The iconic water tower at the Firestone CC © Peter Corden
Adam Scott 17/1 © Hone Morihana
This week sees the return of the World Golf Championship (WGC) at one of the most iconic golf courses on the US Tour, The Firestone Country Club, in Akron, Ohio has a long history having hosted PGA Tour events for over five decades. The South Course with its great views of the Firestone water tower provides a challenging, test. Opened back in 1929 and designed by Bert Way, it then had a redesign by Robert Trent Jones in 1960. It’s a tough track at 7,400 yards with two halves of 35 making a par 70.
No surprise to see Tiger Woods 5/1 at the top of the betting odds, Firestone is a course Tiger loves, winning seven times on this track and I do feel he will do well here this week if not win it, but I don’t think the odds reflect where Tiger is at the moment.
My tips to win:
I am hoping that the setback Adam Scott 17/1 suffered at this years Open Championship spurs him on to defend his title here this week. It was tough to watch but I believe he has the game and more importantly the mental toughness needed to come back and learn from what happened.
Hunter Mahan 33/1 © Keith Allison
Hunter Mahan 35/1 finished the Canadian Open with a flourish firing a final round 66, he had a steady Open Championship finishing inside the Top 20. A past winner here and with a WGC championship already won this season look for Hunter to make it a double this week.
I am not sure if he will want to win this week, but I think Graeme McDowell 35/1 will be in the thick of it come Sunday night and he will want to prove to himself after his final round 75 at the Open Championship put paid to his chances of winning, that he can produce on the final day.
My each-way tips:
I am going to tip Brandt Snedeker 66/1 again this week, I thought he would do well in the Canadian Open, but maybe that was to soon after his third place at the Open Championship, but a final round of 66 in Canada sees Brandt coming into this week with full confidence in his golf game.
Ian Poulter 75/1 © Blakehall
Nicolas Colsaerts 61/1 has teed it up twice this year in WGC events and has just been outside the Top 30 both times, but I feel the tall Belgium lad is looking to take that next step on the ladder. He started the Open Championship with a bang before fading, but I think he has the game to do well on this monster of a track.
Outside bet:
A good outside bet here this week is Ian Poulter 75/1, Ian played well in the Open Championship and seems to becoming back into form and will want to do well here with the last major of the year coming up next week.
For updated betting odds during the tournament go to planetgolfreview.com
The 11th green at the Firestone CC © Peter Corden
