Weekend Golf Preview: Crowne Plaza Invitational and BMW Championship
There's a busy weekend ahead in the world of golf as both the PGA's Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and the European Tour's BMW PGA Championship will be contested.
The Crowne Plaza Invitational field is headlined by Masters champion, and Dallas native, Jordan Spieth. The world No. 2 hopes to defeat a mediocre field close to home - the Colonial Country Club located in Fort Worth, Texas.
Spieth will be challenged by fellow green jacket recipients Adam Scott and Zach Johnson, both of whom have won at Colonial. Scott is the defending champion while Johnson has won the event twice and holds the tournament scoring record at 21-under.
Notable Tee Times - Crowne Plaza
- 7:55 a.m. ET - Zach Johnson, Boo Weekley, David Toms
- 8:06 a.m. ET - Patrick Reed, Adam Scott, Jason Dufner
- 12:56 p.m. ET - Jordan Spieth, Hunter Mahan, Steve Stricker
- 1:07 p.m. ET - Ryan Palmer, Paul Casey, Pat Perez
Meanwhile, one of the biggest tournaments on the European Tour will also be underway Thursday with its premier event, the BMW PGA Championship with No. 1 Rory McIlroy looking to defend his title in England.
Following a dominant performance last week at the Wells Fargo Championship, where he broke his own 18-hole scoring record on route to a second career win at Quail Hollow, McIlroy will be the man to beat.
Challenging McIlroy will be Ryder Cup teammates and playing mates for Thursday and Friday, Jamie Donaldson and Martin Kaymer. Ernie Els has seven career wins at Wentworth Club, a course he helped re-design in 2005, but all of his wins came in the World Match Play Championships.
Notable Tee Times - BMW Championship
- 3:15 a.m. ET - Ernie Els, Victor Dubuisson, Andy Sullivan
- 3:35 a.m. ET - Rory McIlroy, Jamie Donaldson, Martin Kaymer
- 7:50 a.m. ET - Brooks Koepka, Luke Donald, James Morrison
- 8:00 a.m. ET - Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Danny Willett