The WGC Bridgestone Invitational

[gun]

Emphatic, I think, is the word!

A three figure loss for me at Firestone. That has made a bit of my dent in my Tiger Lays records, but I'm still in profit overall from opposing him. Had I not taken evasive action after the first day the story would have been a more woeful one

All of which places me in a bit of a quandary over how to play the PGA this week...but that's another story.

[Thomson]

Two tee start in 3 balls with the leaders off the 1st tee..
Tigers 3 ball is -13 -6 -6......Tiger is 1.83 dead heat rules with sport books, will probs be more on BF when market forms. 1.14 to lay winners market this must be trade-able with Tiger out to crunch this one..........

[Thomson]

Which course was Tiger playing on yesterday?
The field hit an average of -1 because of a tougher set up and Tiger drops in an imperious -9....Gotta hand it to him.

Feel for Mikko Ilonen here's a tweet from last night

Mikko Ilonen*@MikkoIlonen
Another 73. But lets look at positives, I might get someone to play with tomorrow. #WGCBI

Glad you laid a lump off Gun...still 2 rounds to go he might falter …... yeah right!!!

[gun]

Sometimes, laying Tiger is not for the faint of heart! Boy am I glad I laid a chunk off last night at 4 point various!

[Thomson]

Round one was kind to me. I don't owe Gun a nugget cos the welsh boy done good, and the picks preformed which is nice. One banker failed in the trebs so a loss on that. Well done McIlroy, good to see a return to form... of sorts.

-6 leads and a chasing pack at 5,4,3....As usual I took the stakes + off the movers in-play and have had a good look at the scores this am...I am showing a good green globally which is profit overall …..I pressed that green button..I'll just watch round 2..

The committee at Firestone will not want to see a 16—19 under total this week so I expect to see tough pins tucked away today which will only be accessible from one side of the fairways. Plenty of players blocked out by the overhanging trees, so a cautious approach by me...

[Leeejordan]

2 ball (you would hope)

Well I have gone for:-

Stenson to beat duke / 1.75

Stricken over kaymer / 1.75

Snedeker over Mcilroy / 2.12

I've also had a cheeky little bet (small) on matsuyama to beat woods @3.5 he is playing so well at the moment and such good odds. I know woods has won here more than most but he didn't win every round. So hopin tiger has a poor day 1. Well worse than matsuyama anyway.

My bets are on the exchange as I am hoping to get into a nice position to trade out.

Good luck to all with your bets/trades this weekend.

Right now to the cricket!!

[Thomson]

Nice bunch of picks so far guy's.
Just put on some 2 ball trebles..Sned v McIlroy.. Sned 1.9 banker.
Watson v Jimenez..Watson 1.9 banker.......trebled with 8 ties from the pack..pays 24/1 a treb...
See how they go.....

Not many markets with the sports books on this event had to use BF fixed odds which is a pain.....

[gun]

I like the idea of Donaldson, and to be honest hadn't considered him until I read Thomson's piece (you'll owe me a quid if he shoots a 90 on day one, Thomson, OK??). I also have a feeling that Rory might make a decent showing at this event - it seems to me that despite a poor showing in the recent 'big' tournaments he hasn't been playing that badly, and 30's is a fair price in that context.

Sned and Schwartzel, I'm sure, have lots more tournament wins coming in the future and have the game and the temperament for this competition.

Poulter is another perennial 'nearly man' but a very capable golfer on his day as he showed again at Muirfield (well, on the last day at least).

Cabrera is there purely because he so frequently features on the last day that I feel there's a good chance of him shortening, and I'm again putting a few quid on Matsuyama as he is without doubt a rising star of the future.

[Leeejordan]

mmmm

Well I didn't research that very well, I didn't realise there was no cut!! and the field was so short. I usually look out for players in the win market but mainly the match ups as I do quite well in those two disciplines.

I saw Rory @3.85 not to make the top 10 and thought that may be a good trade. but with taking on board what you pointed out I think I will leave that alone for this trade as my money may be better placed somewhere else.

thanks for the Heads up.

[Thomson]

I have also thought about having a lay on Rory finishing in the top 10.

Hmm big course small field no cut. This could be just what he needs before next weeks major....At 6.8 dead heat rules, just not for me. Good luck with it Lee hope it goes your way.

Short straw for Mikko he gets to play on his own Thursday......That should push the price out?

[Leeejordan]

Bridgestone

I have also thought about having a lay on Rory finishing in the top 10.

Rory is so out of form with his achievements this year being zilch. His head seems to be divided. He hasn't come to terms with his new clubs. And I just can't see him putting it all together for this tournament.

[Leeejordan]

Hi,

I am going for Mickelson, Stricker, Stenson & Matsuyama. lets see if they can provide me with some green.

Lee.

[Thomson]

My picks and why.

I've outlined the structure of this tournament, now add to this invitational the no-cut format and you can see why this is going to be a real opportunity for some. Plus a real trading opportunity for us...maybe..

Kiradech Aphibarnrat
Got in this by winning the Malaysian Open, good win. Ranked in the 90's world rank...A good show here opens doors, looking to make top 50 so I expect a determined start. He will be trying.

Jamie Donaldson
Much the same as Aphbarnrat, has the game but can he go low? This is a huge chance for Jamie I hope he can take it.

Mikko Ilonen
I like the way this guy plays. He can be streaky, he can go low and lead from the front. He knows the value a top 5 finnish will give his CV

Jason Dufner
Got in via the Ryder cup. 7th on his own here last year. Not having a good season, needs a result..Course suits his style no cut will suit his head..At +60 for me he is value

Rickie Fowler
Again as Dufner out of top form. Seems to need inspiration so hoping for a good 1st round..Needs to step up here, he will see this as an opportunity, just don't bang in another 80 like last year...+85 is reasonable....

Early doors I know but I can now stand back from the hype. The 1st round will show who can play the lengthened track that has brought more fairway traps in range....Come on Guys stick up some picks........

[Thomson]

The players and why they got invited

2013 World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational
Eligible players as of July 29, 2013
Aphibarnrat, Kiradech - 2013 Maybank Malaysia Open
Bae, Sang-Moon - 2013 Byron Nelson Championship
Blixt, Jonas - 2013 Greenbrier Classic
Bradley, Keegan - 2012 WGC-Bridgetone Invitational, 2012 Ryder Cup
Cabrera, Angel - Top 50 OWGR as of 7-22-13
Casey, Paul - 2013 Irish Open
Colsaerts, Nicolas - 2012 Ryder Cup
Day, Jason - Top 50 OWGR as of 7-22-13
Donald, Luke - 2012 Ryder Cup, 2012 Dunlop Phoenix Open
Donaldson, Jamie - 2013 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
Dufner, Jason - 2012 Ryder Cup
Duke, Ken - 2013 Travelers Championship
Els, Ernie - 2013 BMW International Open
English, Harris - 2013 FedEx St. Jude Classic
Ernst, Derek - 2013 Wells Fargo Championship
Fdez-Castano, Gonzalo - 2012 BMW Italian Open
Fowler, Rickie - Top 50 OWGR as of 7-22-13
Furyk, Jim - 2012 Ryder Cup
Gainey, Tommy - 2012 The McGladrey Classic
Gallacher, Stephen - 2013 Omega Dubai Desert Classic
Garcia, Sergio - 2012 Wyndham Championship, 2012 Ryder Cup
Gay, Brian - 2013 Humana Challenge
Grace, Branden - 2012 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Haas, Bill - 2013 AT&T National
Hanson, Peter - 2012 KLM Open, 2012 Ryder Cup, 2012 BMW Masters
Henley, Russell - 2013 Sony Open in Hawaii
Horschel, Billy - 2013 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Ilonen, Mikko - 2013 Nordea Masters
Jimenez, Miguel A. - 2012 UBS Hong Kong Open
Johnson, Dustin - 2012 Ryder Cup, 2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions
Johnson, Zach - 2012 Ryder Cup
Kodaira, Satoshi - 2013 Japan Golf Tour Championship*
Kaymer, Martin - 2012 Ryder Cup, 2012 Nedbank Challenge
Kuchar, Matt - 2012 Ryder Cup, 2013 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, 2013 Memorial Tournament
Laird, Martin - 2013 Valero Texas Open
Lawrie, Paul - 2012 Johhnie Walker Championship, 2012 Ryder Cup
Lowery, Shane - 2012 Portugal Masters
Mahan, Hunter - Top 50 OWGR as of 7-22-13
Manassero, Matteo - 2013 BMW PGA Championship, 2012 Barclays Singapore Open
Matsuyama, Hideki - Top 50 OWGR as of 7-22-13
McDowell, Graeme - 2013 Alstom Open de France, 2013 Volvo World Match Play Championship, 2013 RBC Heritage, 2012 Ryder Cup
McIlroy, Rory - 2012 BMW Championship, 2012 Deutsche Bank Championship, 2012 PGA Championship, 2012 Ryder Cup, 2012 DP World Tour Championship
Merrick, John - 2013 Northern Trust Open
Mickelson, Phil - 2013 The Open Championship, 2013 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open, 2012 Ryder Cup
Molinari, Francesco - 2012 Ryder Cup
Moore, Ryan - 2012 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
Olesen, Thorbjorn - Top 50 OWGR as of 7-22-13
Pettersson, Carl - Top 50 OWGR as of 7-22-13
Piercy, Scott - Top 50 OWGR as of 7-22-13
Popovic, Daniel - 2012 Australian PGA Championship*
Points, D.A. - 2013 Shell Houston Open
Poulter, Ian - 2012 Ryder Cup, 2012 WGC-HSBC Champions
Ramsay, Richie - 2012 Omega European Masters
Rose, Justin - 2013 U.S. Open Championship, 2012 Ryder Cup
Rumford, Brett - 2013 Ballantine's Championship, 2013 Volvo China Open
Schwartzel, Charl - 2012 Thailand Golf Championship*, 2012 Alfred Dunhill Championship
Scott, Adam - 2013 Masters
Simpson, Webb - 2012 Ryder Cup
Snedeker, Brandt - 2012 TOUR Championship, 2012 Ryder Cup, 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach Natl Pro-Am
Sterne, Richard - Top 50 OWGR as of 7-22-13
Stenson, Henrik - Top 50 OWGR as of 7-22-13
Streelman, Kevin - 2013 Tampa Bay Championship
Stricker, Steve - 2012 Ryder Cup
Taniguchi, Toru - 2012 Bridgestone Open*
Thompson, Michael - 2013 Honda Classic
Van Pelt, Bo - Top 50 OWGR as of 7-22-13
Van Zyl, Jaco - 2013 Dimension Data Pro-Am*
Watney, Nick - 2012 The Barclays
Watson, Bubba - 2012 Ryder Cup
Weekley, Boo - 2013 Crowne Plaza Invitational
Westwood, Lee - 2012 Ryder Cup
Wood, Chris - 2013 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters
Woods, Tiger - 2012 Ryder Cup, 2013 Farmers Insurance Open, 2013 WGC-Cadillac Championship, 2013 Arnold Palmer Invitational, 2013 PLAYERS Championship
Eligible players: 74
*designated event

[Thomson]

This is a nice walk through.

http://www.virtualclub.com/CourseWalks/Firestone/south_course/hole01.asp