Not to confuse "Hogan's Alley" with "Hogan’s Heroes," but four days of golf at Colonial Country Club can seem like a short sojourn at Stalag 13 (the cushy German POW camp depicted in the 1960s television series). The space is a little tight, but as far as cramped places go, it's not altogether unpleasant.
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The fabled par-70 layout is known as a ball striker’s paradise. With narrow, tree-lined fairways and modestly proportioned greens, shaping shots there is the golf equivalent of threading the needle. Finesse with a fade or daring in a draw is worth more than any 340-yard drive.
But unfortunately for those without that special skill set, there's no other recourse at Colonial. As Ben Hogan was reported to have said: "a straight shot will get you in more trouble at Colonial than any course I know."
And of course, there was never a better pure ball striker than Hogan himself. The Ft. Worth native earned five career titles at Colonial in the 40s and 50s. L.A.'s Riviera Country Club also possesses the appellation "Hogan 's Alley," but there was never anything Hollywood about the dapper Texan, who grew up a short ways from the Ft. Worth course. If we had to split the Solomonic baby, Colonial would have the better claim.
The true crucible of Colonial comes fairly early in the round when players forge their paths through Nos. 3-5 -- a exacting stretch named, due to its aerial appearance, the "Horrible Horseshoe."
While Colonial can leave a player red in the face, red numbers aren't that elusive. Last year, it was ranked 32nd most difficult on the PGA Tour with a stroke average just a tad under par (69.96).
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| Kenny Perry is a two-time champion at Colonial. (Getty Images) |
The PGA Tour veteran is one of the players to watch this week at Crowne Plaza Invitational. He makes his 18th career start at Colonial. Over the last few years, Perry has battled a knee injury which has diminished his competitive prowess. In 2006, he finally had arthroscopic surgery done on his right knee, but the effects of injury still linger. A couple weeks ago at the Wachovia Championship, Perry had to withdraw because he aggravated the knee again. He rebounded the following week to play in The Players Championship, but the peril of reinjury remains.
Another player who comes to Texas with a question mark over his head is Jim Furyk. Back in March, the world No. 3 skipped the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to soreness in his wrist -- the same one he had surgery on in 2004. At the time, he swore it wasn't a long-term concern and only needed rest. But ever since his return, Furyk has really struggled with his irons, which led some to suspect that the wrist problem was more serious than supposed.
Furyk will be the only representative from the top 10 at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Tournament officials were holding out hope to attract former Colonial champions Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia, but both players will wait until next week when the tour moves to Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament.
Trevor Immelman (14), Rory Sabbatini (16), Stewart Cink (18) and Nick O'Hern (20) round out the contingent from the top 20. However, the field gets slightly deeper the farther down one goes. Twenty of the top 50 plan on turning out this week.
Eight of the 16 winners on the 2007 PGA Tour are there: Paul Goydos (Sony Open), Charley Hoffman (Bob Hope), Fred Funk (Mayakoba Classic), Mark Wilson (Honda Classic), Mark Calcavecchia (PODS Championship), Boo Weekley (Heritage), Nick Watney (Zurich Classic) and Scott Verplank (Byron Nelson).
Last year at Colonial, Tim Herron ended a seven-year winless streak with his fourth career victory. The 12-year veteran defeated Richard S. Johnson with a 10-foot birdie on the second playoff hole.
Since his triumph, Herron hasn't finished in the top 10 of a PGA Tour event once. In 2007 alone, his best finish is a tie for 19th at the small-field Mercedes-Benz Championship.
Click here to review the field for the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.
