[G-men]

WGC Bridgestone Invitational: Tourney picks
By MATT FARGO - I'm dedicated to improving my clients ability to win

The PGA Championship starts next week but there is business to take care of this week first.

The WGC Bridgestone Invitational takes place from Akron, Ohio at the Firestone Country Club. The week leading up to a major usually sees a mediocre field, but that’s not the case this week. Since this tourney is an Invitational, all of the top players will be competing will be playing in a limited field, and there is no cut as well.

Tiger Woods (+150) did it again last week winning the Buick Open. Now he is playing a course he’s won six times, most recently in 2007.

Phil Mickelson (+1200) tees up since for the first time in seven weeks. He has six top 10s in 12 events played this season and he’s fond of Firestone too. He hasn’t won the event since 1996, but he has two runner-up finishes and placed fourth last year. Will the long layoff affect his chance to win?

Vijay Singh (+4000) is the defending champion but he’s had mixed results in 2009. The good news is that he has made the cut in four straight events and finished T7 at the AT&T National. The problem is that he only has three top tens all season and has yet to crack the top five in any tournament.

Lee Westwood (+2500) was the runner-up to Singh last year and is playing some of the best golf ever. He has only one top 10 in six events played on the PGA Tour but he has placed in the top 10 in his last three events overall. Is he a good bet to close out a lead on Sunday, though?

Hunter Mahan (+3000) took some time off following his missed cut at the Open Championship. That should rejuvenate him. Before the Open Championship, he had three straight top 10 finishes, and even though he has not won this year, he is close.

He hasn’t won since 2007 when he won the Travelers Championship but this course fits him well. He had a T10 last year, which followed a T22 in 2007. Great value play.

One player who has not had great success this year is Anthony Kim (+2500). He has only three top 10 finishes this season in 16 events played, compared to eight top 10s last season. Two of those top 10s this year have come in his last three events played. He told reporters that things are coming together for him. It would be good to see him make a late season run.

Nick Watney (T46). Brian Gay (T37) and Kevin Na (T46) struggled last weekend and stood no chance against Tiger at the Buick Open. We switch gears this week.

Recommended plays for the WGC Bridgestone Invitational:

Tiger Woods (+150) 1.5 Units

Lee Westwood (+2500) 1.5 Units

Hunter Mahan (+3000)1.5 Units

Anthony Kim (+2500) 1.5 Units

Year to date: -7 Units