Ernie Els and World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational champion Adam Scott highlight a strong field of contenders when the best players from across the globe come to Firestone Country Club, August 1-5.
Ten more players, led by Graeme McDowell, also punched their tickets to Akron after cracking the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Only a win this week at the RBC Canadian Open, or moving into the top 50 in the world, will earn a player a last-minute spot in the Bridgestone Invitational field.
Els' second career win at the British Open came after shooting a 32 on the back nine which included a clutch birdie on the 18th hole. Els entered the final round trailing Scott, his good friend, by six strokes. Scott bogeyed the final four holes to lose by one stroke despite having a comfortable lead throughout most of the day. Els has qualified for all 12 of the previous Bridgestone Invitational events, sitting out in 2005 due to injury. His best finish came in the inaugural event in 1999, when he finished 5th.
He has two career World Golf Championships victories, both at the Cadillac Championship (2004, 2010).
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell headlines a group of nine players from the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, not otherwise qualified, who gained entry to the Bridgestone Invitational following this weekend's action. McDowell, No. 11 after a T5 at last week's British Open, has four top-10 finishes on the PGA TOUR this year, including a T2 at the U.S. Open. McDowell will play the Bridgestone Invitational for the seventh time, looking to better his career-best finish in Akron, a T22 in 2010.
Other players who qualified via their Official World Golf Ranking:
There are 77 players from 16 countries who have qualified for this year's event. Players who moved into the top 50 in the World Golf Ranking this week or the winner of the RBC Canadian Open will complete the field.
Padraig Harrington, outside the world top 50, has opted to play the Reno-Tahoe Open Montreux G&CC, Reno, Nevada.
