Bradley is back to his happy place!

WGC Bridgestone Invitational

So this is the week we will probably find out if Tiger is ready for a fight to get to the Fed-Ex Cup, and most probably a Ryder Cup spot, although the latter seems more likely at this point (has to get a Captain's pick). Tiger is an 8-time defending champ this week and being back in one of his fruitful hunting grounds is probably what the great man needs right now. Looking back at my blog in this event from 2012 (didn't do one last year) I had a max bet on Tiger and went with the headline 'Is Tiger bombproof this week?', he's anything but it, this time around. As a golf fan I'd love him to show something in the next couple of weeks, but as a punter I'm happy enough to look elsewhere.

Firestone seems to be a course where experience is key, maybe Tiger set that trend but the same players tend to do well each year. My headline pick this week is a past champ and was runner-up (albeit by a furlong or two) in his title defence. Keegan Bradley seems to have found a place that really suits his eye. He was 15th in 2011, in what could have been a lot better had he not shot 74 in the final round, he then won in 2012 when Jim Furyk thought it would be better entering the Pancake Factory than it would the winners enclosure, and then he finished runner-up to a ruthless Tiger last year. Form book = stacked. This season hasn't been a consistent one by any stretch, but a Top 5 in the Greenbrier and a Top 20 in Liverpool may have turned him in the right direction in what is an important time of the season, in Ryder Cup year.

My only other selection this week is Bubba Watson. Ironically enough he was my each way alternative to Tiger in 2012, when he was a 33/1 chance, this year, after two wins he's a 40/1 poke. He of course won the the Masters in 2012, and then again this year, but I think he's definitely a much better performer now than he was then; his 64, 64 finish at Riviera would support that. On a course where tee shots can be key, I think 40/1 on a player of Bubba's calibre is a bet most weeks. Also worth noting that a few other Masters winners (Woods, Scott, Singh) have won here, so maybe a small course link there.

My selections:

Keegan Bradley @ 25/1 with Bet365 (2 pts each way)
Bubba Watson @ 40/1 with Bet365 (1 pt each way)