Fantasy Golf: Crowne Plaza Invitational Primer

May 25, 2009 11:24am CDT

The 2009 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Colonial Country Club @ Ft. Worth, Texas
- Dates: Thursday, May 28 - Sunday, May 31
- FedEx Cup Points: 500 (Winner's Share)
- 2008 Purse: $6,200,000 ($1,116,000 Winning Share)

TV Schedule
First Round - Thursday, May 28 - Golf Channel 3-6pm EST
Second Round - Friday, May 29 - Golf Channel 3-6pm EST
Third Round - Saturday, May 30 - CBS, 3-6pm EST
Final Round - Sunday, May 31 - CBS, 3-6pm EST


The Course

Colonial Country Club
Course Par Value: 70
Course Yardage: 7,054

If you go to the PGA's own site (PGATour.com), and you visit the attached page that covers 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 this 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 games 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 is to undergo renovations this summer, but nothing has taken form at his point, giving this season's field the same historic layout it has 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.

Hole 3 (Par 4, 467 yds): Colonial jumps into a three-hole stretch referred to by Tour members as the "Horrible Horseshoe" -- the three most difficult holes on the golf course. The long dogleg left requires a perfectly placed tee shot around a large tree and bunkers. An approach requiring accurate work with a long iron all but destroys hopes of birdie. This spot ranks as the second-most difficult offering on the course.

Hole 5 (Par 4, 472 yds): The most difficult hole at Colonia, the last of the "Horrible Horseshoe," demands accuracy on all three shots to get to the green unless you can go long iron on the second with accuracy into a green that is as tight as any on the Tour. The tee shot must be precise to avoid the bailout ditch to the left and water on the right.

Hole 10 (Par 4, 407 yds): The second-toughest hole on the back nine, hole 10 will be crucial on the turn for each and every golfer in field. You can't leave this spot and fall out of the good graces of the leaderboard with hopes of jumping back in the mix without top play. The tee shot must stay left to gain the optimal view into a narrow and unforgiving green.

Hole 12 (Par 4, 417 yds): This is the most challenging hole on back nine, touting a fairway with a sizeable dogleg left demands accuracy and length off the tee. The approach must negotiate a tightly-bunkered green and with headwinds likely to tamper with those errant shots heading in the wrong direction.


2008 Leaderboard
PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Phil Mickelson -14 (266)
T2 Tim Clark -13 (267)
T2 Rod Pampling -13 (267)
4 Stephen Ames -11 (268)
5 Ben Crane -10 (269)
6 Pat Perez -8 (272)
T7 Geoff Ogilvy -7 (273)
T7 Jeff Quinney -7 (273)
9 Matt Kuchar -6 (274)
T10 Steve Marino -5 (275)
T10 Tommy Armour III -5 (275)
T10 Mark Wilson -5 (275)
T10 Paul Goydos -5 (275)
T10 Brian Gay -5 (275)

2007 Leaderboard
PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Rory Sabbatini -14 (266)
T2 Jim Furyk -14 (266)
T2 Bernhard Langer - 14 (266)
4 Pat Perez -12 (268)
T5 Tom Lehman -11 (269)
T5 Nathan Green -11 (269)
T7 Harrison Frazar -10 (270)
T7 D.J. Trahan -10 (270)
T7 Jerry Kelly -10 (270)
T7 Kevin Na -10 (270)
T7 Scott Verplank -10 (270)

2006 Leaderboard
PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Tim Herron -12 (268)
2 Richard S. Johnson -12 (268)
3 Rod Pampling -10 (270)
T4 Stewart Cink -9 (271)
T4 Brett Quigley -9 (271)
T4 Nathan Green -9 (271)
T4 Peter Lonard -9 (271)
T4 Arron Oberholser -9 (271)
T4 Stephen Ames -9 (271)
T4 Ben Crane -9 (271)
11 Corey Pavin -8 (272)


The Field
Having the word "Colonial" attached to the event serves this tourney well. The historic track that hosts the Crowne Plaza Invitational caters to the best overall golfers in the world, and as such, the field is lined with the names of the game's elite, including Davis Love III, Vijay Singh, Stephen Ames, Ian Poulter, Justin Leonard, Tim Clark, Justin Rose, Kenny Perry, Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink, Rory Sabbatini, Anthony Kim, Paul Casey, Adam Scott, Chad Campbell, David Toms, Jim Furyk, Hunter Mahan, Mike Weir, Brian Gay, Sean O'Hair, Steve Stricker, Luke Donald, Mathew Goggin, and Geoff Ogilvy.

As always, there are plenty of names thrown in the hat that reside in the tiers below the PGA's upper crust vying for your fantasy considerations. That list includes Kevin Na, Johnson Wagner, Steve Flesch, Steve Marino, D.J. Trahan, Lucas Glover, Jeff Maggert, James Driscoll, Nick O'Hern, Marc Turnesa, Todd Hamilton, Troy Matteson, Bo Van Pelt, Kevin Sutherland, James Nitties, Jason Day, Dean Wilson, Brian Davis, Charlie Wi, Matt Kuchar, Carl Pettersson, Rich Beem, Rod Pampling, Ryuji Imada, John Rollins, Daniel Chopra, Charley Hoffman, Briny Baird, Webb Simpson, Ben Crane, Trevor Immelman, Jerry Kelly, Tommy Armour III, Mark Calcavecchia, Jeff Klauk, Scott Piercy, John Senden, Matt Kuchar, Danny Lee, Jonathan Byrd, Woody Austin, Brandt Snedeker, Chez Reavie, Cameron Beckman, J.B. Holmes, Tim Petrovic, Heath Slocum, J.J. Henry, and Bart Bryant.

To view the entire field:
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r021/field.html