Tiger Woods practically concocted a miracle to get from just inside No. 1,200 in the world at the end of 2017 to No. 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings following the Open Championship. By virtue of that move up the rankings, Woods guaranteed himself a spot in this week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
However, the Akron-based event, which Woods has won a staggering eight times, will no longer on the schedule in 2019, meaning Woods had one last chance to win at Firestone Country Club. A solid opening two rounds had Woods within shouting distance of the leaders, but a pair of weekend 73s brought Tiger back to even par for the tournament and 15 strokes off the pace.
Despite the disappointing weekend performance, Tiger finished off his time in Akron in style, birdieing the 72nd hole, a spot where he has raised a trophy eight previous times.
One more birdie for @TigerWoods to finish his round @WGC_Bridgestone.
Fitting.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/yKagwAgRrN
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 5, 2018
“I didn’t hit the ball as clean as I wanted to,” Woods said. “I only putted well the first day. I struggled hitting the putts hard enough this week. It looked faster than they were putting for me, and I just struggled making that adjustment. Things could have certainly gone better, but it is what it is and on to next week.”
Woods will be playing alongside this past week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational champion and defending PGA Champion, Justin Thomas as well as Rory McIlroy for the first two rounds of the final major championship of the season, the PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club outside of St. Louis.
