Before getting to Mr. Reddy's super intense dive into the vibes at Colonial Country Club this week, let's see how the guys from The Land fared in last week's PGA Championship fantasy challenge. As the world waited to see which Landino would come out on top, one man emerged victorious...
Congrats to Max! He is officially a (golf)ball-knower! Onto this week's vibes check from Mr. Rig, proprietor of the great golf blog Pinseeker.
Another week, another Texas event on the PGA Tour. Despite winning the Land War at the PGA Championship, Max refused to write this week’s preview, so you’re stuck with me. We’re in Fort Worth this week for the Charles Schwab Challenge, and it marks a return to normalcy after a stretch that included two signature events in four weeks, a team event, and a major. This should be a fascinating watch for plenty of reasons, so without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Colonial Country Club is the longest-running host site on the PGA Tour, having held events since 1946. A recent restoration brought back its 1940s charm and character, and it’ll be a test of accuracy and strategy. The lore isn’t limited to its longevity, though, with Ben Hogan winning here no less than five times and giving rise to the nickname “Hogan’s Alley”. Players will have to choose between aggressive lines to try and cut off the many doglegs on this Perry Maxwell layout, or laying back and playing for position. It’s a tight course all the way around, with tree-lined fairways, tiny greens, and hazards galore.
The third, fourth, and fifth holes at Colonial comprise what is known as the “Horrible Horseshoe”. Called that because of its horseshoe shape around the driving range, it’s a brutal stretch early in the round, with all three holes routinely ranking among the toughest on the course every year.
A mixed-up field at Colonial provides an opportunity for some unexpected players to shine. Here are a few players worth keeping an eye on this week and why they deserve your attention.
I had to include Scottie, okay? The newest PGA Champion is on a roll and comes to a hometown event in outstanding form, with excellent ballstriking numbers and a solid short game to match.
When it comes to players to watch, Jordan Spieth will always be on the list. He’s guaranteed entertainment, and it should be spectacular watching him try to engineer escapes and par saves on this challenging layout.
Even though he missed the cut in agonizing fashion at the PGA Championship, his game is still solid and sets up well at this course. It should be a nice week to rebound for the lefty.
Ranking top 15 on tour in Strokes Gained: Approach, Fleetwood and his luscious locks come to Texas still searching for his first career win on the PGA Tour. I don’t know how he hasn’t gotten one yet, but with a weaker field and a course that seems to fit him pretty well, why not this week?
With outstanding SG numbers (eighth on Tour in total strokes gained), Berger seems like a pretty good bet to be in the mix at Colonial. Add in his excellent driving accuracy this year, and he has all the tools to contend this week.
Model Pick to Watch: Harris English
English is HOT. He has four top-20s in his last five starts, punctuated by a T2 at last week’s PGA Championship. The putter is coming around, and his approach play is strong, setting him up perfectly to be a force this week at Colonial. Our model agrees, pinpointing him as one of the top fits for the Ideal Player Profile.
As a golf obsessive who loves the mental battle of it all, this is a week tailor-made for me. Colonial is an incredibly demanding test of golf and should provide an exciting watch for us this week, with a contrast in styles and the potential for high drama with its risk-reward options. Will Scottie win his third in a row? Will Spieth grab a win out of nowhere? Can Fleetwood finally break through? The storylines are plentiful, and I'll be watching closely no matter how it unfolds. Enjoy the golf this week and see you next week for my hometown event, the Memorial Tournament.
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