Dates: August 3 - August 9, 2009
Until 1998, there was a tournament called the World Series of Golf, which was also played at Firestone Country Club for many years, and sponsored by NEC. It was founded as a four man invitational event in 1962, but later became a PGA Tour event. Years later, is one of the leading events on the Tour.
The tournament changed sponsorship in 2006, with Bridgestone taking over from NEC as title sponsor. As a part of the five-year sponsorship agreement, the event will continue to be held at its traditional site of the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
The field consisted of the winners of all the high status men's professional golf tournaments around the world in the previous twelve months. This was quite different from the criteria for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational listed above, but produced much the same sort of global field.
Now a day there is only 75 sports for player at the tournament and there is some criteria for the elegibility of the players. The specific eligibility criteria are as follows:
- Playing members of the last named United States and International Presidents Cup teams.
- Playing members of the last named United States and European Ryder Cup teams.
- Players ranked among the top 50 on the Official World Golf Rankings (one week and two weeks prior to event).
- Tournament winners of worldwide events since the prior year's tournament with an Official World Golf Ranking Strength of Field Rating of 100 points or more.
- The winner of one selected tournament from each of the following tours: PGA Tour of Australasia, Sunshine Tour, Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
There is a pattern of winnings lately except for last year. In 2008 the winner was Vijay Singh from Fiji, but the years before, from 2005 until 2007 inclusive the winner was Tiger Woods from the United States.
The schedule this year looks as follows:
Monday, August 3, 2009
Closed to Public
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
7:30 a.m. Gates open to public
Practice Round for Professionals
Firestone Country Club -- South Course
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
7:30 a.m. Gates open to public Practice Round for Professionals
Firestone Country Club -- South Course
Thursday, August 6, 2009
7:30 a.m. Gates open to public
8:30 a.m. First Round of Competition -- two tee start/threesomes
Firestone Country Club -- South Course
Friday, August 7, 2009
7:30 a.m. Gates open to public
8:30 a.m. Second Round of Competition -- two tee start/threesomes
Firestone Country Club -- South Course
Saturday, August 8, 2009
6:30 -9:30 a.m. Volunteer Breakfast - Volunteer Compound
(9:00 a.m. Dave Franklin Award Presentation)
7:30 a.m. Gates open to public
8:00 a.m. Third Round of Competition -- one tee start/twosomes
Firestone Country Club -- South Course
Sunday, August 9, 2009
7:30 am Gates open to public
8:00 a.m. Final Round of Competition -- one tee start/twosomes / Firestone Country Club – South Course
6:00 p.m. (approximate time) Closing Ceremony -- 18th Green
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