Thursday, August 6, 2009

A star-studded field is on hand in Akron, Ohio, for today's opening round of a World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational.

Coming off his fourth win of the season at last week's Buick Open, Tiger Woods is playing a second straight tournament ahead of next week's PGA Championship. The top-ranked golfer in the world has won the event at Firestone Country Club six times. He missed last year's tourney while rehabbing from knee surgery. Woods is scheduled to tee it up at 1:10 p.m. Eastern time.

Phil Mickelson is on the course after a six-week hiatus. Lefty has been spending time with his wife and mother and says both are making extraordinary progress in their respective battles with breast cancer.

Defending champion Vijay Singh (VEE'-jay sing), Masters winner Angel Cabrera (AHN'-hehl kuh-BREHR'-uh) and U.S. Open champ Lucas Glover are also playing.