? COURSE: Colonial Country Club, 7,204 yards, par 70. Designed by
Perry Maxwell and John Bredemus, Colonial's combination of tight
fairways and doglegs has received high praise since its 1936 opening.
The U.S. Open arrived just five years later, marking the first time the
event went south of the Mason-Dixon Line. The PGA TOUR has visited each
year since 1946, making Colonial the longest annual stop on the circuit.
The course also staged the second edition of THE PLAYERS Championship
in 1975, the 1991 U.S. Women's Open and Annika Sorenstam's historic
foray 11 years ago as the first woman to play a PGA TOUR event since
World War II.
? FIELD WATCH: Adam Scott, set to become the newest world No.1
in Monday's rankings, and FedExCup leader Jimmy Walker top a lineup
that includes eight other players among this week's top 25. … Walker, a
three-time winner in this new wraparound season, is among 15 of this
season's 21 tournament champions in the field. … Davis Love III,
runner-up in both 1987 and 2000, will tee it up for the 25th time at
Colonial. The man who beat him in 1987, Keith Clearwater, is back for
his 27the appearance. … Franklin Corpening, whose final-round 62 last
year was one off the Colonial record, steps away from the Web.com Tour to take up a return invite.
? 72-HOLE RECORD: 259, Zach Johnson (2010).
? 18-HOLE RECORD: 61, Keith Clearwater (2nd round, 1993), Lee
Janzen (4th round, 1993), Greg Kraft (3rd round, 1999), Kenny Perry (3rd
round, 2003), Justin Leonard (4th round, 2003), Chad Campbell (3rd
round, 2004).
? LAST YEAR: Boo Weekley ended a five-year victory drought,
overtaking Matt Kuchar with a 4-under-par 66 that gave him a one-stroke
victory. Three consecutive birdies starting at No.8 allowed Weekley to
pass Kuchar, and a 22-foot birdie at No.13 proved to be enough as the
backcountry Floridian parred his way in. Weekley claimed his third PGA
TOUR victory ? and his third tartan jacket, to go with the pair he won
at Hilton Head in 2007 and '08. Kuchar carded a closing 68, with
two-time champion Zach Johnson (66) another stroke back in third.
? STORYLINES: Scott's first start as world No.1 offers a
chance for a bit more history, seeking to become the first to complete
the "Texas Grand Slam." The Aussie won the Shell Houston Open in 2007,
the Byron Nelson in '08 and the Valero Texas Open in 2010. … Jim Furyk
comes to Colonial off consecutive runner-up finishes at the Wells Fargo
Championship and THE PLAYERS, both times using strong Sundays to finish
one shot back. He's also been runner-up twice at Colonial, losing a
playoff to Rory Sabbatini in 2007. … Kuchar has yet to miss a cut in
seven visits to Colonial. In addition to last year's second place, he
was ninth in 2008.
? SHORT CHIPS: A special father-son week awaits for 1974
champion Rod Curl and son Jeff, set to tee it up in the same field
together. The younger Curl, a Web.com Tour
pro, received a "champions' choice" invitation that prompted his
70-year-old dad to make one more start. … The other "champions' choice"
berth also went to the son of a PGA TOUR winner ? Kevin Tway, whose
father Bob won the 1986 PGA Championship. … Each of the past five
Colonial winners have come from behind on the final day ? preceded by a
seven-year run in which the 54-hole leader always closed the door.
Last Week's Winner DL817. Congrats!
Updated Standings
1. Bill - 6256
2. dfs - 6182
3. 2952 - 5222
4. NMT - 5207
5. Ocala - 5200
6. Sea - 5050
7. Bobcat - 4757
8. NiA - 3812
9. Lizard - 3631
10. Ed - 3627
11. DL - 3527
12. 67810 - 3495
13. g2f - 2143
14. pdubb - 1710
Good Luck!
This post was edited on 5/25 8:14 PM by DFSNOLE
Field
