WGC – Bridgestone Invitational Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio Jul 31 - Aug 3, par 70
Fiji’s Vijay Singh took his first WGC title with victory at the Bridgestone Invitational. The 45-year-old finished the week on ten-under-par, one shot clear of Australia’s Stuart Appleby and England’s Lee Westwood.
It was a nervous final round for all the players and the lead regularly changed hands between Singh, Mickelson and Westwood. But it was Singh who made the fewest mistakes down the stretch. “I’m really relieved,” Singh said. “I had a good finish there at the end but I kept hitting a lot of good shots, and my putting was not the best all day. I hit it pretty close but towards the back nine I started missing those four-footers and five-footers, and I was wondering if, I tried to hit it as close as possible so I didn't leave myself a putt.”
He did leave himself a putt though - on the 18th green. The Fijian had two putts from 30 feet to secure the victory but left his first effort four feet short – the exact length of putt he’s been struggling with. But he trusted the hours of practise he’s put in and rolled the ball home for the win.
It was a great week for the Europeans - Westwood’s joint second place, Darren Clarke’s joint sixth, Paul Casey’s joint eighth and Miguel Angel Jimenez in joint tenth displayed the strength in depth in European golf at present. With the final Major of the year – the USPGA Championship – kicking off this week this could be the year a European finally lifts the trophy. They’ll have to get past Vijay Singh though.
