Tiger Woods will open defense of his 2009 victory on Thursday at 1:50 p.m.
View full sizeK.J. Choi hits from a bunker on the 18th hole at Firestone Country Club during a practice round Tuesday.AKRON, Ohio - Tiger Woods will open defense of his World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational title Thursday at 1:50 p.m.
Tournament officials released first-round tee times today. Woods has won the event at Akron's Firestone Country Club seven times, including last year's four-stroke victory over Padraig Harrington and Robert Allenby.
Woods is paired with Lee Westwood on the first tee.
Expect to see a big crowd early on the 10th tee to watch Ernie Els and Steve Stricker at 9:40 a.m., followed by Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy (9:50 a.m.) and British Open champ Louis Oosthuizen and Anthony Kim (10 a.m.). Kim is playing for the first time since withdrawing from The Players Championship in May with a left thumb injury.
The first groups go off at 8:30 a.m. and consist of Michael Jonzon and Simon Khan from the first hole, and J.B. Holmes and David Horsey from the 10th tee.