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WGC Bridgestone Invitational

By Brent Kelley, About.com

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WGC Bridgestone Invitational Golf Tournament

Tiger Woods has won the WGC Bridgestone Invitational seven times.

Scott Halleran / Getty Images

About the WGC Bridgestone Invitational:

The WGC Bridgestone Invitational began its life known as the World Series of Golf, but in 1999 became part of the World Golf Championships series.

2010 WGC Bridgestone Invitational
• When: Aug. 5-8
• Where: Firestone Country Club (South Course), Akron, Ohio

2009 Tournament
Tiger Woods began the final round one stroke behind Padraig Harrington, but rallied to the lead with a blistering front-nine 30. Then he stumbled a bit on the back nine, with Harrington retaking the lead at one point, before rallying. Woods' 8-iron over water to within inches of the cup on No. 16 helped move him back ahead, and Tiger wound up winning this tournament for the seventh time.

Official Web site

WGC Bridgestone Invitational Records:

  • Overall: 259 - Tiger Woods, 2000
  • Tournament course record: 61 - Jose Maria Olazabal, 1990; Tiger Woods, 2000 (Firestone CC South Course)

WGC Bridgestone Invitational Courses:

Since it became an official PGA Tour event in 1976, the WGC Bridgestone Invitational has been played on the South Course at Firestone Country Club, in Akron, Ohio, every year but one. In 2002, as a WGC tournament, this event was played at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash.

WGC Bridgestone Invitational Trivia and Notes:

  • This tournament had its beginnings in 1962 at the four-person, two-round exhibition called the World Series of Golf. The WSOG was similar to today's PGA Grand Slam of Golf. In 1976, the World Series of Golf expanded to a full-field, four-round tournament and joined the PGA Tour as an official event.

  • Jack Nicklaus won the unofficial version of the World Series of Golf four times, including the first year it was played. He also won the official PGA Tour World Series of Golf the first year it was played, in 1976.
  • Tiger Woods has won this event seven times. Only Greg Norman (1995, 1997) and Jose Maria Olazabal (1990, 1994) also have multiple wins.

  • Woods won three in a row from 1999-2001, then three in a row again in 2005-07. He is the only player in PGA Tour history to win the same tournament three times in a row on two different occasions.

  • Two of Woods' wins were in lengthy playoffs. In 2001, he beat Jim Furyk in a 7-hole playoff; in 2006, he defeated Stewart Cink in a 4-hole playoff.

    • WGC Bridgestone Invitational Winners:

    (p-playoff)

    WGC Bridgestone Invitational
    2009 - Tiger Woods, 268
    2008 - Vijay Singh, 270
    2007 - Tiger Woods, 272
    2006 - Tiger Woods-p, 270

    WGC NEC Invitational
    2005 - Tiger Woods, 274
    2004 - Stewart Cink, 269
    2003 - Darren Clarke, 268
    2002 - Craig Parry, 268
    2001 - Tiger Woods-p, 268
    2000 - Tiger Woods, 259
    1999 - Tiger Woods, 270

    NEC World Series of Golf
    1998 - David Duval, 269
    1997 - Greg Norman, 273
    1996 - Phil Mickelson, 274
    1995 - Greg Norman-p, 278
    1994 - Jose Maria Olazabal, 269
    1993 - Fulton Allem, 270
    1992 - Craig Stadler, 273
    1991 - Tom Purtzer-p, 279
    1990 - Jose Maria Olazabal, 262
    1989 - David Frost-p, 276
    1988 - Mike Reid-p, 275
    1987 - Curtis Strange, 275
    1986 - Dan Pohl, 277
    1985 - Roger Maltbie, 268
    1984 - Denis Watson, 271

    World Series of Golf
    1983 - Nick Price, 270
    1982 - Craig Stadler-p, 278
    1981 - Bill Rogers, 275
    1980 - Tom Watson, 270
    1979 - Lon Hinkle, 272
    1978 - Gil Morgan-p, 278
    1977 - Lanny Wadkins, 267
    1976 - Jack Nicklaus, 275

    Note: Tournaments prior to 1976 were unofficial events
    1975 - Tom Watson, 140
    1974 - Lee Trevino, 139
    1973 - Tom Weiskopf, 137
    1972 - Gary Player, 142
    1971 - Charles Coody, 141
    1970 - Jack Nicklaus, 136
    1969 - Orville Moody, 141
    1968 - Gary Player, 143
    1967 - Jack Nicklaus, 144
    1966 - Gene Littler, 143
    1965 - Gary Player, 139
    1964 - Tony Lema, 138
    1963 - Jack Nicklaus, 140
    1962 - Jack Nicklaus, 135

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