Comments: Expert Picks for Crowne Plaza Invitational

If you go to the PGA's own site (PGATour.com), and you visit the attached page covering the course layout, you will be met with a list of quotes from some of the more notable names in golf history, all speaking about the beauty and challenge the resides at the Colonial Country Club in Ft. Worth, Texas. It speaks well of the allure and honor associated with the venue, but one particular quote brings the true focus of the layout into perspective. "A straight ball will get you in more trouble at Colonial than any course I know." - Ben Hogan Nothing could be more true, and it is that historic challenge that draws so many of the game's top golfers to take battle at this year's Crowne Plaza Invitational. Founded in 1936 and designed by Marvin Leonard, now famous as an innovator for his love of bentgrass greens, Crowne Plaza has been a target for the PGA Tour for many years, having served as the host of THE PLAYERS, the U. S. Women's Open, and the U.S. Open in the past. Their website notes the course endured widespread renovation last summer though changes were designed to maintain the same basic structure and focused demand (adding length and the occasional repositioned hazard), giving this season's field an updated version of the same historic layout these golfers have enjoyed for decades. A course sitting at 70 for par puts primary focus on the par-4 offerings at Colonial. There are some of the most challenging par-4 holes on the Tour at this track, and they can punish just as easily (if not worse) than they can reward. The list of recent champions includes several of the game's most respected names: Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Kenny Perry, Tim Herron, Rory Sabbatini, Steve Stricker, and this year's defending champ Zach Johnson. Many of those golfers return this week along with other top talents from the Tour, including Jim Furyk, Jeff Overton, Sean O'Hair, Ben Crane, Rickie Fowler, J.B. Holmes, Hunter Mahan, Matt Kuchar, Adam Scott, Scott Verplank, Jason day, Tim Clark, Anthony Kim, Jason Day, and many others.

Golfers listed in this article:

1. Matt Kuchar
2. Jim Furyk
3. Jason Day
4. Sergio Garcia
5. Hunter Mahan
6. Ben Crane
7. Jeff Overton
8. Martin Laird
9. Scott Verplank
10. Zach Johnson
11. Sean O'Hair
12. Stephen Marino
13. Tim Clark
14. Bo Van Pelt
15. J.B. Holmes
16. Stewart Cink
17. Anthony Kim
18. David Toms
19. Kenny Perry
20. Adam Scott
21. Bill Haas
22. Brendon de Jonge
23. Rickie Fowler
24. Fredrik Jacobson
25. Jason Dufner
26. Matthew Jones
27. Rory Sabbatini
28. Ryan Palmer
29. Brandt Snedeker
30. Justin Leonard