FIRST of all well done to anyone who picked a winner last weekend. Rickie Fowler (2nd) and Danny Lee (T4) gave me a small each-way return at the Quickens National Loans so I can’t complain.
This week it's the WGC Bridgestone at the Firestone Country Club in Akron with only Rory McIlroy and Chris Kirk absent from the top 50.
With all these top players taking part it has the feel of a Major … but that’s next week. This 7400-yard course is the longest par 70 in a non-mMjor and there are only two par fives of which one is a monster 667 yards.
First of all I’m trying to stop myself from picking Dustin Johnston this week and have decided to leave him till next week (he’ll probably win now).
Fowler has been going along nicely since missing the cut in the US Open. He won the Scottish Open, T30 in The Open (we can forgive him that due to weather) and a second in last week’s event with a superb finish.
After winning the Players Championship he missed the cut in both the Memorial and US Open but does look like he’s steadied the ship again.
I have to admit I was worried about Jason Day after The Open. You could see at the end he had put so much into winning it, both physically and mentally, and looked totally drained.
I thought it would take him a while to recover but certainly proved me wrong by coming back straight away and winning the Canadian Open. He missed the cut in both the Players and the Memorial before that superb T9 in the US Open.
How he managed to complete the four rounds amazed me. He then had a T4 in The Open and won two weeks ago. Over his last three tournaments he has averaged over 70% in GIR. His driving accuracy wasn’t too good in the Canadian Open but still managed to win. Solid bet this week.
It's hard to believe but Henrik Stenson is still waiting on his first win of the season. Number one in GIR on both sides of the Atlantic and top five in driving accuracy on European and 21st on Stateside he has everything to win in Akron.
He’s also 12th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained:putting. The last two seasons here have seen him finish in the top 20, including runner-up in 2013. Add all that together and what do you get … a winner (hopefully!)
Brooks Koepka has four top-20 finishes in his last five outings, including the US Open and The Open. GIR is over 70%, with driving accuracy over 60% and he’s 10th in strokes gained:putting.
I said at the beginning of the season I expected big things from him and unfortunately I didn’t back him with he won the Phoenix Open,but I still think there’s more to come this year and this could be it.
From 18 starts on the PGA Tour this season Hideki Matsuyma has missed the cut once, finishes in top 25 on 15 occasions, top 20 a dozen times and eight top-10s. That’s some record. He’s also 9th in GIR and driving accuracy of 67% but his putting could be a weakness. Still worth a look.
Recommended Bets
Rickie Fowler 2pts ew (16-1, Hills, Ladbrokes, bet365)
Jason Day 2pts ew (14-1, Hills, Ladbrokes, bet365)
Henrik Stenson 1pt ew (25-1, Hills, Ladbrokes, bet365, Betfred)
Brooks Koepka 0.5pts ew (50-1, Betfred, Paddy Power, Hills)
Hideki Matsuyama 1pt ew (28-1, Hills, Paddy Power, Betfred, bet365)
Ace Venturer
In December 2020 we sadly 
Like you im trying to resist DJ but you know what happens if you dont back him. Going for
DJ @ 14/1
Matt Kuchar @ 35/1
Padraig Harrington 125/1.
Good luck everyone.
I tip occasionally on here and I’m on a good run at the moment so sharing my thoughts:
Dustin Johnson 2pts ew 16/1
Patrick Reed 1pt ew 40/1
Bill Haas 1pt ew 66/1
I agree with Ace on DJ however length off tee is so important around this course so impossible to leave out.
Good luck if you follow.
Keegan Bradley 3 top 10’s the last 3 years at this course.poor form this year but a certain horses for courses golfer at Firestone. 30/1 @ Betfred.
Marc Leishman, again some very low rounds shot at Firestone and at the prices worth an EW punt @ 50/1 @ Betfred.
The Stableford format looks tough and quite a weak field but would probably go small EW on Ollie Schniederjans 22/1 @ betfred he is quite the birdie machine at times.
My tips for Ohio are ..leishman d.lee lingmerth and kisner..
N.Ireland..maddy dunbar elvira and relecom top 10 finish..
Barracuda..gillis bvpelt and clark
digital ally.. lee fischer kang
Bridgestone Invitaional – USA
Kevin Kisner 66/1 e/w or top 20
Hideki Matsuyama 25/1 e/w or top 20
Also Branden Grace and Marc Leishmann to be even score after 72 holes 18/1
Northern Ireland Open
Andrew MacAurther 25/1 e/w
Peter Lawrie 66/1 e/w
*even score*
by this I mean have the same score as each other after 72 holes
2 of my 3 picks came 4th last week, Rose and Justin Thomas thankfully I listened to myself and backed Thomas ew at 28/1 so got something out of it. Johnson wagner was my third pick as an outside bet and he lived up to his 50/1 missing cut. Will have look later at 2moro golf as can’t spend all day at work on Internet mores the pity
Does nobody fancy JORDAN SPEITHS chances?
Oosty 25-1 e/w.
Malkster, like the look of Bo Van Pelt to – problem is he tends to start well but fade out.
Will be having a cheeky go at BVP 1st round leader…e/w at 66/1 (Bet365)
Cant see past Jordan Spieth.He has the ability & passion every golfer on the planet dreams of.With his superb technique & skills,i for one will be placing my hard earned dosh on him to WIN…..W Hills lovely price of 11/2.
NAZALUS, thank you., thought i was alone in picking speith, got 6/1 earlier in ladbrokes!
Nazalus, can get 13/2 with sky priceboost.
Will be on spieth 13/2 win and DJ 16/1 ew.
3 boys for me again this week and sticking with bit of loyalty
Justin Rose 16/1 at paddy power I backed him last week and he did well and he has had 4 top 5 finishes here over the years. This is a tough course and most of recent winners here have a major under their belt
Adam scott 18/1 at coral I liked the way he played at the open and wondered why I hadn’t even looked at him when he was sinking putts with his old putter and old caddie carrying his bag. This is like a major with most of the big guns out here plus scott has won here before
Jim fuyrk 40/1 ew at coral my outside bet ischia fuyrk partly cos he has won for me this year so have sense of loyalty to him but he is so consistent at big tournaments that u always feel u get value from Jim and he not showing any signs of decline. Am taking Jim as my ew bet to try get some profit on the week and to be fair to him over last 5 years he always been up there come Sunday when playing here
Cheers Gerdub & DK,i try to stick to one bookie as i find hills payout super fast into my bank…Good luck everyone with whoever you go for….I JUST LOVE THE GOLF & a wee bet just boosts my enthusiasm :) :)