Category: PGA Tour
Articles and links about the PGA Tour -- and, incidentally, the Nationwide, Champions Tour and European Tours.
Crowne Plaza Invitational At Colonial Tournament Notes
2013 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Notes
Dates: May 20-26, 2013
Where: Colonial Country Club; Fort Worth, TX
Par/Yards: 35-35—70/7,204
Field: 136; Defending Champion: Zach Johnson
Purse: $6,400,000; Winner’s Share: $1,152,000; Format: 72-hole stroke play
Twitter: @CrownePlazaInv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Colonial
How the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial was won in 2012
Jason Dufner entered the final round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial holding a slim one-stroke lead over 2010 Colonial champion Zach Johnson, but Johnson’s 2-over 72 was enough for a one-stroke victory over Dufner (74).
The tournament came down to a match-play competition over the final 36 holes, with a triple bogey on the par-4 15th on Sunday for Dufner helping secure Johnson’s second win at Colonial.
Things got interesting on the final hole, however, as Johnson violated Rule 20-7 as he played his ball on the green from the wrong place, leading to a two-stroke penalty
More On 2012 Crowne Plaza Invitational Champion Zach Johnson
Zach Johnson notched his eighth PGA TOUR victory in his 226th start (2004 BellSouth Classic, 2007 Masters Tournament, 2007 AT&T Classic, 2008 Valero Texas Open, 209 Sony Open in Hawaii, 2009 Valero Texas Open, 2010 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, 2012 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial). Later in the season, he added his ninth title at the John Deere Classic.
The Sea Island resident claimed his first three TOUR titles in his adopted home state of Georgia (2004 BellSouth Classic, 2007 Masters, 2007 AT&T Classic). After that, he has claimed four of his next six wins in the state of Texas (2008-09 Valero Texas Open, 2010, 2012 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial). His only wins outside of Georgia and Texas came at the 2009 Sony Open in Hawaii and 2012 John Deere Classic.
Johnson has posted multiple victories at three tournaments: 2004 & 2007 AT&T Classic, 2008 & 2009 Valero Texas Open, 2010 & 2012 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.
li>Johnson’s final-round 2-over 72 in 2012 snapped a streak of 15 consecutive rounds in the 60s at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, dating to a first-round 69 in 2009.
Johnson has four-consecutive top-10 finishes and has never finished outside of the top 30 in seven starts at the Colonial: 2012/1st, 2011/4th, 2010/1st, 2009/T9, 2006/T30, 2005/T26, 2004/T14.
li>Johnson is seeking to join Ben Hogan as the only players to win back-to-back Colonials, with Hogan performing the feat twice (1946-47 and 1952-53).
Sang-Moon Bae Seeking “DFW Double”
Sang-Moon Bae will seek to become just the second player to win the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and HP Byron Nelson Championship in the same year (Ben Hogan/1946). He would be the first to do so in back-to-back weeks.
Fourteen players have won both the HP Byron Nelson Championship and the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial during their career. Players who have won the “DFW Double”: Ben Crenshaw, Roberto De Vicenzo, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Bruce Devlin, Jack Nicklaus, Lanny Wadkins, Tom Watson, Bruce Lietzke, Nick Price, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Rory Sabbatini and Julius Boros.
Bae finished 77th at the 2012 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial with rounds of 70-70-77.
FedExCup and the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Ten players inside the top 25 in the FedExCup standings are in the field, including Kevin Streelman (No. 3), Matt Kuchar (No. 5), D.A. Points (No. 7), Sang-Moon Bae (No. 18), Hunter Mahan (No. 19), Chris Kirk (No. 20), Brian Gay (No. 21), Martin Laird (No. 22), John Merrick (No. 23) and Michael Thompson (No. 25).
A Glance At The Field
Nine of the top 30 players in the Official World Golf Rankings are in the field: Louis Oosthuizen (No. 7), Matt Kuchar (No. 12), Charl Schwartzel (No. 17), Jason Dufner (No. 20), Hunter Mahan (No. 21), Bo Van Pelt (No. 26), Jim Furyk (No. 27), Zach Johnson (No. 29) and Rickie Fowler (No. 30).
Eight past champions: Zach Johnson (2010, 2012), David Toms (2011), Rory Sabbatini (2007), Tim Herron (2006), Steve Flesch (2004), Corey Pavin (1985, 1996), Tom Lehman (1995), Keith Clearwater (1987).
2013 TOUR winners: Sang-Moon Bae (HP Byron Nelson Championship), Scott Brown (Puerto Rico Open), Derek Ernst (Wells Fargo Championship), Brian Gay (Humana Challenge), Matt Kuchar (WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship), Martin Laird (Valero Texas Open), John Merrick (Northern Trust Open), D.A. Points (Shell Houston Open), Kevin Streelman (Tampa Bay Championship), Michael Thompson (Honda Classic).
Multiple PGA TOUR winners, led by 34-time winner Vijay Singh, Davis Love III (20), Jim Furyk (16), Corey Pavin (15), David Toms (13), Justin Leonard (12), David Frost (10), Zach Johnson (9).
Corey Pavin will be making his 30th career start (just four missed cuts) at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial this year, with wins in 1985 and 1996. He has played the event every year dating back to his first start in 1984. He owns eight top 10s at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, while Ben Hogan leads in all-time top 10s here with 15.
Jim Furyk will be making his 18th career start at the Colonial. A solo-fourth place finish in 2012 was his seventh top-10 finish at the event, with runner-up finishes in 1998 and 2007.
Local favorite Ryan Palmer finally cracked the top 10 in his ninth Colonial start, finishing T5 in 2012.
Rickie Fowler will make his 4th start at the Crowne Plaza Invitational (T38-2010, T16-2011, T5-2012).
1987 champion Keith Clearwater will be making his 26th start at the event.
In addition to the Champions Choice selections (see below), Fort Worth native John Peterson, the 2011 NCAA champion at LSU, is in the field as a sponsor exemption.
Miscellaneous Tournament Notes
Zach Johnson set the 72-hole tournament (65-66-64-64—259) at the 2010 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial to finish at 21-under-par. The previous tournament record was set by Kenny Perry who shot 261 in both his victories in 2003 and 2005. The four-round score of 259 is also a personal best for Johnson, who shot 261 to win the 2008 Valero Texas Open.
The Colonial CC course record is 61, set by Chad Campbell (2004), Justin Leonard (2003), Kenny Perry (2003), Greg Kraft (1999), Keith Clearwater (1993) and Lee Janzen (1993).
Colonial Country Club shows its teeth over the stretch of holes from Nos. 3-5, known as the “Horrible Horseshoe.” Cumulatively in 2012, the holes played as the eighth (4.119), sixth (3.174) and most difficult (4.321), respectively.
Over the past 10 years, Steve Stricker (2009), Zach Johnson (2010 & 2012) and David Toms (2011) are the only come-from-behind winners at Colonial. Prior to those, the last come-from-behind winner at Colonial was Sergio Garcia in 2001, who made up a five-shot deficit to defeat Phil Mickelson.
In the 65-year history of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, the 54-hole leader/co-leader has gone on to claim victory 34 times.
Zach Johnson became the 12th multiple winner of the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Ben Hogan leads with five wins, while Johnson joined two-time winners Billy Casper, Julius Boros, Al Geiberger, Ben Crenshaw, Bruce Lietzke, Lee Trevino, Corey Pavin, Nick Price, Kenny Perry and Phil Mickelson
“Champions Choice” Invitation
Every year, past champions of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial select two deserving young players to compete in the event, who otherwise would not have been eligible. It’s a unique TOUR tradition known as the “Champions’ Choice” invitation. Pros who made their first start at Colonial as a Champion’s Choice include Tom Weiskopf, Craig Stadler, Curtis Strange, Mark O’Meara, Paul Azinger and Davis Love III. Dave Stockton won the event as a Champions Choice in 1967 and five other choices have eventually won the event during their careers. This year’s recipients are Jordan Spieth (current PGA TOUR Special Temporary Member) and Franklin Corpening (a Colonial Country Club member who attended Paschal High School and played golf for TCU from 2004-08).
Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial one of the TOUR’s longest running events
The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial dates back to 1946 and holds the distinction of being the longest-run event on the PGA TOUR to be contested on the same layout, and the 10th oldest overall. Since its inception in 1946, the Invitational has produced an impressive list of champions that few other events can match, with such legends as Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer having donned the Scottish royal tartan plaid jacket. The TOUR’s oldest events are as follows:
1. BMW Championship: 1899 (Western Open)
2. RBC Canadian Open: 1904
3. Valero Texas Open: 1922
4. Northern Trust Open: 1926 (Los Angeles Open)
5. Waste Management Phoenix Open: 1935
6. AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am: 1937 (Crosby Clambake)
7. Wyndham Championship: 1938 (Greater Greensboro Open)
7. Zurich Classic of New Orleans: 1938 (Crescent City Open)
8. HP Byron Nelson Championship: 1944
9. Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial: 1946
10. Shell Houston Open: 1946
History Abounds at Colonial Country Club
Colonial Country Club is a traditional layout that was built in 1936.
Its fame skyrocketed after hosting the 1941 U.S. Open, marking the first time the USGA had hosted their premier event south of the Mason-Dixon Line. That tournament, won by Craig Wood, was such a success that it spawned the creation of what is now the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in 1946.
Among the highlights of the famed club are:
- Colonial Country Club recently celebrated its jubilee 75th anniversary in 2011
- Hometown favorite Ben Hogan winning the first two Invitationals on his way to a career-total five wins at the event, earning it the nickname “Hogan’s Alley”.
- No other course has hosted a U.S. Open (1941), PLAYERS Championship (1975) and annual PGA TOUR event (1946-present).
- Wall of Champions located on the first tee, honoring the name and score of each champion dating back to the 1941 U.S. Open. The Wall was erected in 1975 prior to THE PLAYERS.
Source: PGA TOUR
Posted By The Original Golf Blogger
PGA Tour Commentary On The Anchoring Ban
The PGA Tour has released a statement on the new anchoring ban:
PGA TOUR acknowledges that the USGA has adopted Rule 14-1b which prohibits anchored putting as of January 1, 2016.
We would like to thank the USGA for providing the opportunity for input and suggestions relative to Rule 14-1b over the last several months. During that time, various questions were raised and issues discussed.
We will now begin our process to ascertain whether the various provisions of Rule 14-1b will be implemented in our competitions and, if so, examine the process for implementation.
In this regard, over the next month we will engage in discussions with our Player Advisory Council and Policy Board members.
We will announce our position regarding the application of Rule 14-1b to our competitions upon conclusion of our process and we will have no further comment on the matter until that time.
Posted By The Original Golf Blogger
Crowne Plaza Colonial Invitational History and Winner’s List
History and Past Winners Past Results of the Colonial Invitational
Unlike Arnold Palmer and Byron Nelson, there’s no tournament named for Ben Hogan. But if there was one, it would be The Colonial. Hogan won here at the Colonial Invitational five times (1946, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1959) and considered the Colonial Country Club his home course.
The genesis and inspiration for the Colonial Invitational was the 1941 US Open, which was held at Colonial Country Club. It was the first US Open held south of the Mason-Dixon line, and was thought a huge success. Local organizers hoped to capitalize on that goodwill, and in 1946 launched The Colonial Invitational.
Much of the appeal of the Colonial is that it has been played on the same classic course since its inception. Indeed, it’s impossible to imagine the tournament not being held there. The club, which dates to 1936, was designed by John Bredemus and Perry Maxwell and has among its memorable vistas holes that extend along the length of the Trinity River.
The Colonial National Invitational had no title sponsor until 1988, when it became the MasterCard Colonial Invitational. In 2003, it was picked up by Bank of America. In 2007, it became the Crown Plaza Invitational At Colonial. The current purse is $6,200,000, with $1,116,000 going to the winner.
The Colonial winners’ list looks like a Hall of Fame roster. In addition to Hogan, there’s Palmer, Snead, Casper, Bolt, De Vicenzo, Stockton, Crenshaw, Nicklaus, Price, Watson and Mickelson (Tiger is curiously absent). The strength of the winners’ roster is in part due to the strength of field: The Colonial is an Invitational, with only the top 80 players on the previous year’s money list guaranteed a spot.
A unique tradition at the Colonial is the “Champion’s Choice.” Each year, former Colonial Invitational Champions select two young players to join the field who otherwise would be ineligible. Among the Champions Choices were Al Greiberger, Tom Weiskopf, Craig Stadler, Curtis Strange, Mark O’Meara, Paul Azinger and Davis Love. Dave Stockton won the tournament in the year he was selected.
While the Masters has the Green Jacket, the Colonial offers a Scottish tartan plaid jacket for its champions and committee chairmen. The tournament and Colonial Golf club also is marked by the engraved marble Wall of Champions near the first tee, which features the name and score of each of the tournament’s winners.
A random note: In 2003, Annika Sorenstam played the Colonial Invitational, becoming the first women to play a PGA Tour event since Babe Zaharias entered the Los Angeles Open.
Posted By The Original Golf Blogger
Byron Nelson Championship Past Winners and History
One of just two PGA Tour tournaments named after a former player (the other, of course, is the Arnold Palmer), the HP Byron Nelson Championship is the ninth longest running active tournament on the PGA Tour schedule.
The tournament has its earliest origins in 1926 as the Dallas Open, won by MacDonald Smith. It then went on hiatus until 1944 when it reemerged as the Texas Victory Open. That tournament was played at Dallas’ Lakewood Country Club and was won by none other than Byron Nelson. The 1945 event was played at the Dallas Country Club, and was won by Sam Snead. Ben Hogan won at the Brook Hollow Golf Club in 1946. The longtime hosts of the tournament is the Salesmanship Club of Dallas and benefits the Salesman Club Youth and Family Centers.
No tournaments were held form 1946 until 1956, when two events were held in the same year . From 1958 - 1967, it was played at the Oak Cliff Country Club. In 1968, the Dallas Open Invitational was renamed The Byron Nelson Classic. It’s held that name—albeit with different title sponsors—ever since. The event currently is contested at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.
For many years, Byron Nelson was a very real presence at his namesake tournament. Even in his final years—well into his 90s—Nelson could be seen in a pavilion overlooking the eighteenth green and greeting players as they finished.
Nelson, who had a reputation as one of the game’s true gentlemen, also has lent his name to two prizes which are awarded at the Byron Nelson Championship. The Byron Nelson Prize is awarded annually to a person or organization who “exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship, integrity and philanthropy that Byron Nelson personified.” It carries a $100,000 contribution to the recipient’s favorite charity. The 2010 winner is Tom Watson. Past recipients were Tom Lehman, Arnold Palmer and Ken Venturi.
In addition, the Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Awards” recognize the achievements of junior golfers around the world who distinguish themselves with a high level of junior tournament play as well as excellence in academics, exceptional character and a commitment to community service.”
Both are fitting tributes to a man who was a giant in the sport. A quote from Nelson about the tournament says a lot about the man:
This tournament is the best thing that’s ever happened to me in golf. Better than winning the Masters or the US Open or eleven in a row. Because it helps people”
The Official Tournament website has the final word on Nelson’s legacy:
Byron Nelson’s accomplishments as a professional golfer were as impressive as his golf swing.
There is a reason why he was the first PGA professional golfer to have a PGA TOUR tournament named in his honor. Mr. Nelson won 54 career victories, including winning two Masters (1937 and 1942), two PGA Championships (1940 and 1945), and the U.S. Open (1939). He is one of only two golfers to be named “Male Athlete of the Year” twice by the Associated Press, and the World Golf Hall of Fame honored Byron Nelson in 2004 by featuring an exhibit entitled “Byron Nelson: A Champion…A Gentleman.”
While Mr. Nelson obtained the status as a world-class athlete, it was his humanitarian efforts that were truly first class. He was a champion for the underprivileged and gave his time, talents, and funds to make this a better world. Byron Nelson and the HP Byron Nelson Championship have raised more than $112 million for the Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers, a nonprofit agency that provides education and mental health services for more than 7,000 children and their families in the greater Dallas area. Additionally, the Byron and Louise Nelson Golf Endowment Fund had provided over $1.5 million in endowment funds to Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. Another example of his service was his dedication to the Metroport Meals on Wheels which provides daily, home-delivered, hot lunch for the frail, elderly and chronically ill residents. Byron Nelson was an active honorary chairman since 1992.
A list of past winners of the Byron Nelson Championship follows:
Posted By The Original Golf Blogger
Satellite Photos of the TPC Sawgrass
The TPC Sawgrass boasts perhaps the most famous hole in golf—the island green 17th—but the rest of the course doesn’t evoke such interest. However, in examining it closely with satellite images from Google Earth, I found a course that’s not only long (more than 7,200 yards), but that is also mentally taxing. As a high school golf coach, I helped my players plan their way around an unfamiliar course by drawing lines on a scorecard, helping them to plan their shots to maximize reward for the risk. Most important, I thought, was to plan the tee shot so that they could get the best look at the green.
But that turned out to be fiendishly difficult at the TPC Sawgrass. Usually, the best look to the green is guarded by imposing bunkers, water or trees (and sometimes all three). On a lot of the holes I couldn’t figure out where the “bail out” shot was.
Of course, I’m thinking like a mid handicapper who coaches high school golf. The Tour player likely see it quite differently. But from The Golf Blogger’s perspective, it looks like a trip through golfing hell. I firmly believe that every hole should have a variety of options for play, including an easy one that’s bound to lead to a bogey, but at least prevents a disaster. But I don’t think that Pete Dye agrees with me.
At any rate, you can see a couple of satellite photos below, and hole-by-hole satellite photos of the entire TPC Sawgrass course here.
Posted By The Original Golf Blogger
TPC At Sawgrass Photo Montage Video
Posted By The Original Golf Blogger
Top Ten Players Championship Shots
Posted By The Original Golf Blogger
