FanPost

'Dawgs on Tour: Ben Hogan Edition (aka The Colonial)


Technically the full title of this week's Tour stop is "The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial". Since it's "Colonial", does that also mean it's "Antebellum"? And isn't that a much nicer sounding name? Whichever the case, it's held near DFW and is a good, solid old-school course. This is essentially a tournament that honors the legacy of Ben Hogan. Hogan, with Sam Snead and Byron Nelson, formed one of the first "Big Three" rivalries in professional golf. Especially since Hogan and Nelson grew up as caddies and rivals in their youth in east Texas. Next week is Nelson's tourney, but this week belongs to Bantam Ben.

Colonial Country Club has been around since the 1930's, and is hanging on as it can. They tighten up the fairways pretty good, and there is always wind in this part of the world. So while it only measures 7,200+ yards, it requires forced layups, forced carries, and doglegs. And it attracts a pretty good field as well. World #1 McIlroy, fresh off a UGA-style beatdown in Charlotte, is across the pond, but world #2 and Texas native Jordan Spieth is playing. And after a small respite where only three former UGA golfers played last week, we're back to a more "normal" 6 teeing it up this week. World Golf Ranking and FedEx Cup ranking in parentheses:

Erik Compton (114,107) - Yes, I jinxed him last week. My bad Erik. Hopefully he breaks the streak this week.

Brian Harman (86,97). I jinxed him too. Well, I just said that I didn't think Quail Hollow suited his game. And considering he missed the cut by 5, I'll say I was painfully prescient.

Hudson Swafford (240,80): He won't get invited to premier events because of the low world ranking, but he's inside the top 100 on Tour and that means he has a good shot at the playoffs. Keep it up Hudson.

Chris Kirk (23,53): A former Ben Hogan Award recipient (kinda like the Heisman for Men's collegiate golf), he's back playing for the first time since the Match Play. He's a good player with steady nerves, and Colonial requires that - sometimes there are backlogs of golfers on the small-ish course layout. I like Kirk this week.

Kevin Kisner (63,19): He was 250+ in the world, and now he's a lock for the last two playoff events, and will qualify for many invitational tournaments. Nothing special last week, but he cashed a check and he keeps climbing the ranks. I think he makes the cut again here - maybe a top 40.

Brendon Todd (46,55): Do you know what three top 10s (nothing better than 4th), and three more top 25's will get you? How about over a million dollars in prize money this season on the PGA Tour. I can see how this is attractive. I'm actually thinking that he will do well in Texas and I think he's due for another top 10.

TV Coverage: Golf Channel Thu/Fri 4:00-7:00 and Sat/Sun 12:30-2:30, CBS Sat/Sun 3:00-6:00.

As always, fire away in the comments below. I'll be rafting the Nantahala so I won't get detailed updates until Sunday, but you can always follow the leaderboard here.

Go 'Dawgs!!!

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