The 2018 Kevin Kisner Invitational At Fort Worth Preview
My swing coach Kevin Kisner is our defending champ at the Fort Worth Invitational this week. Kiz knows what he’s doing — started chirping me about my swing while sitting at his daughter’s swim lessons last Tuesday, my next round out I shot my career low. Feels great to have a great coach.
The Fort Worth Invitational’s just one of five invitational events on TOUR and first began in 1946. Since its inception, the event’s been held at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
The event’s got historical ties to the great Ben Hogan, who lived in Fort Worth for years and won the event a record five times. No one else has won it more than twice.
There’s plenty of history here. Phil birdied the 72nd hole from behind bars to win in 2008.
Cannonball game on point.
The Track
Colonial Country Club opened with about 100 members in 1936. The course was designed by the rare combination of a Texas man, John Bredemus, and an Oklahoma man, Perry Maxwell. It was quickly awarded the U.S. Open just five years later, in 1941, playing at a DAUNTING 7,035 yards for back then.
Today, it’s been extended to a 7,209-yard par 70. She’s got a 75.1 rating and a 138 slope. The last five winners here were, in reverse chronological order, -17, -12, -9, -14, -12.
Colonial can defend itself.
Notable Holes
9th, 407 yards, par 4
Included this one simply because it’s a beautiful hole and because I found this footage of Jimmy Furyk getting hosed.
11th, 635 yards, par 5
635! There’s not really any tricks or gimmicks here. It’s a straight tee shot and you need to POUND a couple to get home in two.
13th, 190 yards, par 3
Don’t flare one right, boys.
18th, 441 yards, par 4
We’ve seen a couple of the iconic moments here up above. Jordan, Phil… there have been many more. You HAVE to work the ball right-to-left off the tee. There are trees waiting if you don’t, and the green is protected by several bunkers and aqua to the left.
Strong finisher.
Clubhouse
Kinda looks like a prep school. Luckily I’m a prep school guy.
Colonial Country Club Clubhouse grade = 7.6.
The Field
Some big names include Kiz, Spieth, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka, Webb Simpson, Steve Stricker, Jimmy Walker, Aaron Wise, Jim Furyk.
Predictions
Winning Score
-11
Winner
Rickie Fowler.
The Smylie Kaufman DFL Award
Smylie Kaufman.
Dark Horse
Bryson DeChambeau.
Weather
Hot.
Coverage
Thursday & Friday: Golf Channel, 4-7 pm
Saturday & Sunday: Golf Channel, 1-2:45 pm; CBS 3pm on
Final Thoughts
Stewart Cink told AWESOME behind the scenes stories about beating then-59 year old Tom Watson in a playoff in the 2009 Open Championship. Must listen.
Enjoy Fort Worth.