Philadelphia, PA – PGA TOUR - CROWNE PLAZA INVITATIONAL AT COLONIAL, Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas - The PGA Tour stays in Texas this week for its annual trip to Colonial.
To say this tournament and this venue are steeped in history is an understatement.
Colonial Country Club has hosted this event since the tournament's inception in 1946. No other course has held a U.S. Open, a Tournament Players Championship and an annual PGA Tour event. In 1991, Colonial added the U.S. Women's Open to that unique repertoire. This is the second oldest PGA Tour event still being played at its original site behind the Masters at Augusta National. The course, built originally by John Bredemus and revised slightly by Perry Maxwell for the 1941 Open, has stood the test of time.
Colonial is always a good spot for the shorter hitters, including last year's winner, David Toms. One week after losing a heartbreaking playoff at The Players Championship, Toms earned a one-shot win over Charlie Wi for his 13th PGA Tour victory and first since 2006.
The PGA Tour's only two multiple winners this season are both in the field this week. Jason Dufner, who picked up his second victory in three weeks Sunday at the Byron Nelson, and Hunter Mahan are scheduled to tee it up on Thursday.
It was nine years ago when Annika Sorenstam became the first woman in 58 years to play in a PGA Tour event at the Colonial. She missed the cut on a sponsor's exemption with rounds of 71-74.
Golf Channel has the broadcast on Thursday and Friday before CBS takes over on the weekend.
Next week is the Memorial, which was won by Steve Stricker last year.
EUROPEAN TOUR
BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, Wentworth Club, Surrey, England - The flagship event on the European Tour will have by far the most impressive field of the week.
Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, the top three players in the world rankings, are all scheduled to tee it up starting on Thursday.
It was at this event last year where Donald assumed the mantle as golf's top player.
He bested Westwood, then No. 1 in the rankings, in a playoff to win his fifth European Tour title. Donald birdied the first sudden-death hole and Westwood knocked his third into water at the par-five hole.
Donald erased some shaky memories with the win. He was the runner-up to Simon Khan in 2010 and had a chance to become No. 1 the week before, but lost the final of the Volvo World Match Play Championship to Ian Poulter.
Donald heads into this week as the No. 2 player in the world, though he and McIlroy have traded the top spot throughout the season.
If Westwood were to win on Sunday, he wouldn't move to No. 1 but he'd be close.
Golf Channel has the action all week.
Next week, the European Tour heads to Celtic Manor in Wales for the Wales Open. Alexander Noren won the title by two strokes last year.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, Michigan - The first major for the Champions Tour will be without its defending champion.
Tom Watson, who prevailed over David Eger in a playoff last year at Valhalla, withdrew from the event last week. He has a wrist injury.
All of the other Champions Tour stars are in the field.
This is the first major for the Jack Nicklaus-designed Harbor Shores. The PGA of America must like it a lot because it will host this championship again in two years.
There are four more major championships on the horizon for the Champions Tour, but this is the oldest event in senior golf.
Golf Channel has the first two days, then NBC takes over on Saturday and Sunday.
Next week is the Principal Charity Classic in Des Moines, Iowa. Bob Gilder won the title last year.
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