Power rankings: WGC-Bridgestone Invitational

The PGA Tour offers its final pair of events before the season’s final major, with the world’s best gathered in Akron, Ohio, for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy won’t be a part of the festivities at Firestone C.C. — and it’s increasingly looking like he won’t be at the PGA Championship either — so Jordan Spieth is the headliner on a long, difficult golf course.

Here’s a look at our top five players this week:

1. Jordan Spieth — Spieth was T-49 here in his first start in this event last year. However, Spieth is a different player since then, and he’s ready to give a go to a third major this year. He’s been a winner or close in every pre-major start this year.

2. Adam Scott — Scott has been brilliant since bringing back Steve Williams on the bag. He was the 2011 champion here and has been in the top 15 the last two years.

3. Rickie Fowler — Fowler finished runner-up at the Quicken Loans National and is coming off an overseas win in Scotland. He’s on form, but his Bridgestone Invitational record is somewhat mixed.

4. Jason Day — Day has one top-five finish in four completed starts here (pulling out last year after two rounds with vertigo-like symptoms). However, Day is at the top of his game and is on the verge of a major breakthrough.

5. Justin Rose — Rose is a good pick this week, just as he was a week ago at RTJ. He’s got two top-five finishes here in his last three starts and has been in the top six in three of his last four PGA Tour starts.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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