 3, 2008 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the tenth WGC-Bridgestone Invitational tournament, and the third of three World Golf Championships events held in... |
Vijay Singh Vijay Singh Vijay Singh, CF , nicknamed "The Big Fijian", is a Fijian professional golfer who was Number 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings for 32 weeks in 2004 and 2005. He has won three major championships and was the leading PGA Tour money winner in 2003, 2004 and 2008... |
67-66-69-68=270 | -10 | 1 stroke | 1,350,000 | |
| 2007 2007 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational The 2007 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was a golf tournament that was contested from August 2–5, 2007 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio... |
Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... (6) |
68-70-69-65=272 | -8 | 8 strokes | 1,350,000 | |
| 2006 2006 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational The 2006 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was a golf tournament that was contested from August 24–27, 2006 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio... |
Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... (5) |
67-64-71-68=270 | -10 | Playoff | 1,300,000 | |
| WGC-NEC Invitational | ||||||
| 2005 2005 WGC-NEC Invitational The 2005 WGC-NEC Invitational was a golf tournament that was contested from August 18–21, 2005 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio... |
Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... (4) |
66-70-67-71=274 | -6 | 1 stroke | 1,300,000 | |
| 2004 2004 WGC-NEC Invitational The 2004 WGC-NEC Invitational was a golf tournament that was contested from August 19–22, 2004 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio... |
Stewart Cink Stewart Cink Stewart Ernest Cink is an American professional golfer who won the 2009 Open Championship. He has spent over 40 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings from 2004 to 2009.-Early years and education:... |
63-68-68-70=269 | -11 | 4 strokes | 1,200,000 | |
| 2003 2003 WGC-NEC Invitational The 2003 WGC-NEC Invitational was a golf tournament that was contested from August 21–24, 2003 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio... |
Darren Clarke Darren Clarke Darren Christopher Clarke is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland who currently plays on the European Tour and has previously played on the PGA Tour. He has won 22 tournaments worldwide on a number of golf's main tours including the European Tour, the PGA Tour, the Sunshine Tour and the... |
65-70-66-67=268 | -12 | 4 strokes | 1,050,000 | |
| 2002 2002 WGC-NEC Invitational The 2002 WGC-NEC Invitational was a professional golf tournament that was contested from August 22–25, 2002 at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington. It was the fourth WGC-NEC Invitational tournament, and the second of four World Golf Championships events held in 2002. It was the only... * |
Craig Parry Craig Parry Craig David Parry is an Australian professional golfer. He has been one of Australia's premier golfers since turning professional in 1985, and has 23 career victories, two of those wins being events on the PGA Tour; the 2002 WGC-NEC Invitational and the 2004 Ford Championship at Doral.Parry was... |
72-65-66-65=268 | -16 | 4 strokes | 1,000,000 | |
| 2001 2001 WGC-NEC Invitational The 2001 WGC-NEC Invitational was a golf tournament that was contested from August 23–26, 2001 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio... |
Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... (3) |
66-67-66-69=268 | -12 | Playoff | 1,000,000 | |
| 2000 2000 WGC-NEC Invitational The 2000 WGC-NEC Invitational was a golf tournament from August 24–27, 2000 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio... |
Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... (2) |
64-61-67-67=259 | -21 | 11 strokes | 1,000,000 | |
| 1999 1999 WGC-NEC Invitational The 1999 WGC-NEC Invitational was a golf tournament that was contested from August 26–29, 1999 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the first WGC-NEC Invitational tournament, and was the second of the three World Golf Championships that were held in the... |
Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
66-71-62-71=270 | -10 | 1 stroke | 1,000,000 | |
Sahalee Country Club
The Sahalee Country Club is a private 27-hole golf course and country club in Sammamish, Washington, a suburb east of Seattle. In the Chinookan language, Sahalee means "high heavenly ground." The course is located on a heavily-forested plateau immediately east of Lake Sammamish.Sahalee is best...
in Sammamish, Washington
Sammamish, Washington
-Surrounding cities and communities:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,104 people, 11,131 households, and 9,650 families residing in the city. In 2007, the population is expected to pass 40,000....
World Series of Golf winners
| Year | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| NEC World Series of Golf | ||
| 1998 | David Duval David Duval David Robert Duval is an American professional golfer and former World No. 1 who competes on the PGA Tour.-Early years:... |
|
| 1997 | Greg Norman Greg Norman Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s... (2) |
|
| 1996 | Phil Mickelson Phil Mickelson Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed... |
|
| 1995 | Greg Norman Greg Norman Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s... |
|
| 1994 | José María Olazábal José María Olazábal José María Olazábal Manterola is a Spanish professional golfer who has enjoyed success on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour, and has won two major championships.-Career outline:... (2) |
|
| 1993 | Fulton Allem Fulton Allem Fulton Peter Allem is a South African professional golfer.Allem was born in Kroonstad, Orange Free State, South Africa, the middle child of five children and the grandson of a Lebanese trader; he had a privileged upbringing... |
 South Africa |
| 1992 | Craig Stadler Craig Stadler Craig Robert Stadler is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level.... (2) |
|
| 1991 | Tom Purtzer Tom Purtzer Thomas Warren Purtzer is an American professional golfer who has won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.... |
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| 1990 | José María Olazábal José María Olazábal José María Olazábal Manterola is a Spanish professional golfer who has enjoyed success on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour, and has won two major championships.-Career outline:... |
|
| 1989 | David Frost David Frost (golfer) David Laurence Frost is a South African professional golfer who has more than twenty professional tournament wins to his name, spread across four continents.... |
South Africa |
| 1988 | Mike Reid Mike Reid (golfer) Michael Daniel Reid is an American professional golfer.Reid was born in Bainbridge, Maryland. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1976 and turned professional the same year. During his collegiate golf career, Reid was selected for All-American honors from 1973-1976... |
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| 1987 | Curtis Strange Curtis Strange Curtis Northrup Strange is an American professional golfer. He is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He spent over 200 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between their debut in 1986 and 1990.-Early years through college:Strange and his... |
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| 1986 | Dan Pohl Dan Pohl Danny Joe Pohl is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.Pohl was born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. He attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, where he was a member of the school's golf team... |
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| 1985 | Roger Maltbie Roger Maltbie Roger Lin Maltbie is an American professional golfer and on-course analyst for NBC Sports and ESPN.Maltbie was born in Modesto, California and grew up in San Jose. He attended James Lick High School where he was a teammate of former PGA Tour player Forrest Fezler... |
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| 1984 | Denis Watson Denis Watson Denis Leslie Watson is a professional golfer from Zimbabwe.Watson was born in Salisbury, Rhodesia and educated at Oriel Boys High School, Chisipite... |
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| World Series of Golf | ||
| 1983 | Nick Price Nick Price Nicholas Raymond Leige Price is a South African-Zimbabwean Professional golfer and an inductee in the World Golf Hall of Fame. In the mid-1990s, Price reached number one in the Official World Golf Rankings.-Background:... |
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| 1982 | Craig Stadler Craig Stadler Craig Robert Stadler is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level.... |
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| 1981 | Bill Rogers Bill Rogers (golfer) William Charles Rogers is an American professional golfer who is best known as the winner of the 1981 Open Championship.... |
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| 1980 | Tom Watson Tom Watson (golfer) Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour.... |
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| 1979 | Lon Hinkle Lon Hinkle Lon Hinkle is an American professional golfer who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.Hinkle was born in Flint, Michigan. He attended San Diego State University, where he was a member of the golf team. He turned pro and joined the PGA Tour in 1972.Hinkle won three tournaments in... |
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| 1978 | Gil Morgan Gil Morgan Gilmer Bryan Morgan II, OD is an American professional golfer.Morgan was born in Wewoka, Oklahoma. He graduated from East Central State College in Ada, Oklahoma in 1968. In 1972, Morgan earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee before turning... |
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| 1977 | Lanny Wadkins Lanny Wadkins Jerry Lanston "Lanny" Wadkins, Jr. is an American professional golfer. He ranked in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings for 86 weeks from their debut in 1986 to 1988.... |
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| 1976 | Jack Nicklaus Jack Nicklaus Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a... |
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