The World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational starts Thursday at Firestone Country Club, but two prominent players will not bepart the illustrious field.Tiger Woods failed to qualify for the event for the first time since its inception in 1999. He's won the event eight times and came in second in 2004. The other mi sing high-profile name is Rory Kevin Gausman Jersey McIlroy, who is still out with an ankle injury. The 26-year-old won a Firestone last year, as a part of his summer hot streak, in a hard-fought battle againstSergio Garcia.MORE: | On the other hand,Jordan Spieth, now 22,is playing in his first tournament since mi sing out on a playoff at the British Open in heartbreaking fashion. He returns to the course with a chance at overtaking McIlroy as the game's No. 1-ranked golfer.Firestone presents a strict challenge to those who are struggling off the tee, as the sloping fairways are closely guarded Jackie Robinson Jersey by towering trees on either side. This niche-like course has been criticizedby some of golf's stars, such as Graeme McDowell and Ernie Els, for producing too many of the same winners for such a high-profile event.But the fact remainsit's one of the top courses on the PGA circuit.Here are this week's top golfers:Jordan Spieth (World Golf Ranking: 2) Spieth has never finished inside the top five at the course,but it's hard to bet against a guy with four wins already this season.Rickie Fowler (5) Fowler had seven birdies and five bogeys Sunday, so consistency seems to be an i sue right now. He still finished second to Troy Merritt, however, and Fowler now has four top 10s in his last eight starts worldwide.Keegan Bradley (46) Bradley is a cla sic horse for the course this week. He's finished with a win, a second and a fourth in his last three starts there, andeven though he only has three top 10s in 18 starts this season, it wouldn't be surprising to see him contend again.Jason Day (4) Day is a bit of an enigma right now. He doesn't play often, but when he does, he plays well. He won the RBC Canadian Open in dramatic fashionand now has two wins on the season. He seems to shine in golf's biggest events, just not win them.Adam Scott (11) Scott looked like he was Ender Inciarte Jersey going to run away with the British Open when he started the final round on a birdie rampage. Things turned sour for the 35-year-old Australian on the back nine, however, and he once again came up short. This tournament has produced mixed results for Scott. He won in 2011but hasn't really been in contention since.Hideki Matsuyama (15) Matsuyama hasn't finished outside the top 23 since the Farmers Insurance Open in the beginning of February. He's struggled to put four good rounds together recently, but could easily figure it out this week.Justin Rose (8) Rose finally finished in the top 10 in back-to-back weeks after a tie for sixth last week at the Quicken Loans National. He's struggled with the putter this year, but his ball-striking is in top form.Zach Johnson (12) Johnson has always been one of the more underrated golfers on tour, but he finally seems to be gaining notoriety after winning his second major. He doesn't hit the ball far, but he's Sean Newcomb Jersey accurate and may be the best wedge player on tour.Henrik Stenson (9) Stenson has been ominously quiet since mi sing time with the flu early in the season. The normally consistent Swede only has one top 10 worldwide since March, and he really hasn't been hitting the ball well during that time.Louis Oosthuizen (13) Oosthuizen lost in a three-man playoff at the Open Championshipand has now finished runner-up in the last two majors. He's equipped with one of the finest swings on tourand hits the ball far enough to take advantage of Firestone's subtle doglegs.Jim Furyk (6) Furyk has had some succe s here in the past (T-2 in 2012)and remains one of the steadier players on tour. He's been quiet in recent weeks, but could break through as the season winds down.Sergio Garcia (10) Always an enigma, Tyler Flowers Jersey the fiery Spaniard went to-to-toe with McIlroy last summer, before falling just short. He looked good at the Open Championship last month, and may be inching towards a bigwin.Others to watchDanny Willett (24)Danny Lee (66)David Lingmerth (59)