Tiger back at hot spot

AKRON, Ohio — This is one farewell party Tiger Woods didn’t want to miss.

Firestone this week will host the world’s best players for the last time at the Bridgestone Invitational, and it wouldn’t be the same without Woods. He has won it eight times, a PGA Tour record for most victories on the same golf course. Woods didn’t finish out of the top five in his first 11 appearances on the venerable South Course, seven of them victories. It also was the last of his 79 victories on the PGA Tour in 2013, right before back problems started to surface.

One problem. Having played only four tournaments in 29 months because of four back surgeries, Woods returned in December at No. 1,199 in the world. He started his PGA Tour season in January at No. 647. His only hope to make the Bridgestone field was to move into the top 50 in the world after the British Open, or to win a tournament.

His tie for sixth in the British Open moved him to No. 50 on the button.

“I was just hoping to play the tour long enough to be able to get an opportunity,” Woods said yesterday, his first time at Firestone in four years. “But I also had to play well to do it . . . . And within a year to get down to 50 I think is a pretty good accomplishment. But it also got me into this event.”

Bridgestone decided not to renew as title sponsor of the World Golf Championship, said to be an annual price tag of about $15 million.

“This event has been very special to me over the years, and it’s sad to see it leave Firestone,” Woods said. “We certainly understand it. But for me, I’ve always had such great memories of this golf course.”