Tiger Woods after his tee shot on the tenth on Sunday at the Quicken Loans National last weekend. Woods finished T18 at -8. (photo credit: Tiger Woods)
Tiger Woods has taken home eight Firestone, now Bridgestone, Invitational trophies since 1999, the latest one in 2013. However, because of his current Official World Golf Ranking of 262, the golfer did not qualify to compete at Firestone Country Club this weekend.
Unlike major tournaments, where, if a golfer has won the tournament in the past, they are automatically allowed to return, the invitational sets different qualifications.
CBS Sports reports that players must be, “members of the last Ryder Cup, players in the OWGR top 50, winners of events since prior year’s tournament with OWGR Strength of Field Rating of 115 or more points, [or] winner of one tournament from PGA Tour of Australasia, Sunshine Tour and Asian Tour and two tournaments from the Japan Golf Tour”.
“I’m not playing Reno [Barracuda Championship] this week or Bridgestone, which is kind of interesting because I’ve won Bridgestone, what, eight times and I’m not eligible. I didn’t qualify,” Woods said.
This is just the second time Woods won’t participate in the invitational in 18 years. The only other time was in 2008 after having surgery in June to repair his left ACL. Additionally, he withdrew on Sunday in 2014 due to a lower-back injury.
Woods is set to play in the final major of the year, the PGA Championship, at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis. next week. He will be competing for his fifth win.