Ahead of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, the season’s third World Golf Championship event, europeantour.com enlisted the help of 2013 runner up Henrik Stenson to guide us through this week’s venue, Firestone Country Club.
Stenson will make his ninth appearance in the tournament this week, playing alongside American Jim Furyk in the opening two rounds, as he bids for a second World Golf Championship title, following his victory in the WGC-Accenture Match Play in 2007.
The World Number Nine’s best performance in Akron, Ohio, was two years ago when he finished second behind Tiger Woods in a stretch of four consecutive top three finishes that summer, which included The Open Championship and US PGA Championship – a run that ultimately helped him win the 2013 Race to Dubai.
And the Swede, who finished runner up in the BMW International Open in June, is hoping he can hit form once again, with the final Major Championship of the season, the US PGA Championship, to follow next week.
“The game is a work in progress really,” he said. “I’ve not played a lot this summer and The Open didn’t really work out, mainly because of a poor performance on the greens. The long game was in good shape. I’ve been working on my putting and it is hopefully coming around.
“I had a good stretch earlier in the year around Doral and the weeks after, and then I haven’t really been performing the way I would like. Every year is a long year though and there is plenty of golf left to play, so if I start to play well I know I can do some damage. That’s what I’m focusing on.
“The second place two years ago is probably the only time I’ve done really well around here. I had a 19th last year and a 13th ten years ago, but I’ve not performed as well as I would like. But that second place in 2013 definitely shows I can do well around here, and hopefully it can be another good year.”
The rough is normally thick and juicy, so playing off the fairways is key.
Henrik Stenson
Bring your long game
As he alluded to, Stenson’s long game has been central to his performances this year. The 39 year old leads the way in Greens in Regulations on The European Tour, with 80.6 per cent, and he believes that will be crucial to success around the 7,400 yard par 70 course.
“There are a couple of key tee shots around here,” said Stenson. “The rough is normally thick and juicy, so playing off the fairways is key. I would say number three is a key tee shot. You don’t see the landing area so you’ve got to know your line. If you miss that, it is a short hole, but you can get in all sorts of trouble if you miss the fairway, with a pond short and trees left. It is a key tee shot and the sixth and eight are pretty much the same. They are tricky fairways to hit, and that is one part of playing well around here.
“On the back nine, the 13th is quite a short dogleg round to the landing area, with a tree on the right and a bit of a swale. That is a tricky one as well to hit. There are also a lot of long par fours and it is a ball striker’s golf course, I would say. Make sure you bring your long game.”
The long road home
Firestone’s closing six holes measure 2,690 yards, including three par fours each more than 460 yards in length, the 221 yard par three 15th and the behemoth 16th hole, at 667 yards, which is also guarded by water. As well as good a good walk, this stretch provides a good test of strategy, according to the Ryder Cup player.
“The finish has a few long holes, but the 16th plays down and they haven’t moved the tee box up that much the last couple of years,” said Stenson. “If they do it could be potentially two-shots, but if not it is certainly a lay-up. Again, you have to hit a good lay-up and if you miss from off the tee and can’t hit a good spot on the lay-up then it is a tricky par five. Then the 17th is one that gives you the option, do you go with the driver and get it up on the second part of the fairway, or do you leave it way back and get left with a five or six iron into the green? There are a couple of different strategies. In the latter years I feel I have gained more by being aggressive off the tee, so I would expect to hit a few drives off that tee.”
