US PGA TOUR

WGC BRIDGESTONE INV.

LOCATION: Akron, Ohio (today-Sun). COURSE: Firestone Country Club (7,400 yards, 6,767 metres, par 73). PURSE: $10 million. Winner’s share: $1.66m.

LAST YEAR: Hideki Matsuyama carded a joint course record of 61 to take the title, finishing five ahead of Zach Johnson. The Japanese star became only the fourth player — after Jose Maria Olazabal, Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia to record a 61 at Firestone Country Club’s South Course.

LAST WEEK: World No 1 Dustin Johnson (right) broke free from the leading pack with birdies on his opening two holes and stayed out front the rest of the way to capture the Canadian Open and his third PGA Tour title of the season. After two runners-up finishes, Johnson finally snatched the title with a final round of six-under 66 that left him three shots clear of Whee Kim and An Byeong-hun.

IRISH IN ACTION: Paul Dunne, Rory McIlroy.

BARRACUDA CH’SHIP

LOCATION: Reno, Nevada (today-Sun). COURSE: Montreux Country Club (7,472 yards, 6,832 metres, par 72). PURSE: $3.4 million. Winner’s share: $594,000.

LAST YEAR: American Chris Stroud (below) took the honours by beating Richy Werenski and Greg Owen in a three-man play-off. Stroud right posted an eagle on the final hole of regulation to get into the play-off and record his first win in 289 PGA Tour event. Stroud, Werenski and England’s Owen finished with 44 points after regulation. The eventual winner scored a tournament-best 20 points in the final round of the event. He carded an eagle, nine birdies and three bogeys in his 18 holes on the final day. IRISH IN ACTION: Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington, Seamus Power, Graeme McDowell