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WGC Bridgestone Invitational Preview, Picks & Analysis

By: Golfshake Editor | Mon 27 Jun 2016


Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements


SHANE LOWRY gets an opportunity to put his US Open misery behind him when he defends his WGC Bridgestone Invitational title at Akron, Ohio. And boy, does the Irishman need a big week.

Most of Europe's best golfers are in France for the 100th staging of the French Open, but Lowry will still face a world-class field at Akron, including the world's top three, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and newly-crowned US Open champion Dustin Johnson.

Lowry went into the final round of the US Open with a four-shot lead, and ended up trailing Johnson by three strokes. He finished second, which is his best in a major, but will take no consolation whatsoever from that achievement. The Irishman had a closing round of 76 and when the chips were down his putting touch deserted him completely.

Few doubt that Lowry will win a major but he really got down on himself at Oakmont and needs to clear his mind and move on. A good week in defence of his title would be a huge step in the right direction.

Tiger Woods has won this event eight times, most recently in 2013. Hunter Mahan was the champion in 2010, Adam Scott in 2011, Keegan Bradley in 2012, Rory McIlroy in in 2014 and Lowry last year.

Nobody will need to be told that Jason Day was not at his best at the US Open. Despite that, but for a double-bogey at the 17th he might well have still sneaked the title. That tells all his rivals that the Australian has moved into a different class. The very best golfers are still able to get the job done when they don't have their A game with them - the likes of Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo were able to grind out victories when not playing especially well. It is a rare talent, and it is something that the likes of Spieth and Rory McIlroy are unable to do. Day is different. Because his all-round game is so good, he can always fall back on one part of it to see him through.

He has become a winning machine in the past couple of years, winning eight times in 17 attempts. Those are astonishing statistics. Most tour pros would regard eight victories as a stellar career. Akron is a much easier course than Oakmont, and I expect Day not only to win again, but to do so by a large margin.

Spieth is a only a shadow of the player he was in 2015. More worrying for his many fans, he is also only a shadow of the person he was last year. There has been far too much foot-stamping this season when things have not been going right. He clearly has issues with his swing, and it appears to this observer that most of them relate to him trying to hit the ball too hard with his driver. When he was winning everything in sight, his swing was perfectly balanced - now, it seldom is.

The Bridgestone is also a big week for a faltering Rickie Fowler. After a sensational start to the year, he has been struggling with all parts of his game. Of course, no golfer can ever expect to be perfect all the time, and Fowler will work things out, but there are some big weeks coming up and he will be very keen to get things right soon.

Jason Dufner could well present Day's biggest threat. We keep hearing that he is a dodgy putter, but the evidence of his play at Oakmont seems to suggest that he has finally put the heebie-jeebies behind him. Dufner is a magnificent iron player and Akron, where the greens will be like sponges, is made for his game. There is no better wedge player in professional golf today - if he can keep the ball on the fairway, Dufner could easily shoot the lights out.

And the same applies to Adam Scott, another who had a "nearly week" at the US Open. He has also put his putting horrors behind him and once more looks like one of the best golfers in the world. Many believed his career was over when he had to abandon the long putter, but the Australian is made of tough stuff and has come through all his trials and tribulations on the greens. He will be looking for a big week here, and a bigger week at Royal Troon in mid-July.

Apart from his victory, Bradley has also finished second here. His career appears to be in terminal decline - a return to one of his favourite courses may help him to turn the corner.

Bridgestone Picks

To Win:

Jason Day. Simply the best

Each Way:

Jason Dufner. Looking lean and mean

Each Way:

Adam Scott. The most elegant swing on tour

Bridgestone Fantasy Picks

Jason Day. Just keeps on winning

Jason Dufner. Has eye on Ryder Cup team

Adam Scott. Loves this place

Keegan Bradley. Looking to revive some good memories

Hideki Matsuyama. Course is made for the Japanese player

Bill Haas. There or thereabouts time and again

Rickie Fowler. In need of a revival

Justin Thomas. Terrific young player

Daniel Berger. Bursting with confidence

Jordan Spieth. Needs to count to 10

 


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Tags: PGA Tour european tour



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