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Lowry defending WGC, despite no Ryder Cup points on offer

AKRON, Ohio – While this week’s tournament at Firestone is billed as a World Golf Championships event, you wouldn’t know it by the lack of European representation.

Although 77 players have qualified, only 61 will tee it up at the Bridgestone Invitational. Most of the absences come from European Tour players, as the circuit withdrew its sanctioning of the event once it was scheduled opposite the 100th playing of the Open de France.

That move led several notable Europeans, including Rory McIlroy and Danny Willett, to skip Akron to instead play this week in Paris.