PGATOUR.COM - Crunch time for those on the bubble

AKRON, Ohio -- While players like Kenny Perry, Anthony Kim, Phil Mickelson and Stewart Cink have already locked up their positions in the field for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational with their successful 2008 seasons, other notable names will need a strong finish this week in order to move or stay inside the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking to qualify for this year's event at Firestone Country Club's South Course in Akron, Ohio, from July 28-Aug. 3.

On Monday, July 21, players within the top 50 automatically earn a spot in the Bridgestone Invitational field. Those who will almost certainly qualify through their current position include Australia's Aaron Baddeley (ranked 22nd) and Robert Allenby (No. 30), South Africa's Tim Clark (No. 36) and 2007 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Brandt Snedeker of the USA (No. 37). Others who are closer to the bubble are Aussie Rod Pampling (No. 44), Englishman Oliver Wilson (No. 45), Swede Niclas Fasth (No. 46), Aussie Richard Green (No. 47), Englishman Paul Casey (No. 48), Swede Fredrik Jacobsen (No. 49) and American Rocco Mediate (No. 50).

Camilo Villegas (No. 52) and Jeff Quinney (No. 53) are among the players of note who are on the outside looking in but could improve their position with a good finish this week at the British Open.

Where players 45-65 in World Ranking are this week

Rank	Name	Country	Already qualified	Playing this week
45	Oliver Wilson	Eng	No	British Open
46	Niclas Fasth	Swe	No	British Open
47	Richard Green	Aus	No	British Open
48	Paul Casey	Eng	No	British Open
49	Fredrik Jacobson	Swe	No	British Open
50	Rocco Mediate	USA	No	British Open
51	Shingo Katayama	Jap	No	None
52	Camilo Villegas	Col	No	British Open
53	Jeff Quinney	USA	No	British Open
54	Pat Perez	USA	No	British Open
55	Ross Fisher	Eng	Yes	British Open
56	Ryuji Imada	Jap	No	British Open
57	J.B. Holmes	USA	Yes	British Open
58	Anders Hansen	Den	No	British Open
59	Nick O'Hern	Aus	Yes	British Open
60	Jerry Kelly	USA	No	British Open
61	Richard Sterne	Saf	No	British Open
62	Bart Bryant	USA	No	British Open
63	Toru Taniguchi	Jap	Yes	British Open
64	Nick Dougherty	Eng	Yes	British Open
65	Chad Campbell	USA	No	U.S. Bank Championship

In addition, anyone who moves into the top 50 between July 21 and July 28 will round out the field and earn a last-minute trip to Northeast Ohio.

Players currently qualified are primarily tournament winners from International Federation of PGA Tour events (with a certain Strength of Field Rating), playing members of the 2007 U.S. and International Presidents Cup Teams or playing members of the 2006 U.S. and European Ryder Cup Teams. Those players will be joined by winners of eligible events between now and the Bridgestone Invitational, as well as those inside the top 50 in the World Ranking, as described above.

Tickets to the Bridgestone Invitational can be purchased by calling the Championship Office at 1-877-942-4849, logging on to www.worldgolfchampionships.com or visiting Acme Fresh Market.