The PGA Tour makes the short move from Dallas to Fort Worth this week for the Fort Worth Invitational. If last week was a case of venturing into the unknown this week is very much one for familiarity as we return to the Colonial Country Club.
Kevin Kisner adorned the tartan jacket here last year and he will be looking to defend the title successful but there is a seriously good cast list looking to take it away from him. This feels like a big week of golf.
Recent Winners
2017 – Kevin Kisner
2016 – Jordan Spieth
2015 – Chris Kirk
2014 – Adam Scott
2013 – Boo Weekley
2012 – Zach Johnson
2011 – David Toms
2010 – Zach Johnson
2009 – Steve Stricker
2008 – Phil Mickelson
The Course
Colonial Country Club is the venue for this tournament once again and we know what we’re going to get here. This treelined par 70 stretches a shade over 7,200 yards but is yet another paradise for the ball strikers which is what makes the course so attractive. You only get around here by finding fairways and greens, as highlighted by the roll of honour.
Generally this is a course where previous experience counts for something. A number of winners have been into their 30s when they won and had already been onto the course a few times beforehand but current form should never be discounted. Length is certainly not an issue this week but warm temperatures could cause an issue hence where experience comes in.
The Field
We have a high quality field on show this week. It includes two current major champions in Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth and the newly crowned The Players champion, Webb Simpson, also tees it up this week. Throw in Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker and it is a star studded line up.
We also have many returning favourites to this course too such as former champions Zach Johnson, Adam Scott, Steve Stricker and Chris Kirk while the likes of Jason Dufner, Patrick Cantlay and Matt Kuchar will be out for a big victory to take forward with them.
Market Leaders
This week the field is headed by Jordan Spieth and with his last three outings here producing a 2-1-2 record it is not hard to make a case for him. He is 8/1 to win the tournament and I have to admit I was so very tempted to slam a load of cash on at that price because I think he’s the most likely winner. He was talking a very good game last week. Some players you can write that off as bravado but if there is one thing I’ve learnt down the years it is that when Spieth bigs up his game you listen. Even then I’ve never been a single figure punter and try as I might I just can’t bring myself to start now.
Jon Rahm was runner up here 12 months ago on dayboo and having won the Open de Espana last month he is clearly in good form. He is 14/1 to win the tournament which is fair enough, if a little on the short side. I think if I was taking one of the shorter prices I’d go for Spieth.
Rickie Fowler is the third favourite at 18/1. You would think courses like these would be perfect for someone as talented as Fowler but despite being runner up to Patrick Reed at The Masters is he truly on top form? I’m not convinced. Justin Rose is slightly bigger at 20/1 and if this tournament was 6-9 months ago I’d be all over him but he’s only here to fulfil his new tournament obligation and while he has the profile to do well course inexperience is not ideal.
Webb Simpson is next in the betting at 22/1. I’ll expand on him a little below as he is my main bet for the tournament this week. US Open champion Brooks Koepka is alongside Jimmy Walker at 28/1 in what is a pretty loaded field. Walker went well last week and at Sawgrass so shouldn’t be discounted. It is 30/1 bar.
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Main Bets
I can’t decide upon two main bets this week so having had a winner and three places last week I’m going to allow myself an extra main one here. As I alluded to above my main bet is Webb Simpson. You only had to see the way he took TPC Sawgrass apart to see why I’m backing him here but he’s been in the top five here for the last two years despite putting clearly hampering him. Since he’s gone back to the long putter he has found putting fine. His long game at Sawgrass was amazingly impressive and if he has it all with him here he will take a lot of stopping.
Another man who might take some beating is Bryson DeChambeau. DeChambeau is a bit wacky in his ways and golfing beliefs but there is no doubt that these weird clubs he uses are getting the job done for him. He has three top fives in his last five starts and the two where he was down the field were The Masters and The Players which is understandable at this stage of his career. Harbour Town correlates with his course and BDC was third there. He’s hitting the ball really well. If he can get his scientific and mathematical equations to align on the dancefloors he’s a runner here.
We now go to a couple of players who I monotonously back and I’m determined to be on them when they win! The field is Emiliano Grillo who should have everything at his disposal to challenge strongly here. He has always been excellent from tee to green and this season his putting is much better than it has been in the past. Prior to The Players he was rolling with three successive top 20s in solo events. I expect him to be deep in the mix here the way he is hitting the ball.
Outsiders
The other player I’ve backed so often over the last 12 months is Chez Reavie. I took him here last year and I’m back for more here. I so nearly landed the bacon with him at the Phoenix Open but someone who is so reliable from tee to green simply has to be backed around here. He can scramble and putt as he showed in Phoenix and with temperatures this week the greens might resemble Phoenix. He’s ninth in proximity to the hole on the Tour and will give himself plenty of chances. I can’t not be on having been on so often earlier in the year.
JJ Spaun caught my eye last week. His long game was particularly good and while you would expect that given that the fairways were wider than Yokozuna’s midriff in his prime, checking back beyond last week and his long game has been in good order for a while. He clearly found some confidence on the greens last week and if he takes that into this week then he can outrun his three figure price for a second week in succession.
When you scale down the main statistics for the field for the last three months, J T Poston ranks quite highly on a lot of them. He hasn’t featured on a leaderboard very often but if he puts the ball striking and the putting together as one this week it could be here where he does feature. Of course inexperience of the track goes against him but he’s 200/1 for a reason. I don’t mind paying to see how much of the progressive statistics he can bring with him to convert into what will hopefully be a big week.
Tips
Back W.Simpson to win Fort Worth Invitational (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 23.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)
Back E.Grillo to win Fort Worth Invitational (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 46.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)
Back them here:
Back B.DeChambeau to win Fort Worth Invitational (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 41.00 with Unibet (1/4 1-6)
Back JT.Poston to win Fort Worth Invitational (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 201.00 with Unibet (1/5 1-6)
Back them here:
Back C.Reavie to win Fort Worth Invitational (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 71.00 with 888sport (1/5 1-6)
Back him here:
Back JJ.Spaun to win Fort Worth Invitational (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Betfred (1/5 1-6)
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