Ten veterans in need of a World Golf Championships victory

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Sergio Garcia's resurgent season could get a signature moment with a win at the WGC-Bridgestone.

AKRON, Ohio -- The World Golf Championships, first played in 1999, were created so that the best players in the world would have a chance to compete against each other more frequently.

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A glance at the roster of winners indicates that mission has been accomplished. Tiger Woods alone has won 16 World Golf Championships, including seven here at formidable Firestone Country Club, which hosts the Bridgestone Invitational this week.

Other multiple winners include former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy, who has three, and recent British Open champ Darren Clarke and Ernie Els, both of whom have two titles to their credit. The list of champions also includes two of the game's brightest young stars in Nick Watney, who won the Cadillac Championship earlier this year, and the Bridgestone Invitational's defending champ, Hunter Mahan.

The limited fields, heavily weighted on a player's standing in the Official World Golf Ranking as well as on tournament victories, add to the allure of the World Golf Championships. Aside from the majors and THE PLAYERS Championship, a win in this global series is among the most coveted a player can earn.

On the eve of the 13th renewal of the Bridgestone Invitational, here are 10 veterans who have the kind of resume that screams out for a World Golf Championships title.

Some already have won majors while for others, a win this week at the Bridgestone Invitational -- or any other World Golf Championships -- would be a crowning achievement. All are players who have contended, come close and are primed for another chance

LEE WESTWOOD: The Englishman has played in 35 World Golf Championships and finished second on three occasions -- at the 2008 Bridgestone Invitational, the Cadillac Championship in 2000 and the HSBC Championship last year. A 33-time winner around the world, he comes to Firestone after enlisting the aid of short game guru Dave Stockton and sports psychologist Bob Rotella. Maybe this will be his week.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON: The three-time major champion has played in more World Golf Championships than anyone else. In his 37 appearances, Harrington has nine top-10s, including a tie for second at the Bridgestone Invitational two years ago. The thoughtful Irishman is searching for a "spark" after missing the cut at his national open last week as well as the British Open.

JIM FURYK: The reigning FedExCup champion has made 33 appearances in World Golf Championships and has 14 top-10 finishes. The gritty American's greatest success has come in Akron where he's posted half of those top-10s -- most memorably the runner-up to Tiger Woods that necessitated seven playoff holes in the growing darkness. He's struggled this year, though, posting just two top-10s in 19 starts. Perhaps Firestone will provide a much-needed spark.

STUART APPLEBY: The Aussie, who has made 34 World Golf Championships appearances, has been a runner-up twice, at the 2008 Bridgestone Invitational and the Cadillac Championship in 2003, and owns seven top-10 finishes overall. He broke a four-year victory drought last year at The Greenbrier but has struggled this year and hasn't cashed a check in 2011 since Colonial.

MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ: This Spanish veteran got the World Golf Championships off to a memorable start at the 1999 American Express Championship when he lost to Tiger Woods on the first hole of sudden death before the home crowd at Valderrama. He has played in a total of 28 and has four other top-10 finishes, twice losing in the quarterfinals of the Accenture Match Play Championship.

ADAM SCOTT: Scott's best finish in 29 World Golf Championships starts came in 2006 at The Grove, located just outside London, when he tied for second -- albeit eight strokes behind Tiger Woods. Who knows? Maybe having Woods' former caddie, Steve Williams, on his bag at Firestone, where the former world No. 1 won seven times, will be a boost this week for Scott.

K.J. CHOI: The steady veteran from South Korea hasn't had a great deal of success in the World Golf Championships. He's played in 26 but only has two top-10 finishes, and his best performance at Firestone was a tie for 11th in 2007. Choi took a big step earlier this year, though, when he beat David Toms in a playoff at THE PLAYERS Championship and he currently ranks third in FedExCup points. Another big-event win this week would lift him to No. 1.

SERGIO GARCIA: The Spaniard, who took a two-month sabbatical from the game last fall, comes to Firestone on the upswing after three top-10s this season, including a tie for ninth at the British Open. He's played in 31 World Golf Championships and has 11 top-10 finishes, including ties for third at the 2005 American Express Championship at Harding Park and two years later at the Cadillac Championship at Doral.

RETIEF GOOSEN: This two-time U.S. Open champion has done everything but win a World Golf Championships event. He has played in 35 and posted 12 top-10s, including second to Woods at the 2002 American Express Championship in Ireland and a tie for third last year at the Bridgestone Invitational. He's only had one top-10 this year, in Memphis, though, and missed the cut in his last start last week.

PAUL CASEY: His greatest success in 26 World Golf Championships has come at the Accenture Match Play Championship where he was runner-up in successive years and has two other top-10 finishes. But that doesn't mean the Englishman hasn't thrived in stroke play. In fact, he has two top-10s at Firestone, including a tie for fourth in 2006. But he hasn't managed a top-10 in 10 starts on the PGA TOUR this year.