News

Zach is Back: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

Published

15 years ago

May 17, 2011

By Scott MacLeod, Via Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

On the heels of the theatrical playoff ending at TPC Sawgrass, golf fans are hoping for yet another riveting tournament this week in Fort Worth, Texas. The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial is a storied event tracing its history back to 1946, making it the 10^th oldest tournament on the PGA Tour. The Colonial Country Club has been the host the entire time; only the Augusta National Golf Club has been the site of a PGA Tour event for more consecutive years.

As will often be recited this week, hometown son Ben Hogan won the first two Colonial Invitationals on his way to five titles overall, making it truly “Hogan’s Alley.”

In 2010 Zach Johnson did his best to channel the spirit of Mr. Hogan with an incredible run on the back nine on Sunday to add another cherished title to his PGA Tour resume.

On his way to the 72 hole tournament record of 21 under par (65-66-64-64-259) Johnson lit up the back nine with birdie putts of 10, 21, 22, 24 and 14 feet on holes 10, 12, 13, 15 and 17. That rushed Johnson passed eventual runner-up Brian Davis who could not keep pace and finished three strokes back of Johnson. Johnson broke Kenny Perry’s tournament record of 19 under par, 261, which Perry shot in both his victories in 2003 and 2005. The four round score of 259 was also a personal best for Johnson, bettering the 261 he shot in winning the 2008 Valero Texas Open.

Not only did Johnson make a lot of putts in his victory he also led the field in hitting greens in regulation, something every player must do to succeed on an often claustrophobic Colonial layout. The tree-lined holes are punctuated by the “Horrible Horseshoe”, holes 3-5. These are the three most difficult holes on the courses with 3 and 5 being par fours that play more than 480 yards each and the par three, 3^rd hole, stretching to nearly 250 yards.

There are 12 past Colonial Champions in the field this week. Joining Johnson is Rory Sabbatini, Tim Herron, Kenny Perry, Sergio Garcia, Olin Browne, David Frost, Corey Pavin, Tom Lehman, Fulton Allem, Keith Clearwater, and Tom Purtzer.

Both Johnson and Garcia are coming off fine Sunday finishes at Sawgrass where each tied for 12^th place. Johnson closed with a 66 while the Spaniard posted a 65, one of his best rounds in some time. Expect both to carry that confidence into this week. Great ball strikers usually perform well at Colonial and each is well within that category. Johnson might even be a good choice as a repeat victor at Colonial, a feat that is rare indeed. Although Sergio’s record has been spotty in this event the last few times he played (he has not been back since 2005) he did win it in 2001 so he knows how to be successful on the tricky 7204-yard, par 70 design.

I’m going to give the nod to Hunter Mahan as the possible champion this week. Mahan is coming off his 6^th top ten of the year with a tie for 6^th at THE PLAYERS and is hungry for a win in 2011 that has eluded him so far. The combination of him leading the PGA Tour in birdies and being 10^th in greens hit in regulation are just too good to pass on when you consider the test the field faces along the Trinity River.

If you want a good indicator of why will wear the Scottish Royal Tartan Plaid Jacket on Sunday then look to the leader after three rounds. In the 63-year history of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, the 54-hole leader/co-leader has gone on to claim victory 34 times.

2011 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

Dates: May 16-22, 2011

Where: Colonial Country Club; Fort Worth, TX

Par/Yards: 35-35—70/7,204

Field: 127

Defending Champion: Zach Johnson

Purse: $6,200,000; Winner’s Share: $1,116,000; Format: 72-hole stroke play

Link: Digital Tournament Program

This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Canada's Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open

Published

11 mins ago

Jun 3, 2026

Ben A

GolfWRX Tour Photographer made the trip from the Memorial Tournament across the country to the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera. Check out links to all the photos below!

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

2 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

2 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ronald Montesano

Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.

Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.

PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole

Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.

Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.

Henley’s Suitcase

Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype

LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!

Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.

Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.

Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.

Celine’s Suitcase

Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS

DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!

Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.

Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.

Kaneko’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping Max G440
Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7

Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro

Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.

The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.

Alvaro’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
Wedges
Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C

A party on the green!

Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026

LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.

Niemann’s Suitcase