US Open Champion Justin Rose will partner recently crowned Open Champion Phil Mickelson in a mouth-watering two-ball for the first two rounds of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Englishman Rose overhauled Mickelson on the final day at Merion Golf Club last month to clinch his first Major, but Mickelson bounced back from that disappointment with a stunning two weeks in Scotland, first capturing the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and then claiming his first Claret Jug with a superb final round at Muirfield. The duo tee off from Firestone Country Club’s first hole at 13.40 local time on Thursday.
Lee Westwood, who led after 54 holes at Muirfield, begins his quest for a maiden WGC title alongside Webb Simpson at 9.50 from the tenth, while Luke Donald has Keegan Bradley, the defending champion, for company starting at 14.00 from the first.
Another man who put in a fine Open Championship performance was Ian Poulter, whose excellent final round left him tied third, and he will hope to continue that fine form in Akron alongside Kevin Streelman of the United States.
World Number Three Rory McIlroy is with Brandt Snedeker, who won last week’s Canadian Open, at 13.30 on the first, and Masters Champion Adam Scott is with big-hitting Dustin Johnson at 9.30 from the tenth.
Graeme McDowell, who has won three times this season – twice on The European Tour – is paired with American Billy Horschel at 9.40 from the tenth, and Italian Matteo Manassero, who won the BMW PGA Championship in May, is with Scott Piercy in the first group out at 8.40.
England’s Paul Casey is making his first WGC appearance since the WGC-CA Championship in February 2012, and has South African Branden Grace for company ay 13.50 from the tenth tee.
Other notable European Tour Members in the draw include Germany’s Martin Kaymer, paired with American veteran Steve Stricker, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, with Tommy Gainey, and Spaniard Sergio Garcia, playing alongside 2010 US Ryder Cup player Rickie Fowler.
Clickherefor the full draw.
