The Crowne Plaza Colonial: PGN Fantasy Five Picks
By Les Bailey
Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
It’s a little disappointing that The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, along with the HP Byron Nelson are now competing with two top tournaments in Europe for our attention, so the fields during the mini-Texas swing have not been so good in the last few years. But the field does include 77 winners from the tour, and 15 major champs, so it should be another exciting finish on Sunday afternoon at the iconic old golf course in Ft. Worth.
Boo Weekly won his first tournament in five years at the 2013 Crowne Plaza Invitational, defeating Matt Kuchar, and Zach Johnson. All will be teeing it up on Thursday at the 2014 edition of the PGA Tours longest-running tournament.
The new World’s number one player, Adam Scott, will be in the field and looking to complete the career Texas Slam. The 2013 Masters Champ has won every PGA Tournament in Texas except for the one at the original Hogan’s Alley!
Graham DeLaet
Thirty-two year-old Graham DeLaet has done everything on the PGA Tour except win. With 12 new winners on tour this season, why not Graham DeLaet, and why not this week? I look for the Boise State alum to break out in Texas and convert all of the second place finishes he has had this year into a new plaid jacket on Sunday afternoon.
As evidenced by one of the best ball-strikers in history owning this tournament, and this golf course, Graham DeLaet certainly hasn’t had the success to match Ben Hogan, but he is one of the better ball-strikers on the tour today, and if he can make some putts, should be in the mix on Sunday afternoon.
Zach Johnson
Zach Johnson has struggled since taking a break during the West Coast Swing, and like me, you are probably wondering when he will break out of the slump, and get back to the type of golf we expect from the 2007 Masters Champ. Zach has won twice at Colonial in 2010, and 2012, and finished third last year. Zach Johnson is an excellent ball-striker, and proved he could beat the big-hitters in January at Kapalua by consistently hitting fairways and greens. This would be a great week to see those laser-guided wedges again, and if we do, he has a good chance of getting his third plaid jacket.
Adam Scott
With the news that he had become the new number one player in the world for the first time in his career, one would think that Adam Scott would be coming to Colonial Country Club looking to show people why he is number one. The golf course sets up nicely for his game, but as always with the 33 year-old Aussie, can he make enough putts to win?
Jordan Spieth
I personally think maybe the press is putting way too much pressure on the youngest player in the field to win his second PGA Tour event. Unfortunately, Tiger Woods has set the bar pretty high for youngsters wanting to replace him as the world’s new super-star, but finishing second at both the Masters, and the Players Championship is pretty darn good. Now that the tour has moved over to Tarrant County, maybe Jordan can muster the game to win at Colonial.
Paul Casey
Paul Casey has become the forgotten star on the PGA Tour until he blistered TPC Four Seasons back nine last Friday for a 27. Now he’s on everyone’s short list to win at Colonial. I have to agree that it’s time for the aging Brit who played his collegiate golf at Arizona State to become a factor on the tour again. Casey has had some good finishes in Louisiana, and Texas, and needs to get that win to proof what he has accomplished this spring.
This should be a nice tournament as the tour wraps up professional golf in the state of Texas for the year. Most of the European players are at the BMW PGA Championship in England this week, so it would be a great opportunity for another young player to step up for that first win.
Source: PGATour.com