Hideki Matsuyama, Asia’s highest ranked golfer will carry the flag for our continent at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational starting on Thursday. The Japanese will headline Asian participation alongside Seung-Yul Noh and Thongchai Jaidee. Matsuyama is scheduled to tee off at 1020am with Brendt Snedeker from the 10th tee, among the final groups of the morning session. Rory McIlroy and Matt Kuchar will be the final pair to tee off in the first session. Tiger Woods and Martin Kaymer tee off from the 1st hole at 0220pm.
The field includes 76 of the very best golfers, playing in pairs teeing off from both the first and tenth tees. Matt Every and Branden Grace will kick off the tournament at 0910am on Thursday from the first tee.
Woods is the defending champion, having claimed a resounding victory last year. He will have the US Open champion Matt Kaymer for company as they take to the course in the afternoon. With his Ryder Cup selection hanging in the balance, Woods will want to ensure he has a good result this week.
While there will be plenty of eyes on McIlroy and Kuchar in the morning, one would also expect a large crowd to follow the two ball that features Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson. The leftie is a big fan favourite around here and Garcia is in good form, having finished runner-up at the Open.
Another man who finished runner-up at the Open, Rickie Fowler will tee off with Justin Rose in the afternoon session. The duo will tee off at 0200pm. Another big pair will follow that act – world No. 1 Adam Scott and Masters champion Bubba Watson will begin their campaign from the first tee.
The course at the Firstone Country Club is a demanding par-70 with just two par-5s – the second and sixteenth. That and four other holes for par-3 apart, the course is littered with long and narrow par-4s which will test and challenge the golfers into a measured battle of wits.
Report by Anand Datla
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Pic: WGC Bridgestone Invitational (Getty Images)
