Carl Pettersson’s dramatic win last weekend at the RBC Canadian Open was the jolly Swede’s first PGA TOUR title since the 2008 Wyndham Championship, and earned him a berth in next week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in scenic Akron, Ohio. Colorful rookie Rickie Fowler was one of nine other golfers who joined the field on Monday by virtue of being in the top 50 of this week’s Official World Golf Rankings.  Four other big names are on the outside looking in, but have a chance to get into the field with good performances this weekend at the first-ever Greenbrier Classic.

The victory in Canada moved Pettersson up to 109th in the world.  He’ll be competing in his first World Golf Championship event since last year’s Bridgestone Invitational.  In his previous three trips to the tournament, his best finish was a T27 in 2006.

Rickie Fowler (world #35) will compete at a WGC event for the first time in his career.  Francesco Molinari (#35), Bo Van Pelt (#48), Peter Hanson (#49) and Rhys Davies (#50) are first-time qualifiers for the Bridgestone Invitational.  Charl Schwartzel (#28), Nick Watney (#32),  Alvaro Quiros (#41), and Scott Verplank (#47) also recently qualified.

Jeff Overton (#55), Ricky Barnes (#58), Brian Gay (#61) and Davis Love III (#70) all have a chance to still qualify for the Bridgestone Invitational, must play well enough this weekend to crack the OWGR Top 50.  At 25/1, Overton has the fourth-best odds to win this weekend at the Greenbrier Classic, behind only #5 Jim Furyk (14/1), #24 Matt Kuchar (18/1) and Watney (22/1). Barnes is close behind at 33/1, with Gay (66/1) and Davis Love III (70/1) further back.