AKRON, Ohio -- Aside from the residents of Northeast Ohio, you'd be hard pressed to find someone more disappointed to see the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational leaving Akron than Tiger Woods.
After all, Woods won the first edition of the event at Firestone Country Club in 1999. And then he won it again a year later -- and a year after that as well. In its first 15 years of existence, Woods would win the Bridgestone a record eight times, his latest victory in 2013 serving as his most-recent PGA win.
"It's always been one of my favorite golf courses on the entire Tour and it's unfortunate that it is leaving," Woods said prior to a practice round on Wednesday. "The people have always come out and supported this event. This has been one of the very few tournaments that is kind of a small-town atmosphere."
Earlier this year, the PGA announced the Bridgestone Invitational will be moving to Memphis beginning in 2019. With that, the 42-year-old Woods knows this weekend could very well mark his final time playing -- at least in a meaningful capacity -- Firestone, which he's frequented since his days as an amateur.
Wood's path back to Firestone wasn't easy, and on multiple occasions, it appeared unlikely. With the field of the World Golf Championship event comprised of the top-50 golfers in the world, Woods finished the 2017 season ranked 656th.
"I was just hoping to, one, play the Tour long enough to be able to get an opportunity," Woods said. "But I also had to play well to do it and I was ranked pretty far in the world there."
Following a steady climb in the early part of 2018, a second-place finish at the Valspar Championship catapulted Woods from 389th to 149th in the rankings. By the time The Open Championship arrived last month, he ranked 71st, with a T-6 place finish being barely just enough to qualify him for his first appearance at Firestone since he was forced to withdraw from the Bridgestone in 2014.
For Woods, the satisfaction stemming from his presence in Akron this week is twofold.
On the one hand, his top-50 ranking serves as affirmation of what's been a bounce-back year for the 14-time Major-winner. After appearing in just four total events from 2015-16 -- and 20 total the two years before that -- Woods has already made 12 appearances in 2018, finishing in the top-10 in four of them.
"I went from just hoping to be able to play the Tour, you know, to now that I feel that I can play the Tour," Woods said. "I certainly can win again. I've had an opportunity to win a couple times this year."
And on the other, Woods gets one last run at Firestone, where with a win, he would set a new record for the most career victories for any golfer at a single tournament.
"This event has been very special to me over the years," Woods said. "It's sad to see it leave Firestone."