WGC-NEC Invitational

19 Aug 2004 - 22 Aug 2004
Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio

Brennan and Mike analyze an approach shot during a practice round at Whistling Straits
© MikeWeir.com

This weeks event is the World Golf Championship-NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club (South course) in Akron, Ohio. Firestone CC is a great test of golf and the course is in fantastic shape. This is a very special tournament as it hosts an elite field of the top 78 players in the world.

The par-70 layout plays to over 7,200 yards with some very demanding par 3’s like the 220 yard, 15th and the 219 yard 7th that both require precise irons into difficult greens.

The signature hole at Firestone is the 667 yard par-5, 16th. Par will be a good score on this hole as you must drive the ball long and straight off the tee leaving a difficult lay up to avoid a creek on the right and a pond short of the green. Par will be a good score.

Two changes to the golf course this year include a new tee on the par 5, 2nd hole adding another 30 yards and they added another 45 yards to the short par-4, 11th.

This is one of the tougher golf courses we play all year due to the fact that it plays very long and the rough is quite high. The course is very straight; greens are very fair and not very undulating. The key to this golf course is driving the golf ball because the course is so long and the fairways are so tight that good drives are imperative.

Overall this is a very difficult but good golf course. I look for 12 under to win this tournament.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the week,

Brennan