Dean & Deluca Invitational power rankings

The PGA Tour wraps up its “Texas Swing” at the Dean & Deluca Invitational at Colonial Country Club.

The Dean & Deluca Invitational in Fort Worth closes out the PGA TOUR‘s “Texas Swing” this weekend. Home of one of the TOUR’s finer events for over 70 years, only the world-famous Stockyards has been a part of the Fort Worth landscape longer.

Of course, as great as the cattle are in Texas, little compares with the course known fondly as “Hogan’s Alley.” Since 1946, Colonial Country Club has hosted this invitational tournament in all but two years. In 1949, floods washed the course out, rendering it unplayable. In 1975, the Invitational took a mere hiatus; Colonial was busy preparing to host the second-ever PLAYERS Championship.

The Dean & Deluca is an event steeped in tradition, with a winner’s list that could be a Hall of Fame exhibit. The great Ben Hogan, famed son of the Lone Star State, won here five times in the event’s first 13 years. Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus all emerged victorious here, as have modern stars like Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Jordan Spieth.

I would be remiss not to mention one of the most unique features of the Dean & Deluca Invitational: the Champion’s Choice invitees. This year, Texas alum Beau Hossler and long-drive champion Jamie Sadlowski, working his way through the Web.com Tour ranks, have earned this prestigious honor. Five Colonial winners have come from this club, and both of these guys could eventually repeat the feat.

Who will triumph at the Dean & Deluca Invitational this week? Let’s jump into our power rankings, starting with one of golf’s biggest stars.