Woods to make tracks at Bridgestone

He may have only finished in a tie for 12th place at The Open but the bookies are taking no chances on Tiger Woods, who is 9/4 with Sporting Odds to take the WGC Bridgestone Invitational this weekend.

Woods has an extraordinary record at the two WGC strokeplay events, winning a staggering eleven out of 16 and only once finishing outside the top five. His record around the Firestone Country Club course is none too shabby either: he has won there the last two years in a row.

Given his liking for the event and the fact that the revised calendar means this is now a warm-up for the last major of the year, the USPGA, Woods will be doubly determined to defend his title and sound the warning that he is back.

Woods has not won an event since May and some suggest he has not played well since the birth of his daughter. The fact is though that even if he plays badly Woods will be in contention here and consequently the odds will only come down for him to win the USPGA next week. At 3/1 with Sporting Odds he is very difficult to ignore.

If you think the odds about Woods are a touch on the stingy side there are plenty of other potential winners to choose from in a quality field. Jim Furyk (12/1) has never won back-to-back tournaments so can be overlooked on that score, while the furore of his maiden title win compounded by self-confessed homesickness will probably put paid to the chances of the in-form Andres Romero (66/1).

Ernie Els and Vijay Singh are both returning to form. The South African's last three results read 7th, 3rd, 4th and the Big Easy has the wherewithal to take Woods head on. The same could be said for Singh, although his runners-up finish at the Canadian Open will have left him disappointed at letting his third-round lead slip in Ontario.

Stuart Cink catches the eye at 33/1. Cink lost to Woods in a play-off in this event last year and is also in great touch, coming sixth at Carnoustie. The 34-year-old has managed five top fives this year but there again, so has Hunter Mahan, who also tied for sixth at The Open. The 25-year-old from Orange County is making a name for himself with a series of high finishes since winning the Travelers Championship. No, he's not a gypsy, but he is going places and at 66/1 should be snapped up each way for another good tournament.

Verdict: 3pts Tiger Woods @ 3/1 (Sporting Odds); 2pts e/w Ernie Els @ 18/1 (VCBet, Betdirect); 1pt e/w Stuart Cink @ 33/1 (General); 2pts e/w Hunter Mahan @ 50/1 (General)

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