The WGC Bridgestone Invitational began life in 1962 as a four-man invitational tournament held at the Firestone Country Club. The field expanded, and by 1976, it was an official PGA Tour event known as the World Series of Golf. Thanks to the strength of field, it was considered just a step below the Majors, with a victory granting a 10-year exemption on Tour. The field at that time consisted of tournament winners from the various international tours.
NEC sponsored the event from 1984 to 2006, when it was taken over by Bridgestone.
Since it became known as the WGC Invitational (either as WGC-NEC or WGC Bridgestone) in 1999, Tiger Woods has owned the event, winning seven times.
The current field is composed of 75 players, who fit the following criteria:
Playing members of the last named United States and International Presidents Cup teams.
Playing members of the last named United States and European Ryder Cup teams.
Players ranked among the top 50 on the Official World Golf Rankings (one week and two weeks prior to event).
Tournament winners of worldwide events since the prior year’s tournament with an Official World Golf Ranking Strength of Field Rating of 115 points or more.
The winner of one selected tournament from each of the following tours: PGA Tour of Australasia, Sunshine Tour, Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
As of 2013, Tiger Woods has won the WGC Bridgestone eight times in the fifteen times it has been staged.
A list of past WGC Bridgestone winners follows:
| Year | Player | Country | Score |
| WGC-Bridgestone Invitational | |||
| 2018 | Justin Thomas | US | 265 (-15) |
| 2017 | Hideki Matsuyama | Japan | 264 (-16) |
| 2016 | Dustin Johnson | United States | 274 (-6) |
| 2015 | Shane Lowry | Northern Ireland | 269 (-11) |
| 2014 | Rory McIlroy | Northern Ireland | 265 (-15) |
| 2013 | Tiger Woods | United States | 265 (-15) |
| 2012 | Keegan Bradley | United States | 267 (-13) |
| 2011 | Adam Scott | Australia | 263 (-17) |
| 2010 | Hunter Mahan | United States | 268 (-12) |
| 2009 | Tiger Woods (7) | United States | 268 (-12) |
| 2008 | Vijay Singh | Fiji | 270 (-10) |
| 2007 | Tiger Woods (6) | United States | 272 (-8) |
| 2006 | Tiger Woods (5) | United States | 270 (-10) PO |
| WGC-NEC Invitational | |||
| 2005 | Tiger Woods (4) | United States | 274 (-6) |
| 2004 | Stewart Cink | United States | 269 (-11) |
| 2003 | Darren Clarke | Northern Ireland | 268 (-12) |
| 2002* | Craig Parry | Australia | 268 (-16) |
| 2001 | Tiger Woods (3) | United States | 268 (-12) PO |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods (2) | United States | 259 (-21) |
| 1999 | Tiger Woods | United States | 270 (-10) |
| Year | Player | Country |
| NEC World Series of Golf | ||
| 1998 | David Duval | United States |
| 1997 | Greg Norman (2) | Australia |
| 1996 | Phil Mickelson | United States |
| 1995 | Greg Norman | Australia |
| 1994 | José María Olazábal (2) | Spain |
| 1993 | Fulton Allem | South Africa |
| 1992 | Craig Stadler (2) | United States |
| 1991 | Tom Purtzer | United States |
| 1990 | José María Olazábal | Spain |
| 1989 | David Frost | South Africa |
| 1988 | Mike Reid | United States |
| 1987 | Curtis Strange | United States |
| 1986 | Dan Pohl | United States |
| 1985 | Roger Maltbie | United States |
| 1984 | Denis Watson | Zimbabwe |
| World Series of Golf | ||
| 1983 | Nick Price | Zimbabwe |
| 1982 | Craig Stadler | United States |
| 1981 | Bill Rogers | United States |
| 1980 | Tom Watson | United States |
| 1979 | Lon Hinkle | United States |
| 1978 | Gil Morgan | United States |
| 1977 | Lanny Wadkins | United States |
| 1976 | Jack Nicklaus | United States |
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My heart wants Phil. My brain says no.
I think Phil and Tiger are about equal chances for this week. But I think “field” has a better chance.
Rory and Adam for mine this week. Both are playing great and full of confidence, especially Rory.
I think Rickie Fowler is great chance as well.