He has just turned 22, has already won four tournaments this season, including two majors, is number one in the FedexCup and number two in the world: Jordan Spieth returns to the course this week and the golf engine is revving at full speed with the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, the last of the four World Golf Championships seasonal tournaments scheduled from today to Sunday on the South course of the Firestone CC, in Akron, Ohio .
It is a competition at the highest level, which precedes by only seven days the fourth round of the grand slam, the US PGA Championship (from 13 to 16 August). For Jordan it is an opportunity to surpass Rory McIlroy at the top of the world rankings, given that there is only one point between the two and Rory cannot defend his position due to an injury to his left ankle. Success is within the reach of the Texan champion, but the field is the most competitive imaginable. In fact, only two players are missing from the top 50 in the world, McIlroy and Chris Kirk, who is also injured in his hand.
In all they are 77 privileged people in the race, because to access this exclusive club you must have a suitable position in the ranking or have won at least one tournament in the season. Not even Tiger Woods is among the guests, although he has prevailed at Bridgstone eight times in his career, most recently just 24 months ago. That success was his swan song before the disaster: the back injury, the long months of convalescence, the difficult and slow recovery. It's the first time since 1999, which is the tournament's existence, that Tiger hasn't qualified.
On the other hand, Francesco Molinari, number 42 in the world, is part of this world elite, returning after three weeks of rest. It is the sixth presence in Akron for Francesco, who has competed in 21 WGC races overall and won one in 2010.
Among the players in better shape we find Zach Johnson, fresh winner at St. Andrews; Rickie Fowler, second last week at Quicken Loans; Jason Day winner of the Canadian Open.
The course, dated 1929 and revisited in 1960 by Robert Trent Jones, with its 6700 meters is one of the longest par 70s on the circuit and boasts an endless par five, the 16-metre hole 600.
Reigning champion is McIlroy, who unfortunately cannot defend the title. The jackpot is rich: 9,250 million dollars; 1,570 million for the former.
The tournament is broadcast by Sky Sport: long live broadcasts, starting tonight at 19pm.
