PGA Betting – Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Preview & Pick
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If you like hot weather and hotter scores, the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial is the tournament for you. Colonial finished 2009 as the fourth-easiest par-70 course on the whole Tour. The track isn’t too long, so it rewards shot makers and aggressive pin attackers rather than bombers.
Date: Thursday May 27 – May 30
Event: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Course: Colonial CC, Ft. Worth, Texas
Purse: $6,200,000
Defending Champ: Steve Stricker
FedEX Cup Points Up For Grabs: 500
Here are the top picks to keep in mind. Let’s review the best options.
THE ELITE
Phil Mickelson
Crowne Plaza Invitational odds: +815
Lefty couldn’t be a sturdier pick this week. He won the event the last time he played it (2008) and is second all-time in earnings at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Given his history and aggressive style, we have to assume he’ll contend.
THE CONTENDERS
Jim Furyk
Crowne Plaza Invitational odds: +1215
Furyk has great success at Colonial too – he has six top-10s in his last 14 starts there – so the cagey vet has a decent shot to make a run this week. But will his putter elude him? It did at the Players.
Tim Clark
Crowne Plaza Invitational odds: +2050
The hot often get rewarded in the Texas heat, meaning guys having successful seasons are more likely to play with confidence and aggression. Tim Clark won his last event (the Players), lost this tournament last year in a playoff, leads the Tour in fairways hit and ranks second in putting. A ton going for him this week. 
Ben Crane
Crowne Plaza Invitational odds: +2250
Like Clark, Ben Crane is peaking in time for this week’s tourney. He has back to back top-seven finishes and is 10th on Tour in greens hit. He’s also cracked the top five twice at Colonial. It’s a tough decision between him and Clark.
SOLID PICKS
Steve Stricker
Crowne Plaza Invitational odds: +2050
Stricker opened 2010 picking up where he left off in 2009, posting three straight top-10s, including a win at the Northern Trust Open. Since then, however, he has just one top-10 in his last five starts. He’s still sixth on tour in scoring average, 13th in birdie average and eight in putts per round, so you could do a lot worse. Did I mention he’s the defending champ?
Matt Kuchar
Crowne Plaza Invitational odds: +2850
Led the field in greens hit at the Players and finished ninth at Colonial in 2008. Kuchar is second on Tour in scoring average and first in bogey avoidance. He seems almost as strong a pick as the other favorites yet offers slightly better sportsbook value.
THE SLEEPER
Zach Johnson
Crowne Plaza Invitational odds: +4050
Whenever I hear “ball striking” and or that a course “doesn’t reward long hitters,” I think of Zach Johnson. He’s had a nightmarish season – his best finish is 12th – but these little Texas tracks are usually where he plays best. Last year, he finished ninth. I probably can’t justify him even as a sleeper since he’s playing so poorly – but keep him on your radar.
THE PICK
Tim Clark had been one of the best players on Tour not to win a PGA tournament for quite some time. We’d seen him flirt with victory and even choke in playoffs before, as he did at Colonial a year ago. I have to believe the sky’s the limit now that he has that first win under his belt and newfound confidence. He’s hot right this second and his peripheral stats suggest a strong showing, so he’s my recommendation this week.
Pick: Tim Clark +2050
He ranked first in birdies and fifth in putting last week. Unlike some of the other contenders, Hoffman also has three top-25s in his last four starts at the Byron Nelson.
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