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Power Rankings: Fort Worth Invitational
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May 21, 2018
By Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM
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Kevin Kisner won last season's Fort Worth Invitational at Colonial Country Club. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The shortest distance between successive PGA TOUR events juxtaposes with inversely relational golf courses, both in layout and age.
While wide-open Trinity Forest is the youngest host site of any on the circuit, the bike ride from Dallas to the classic and tree-lined Colonial Country Club, site of this week's Fort Worth Invitational, is a trip back in time. Scroll beneath the ranking for more on the course, its trend among winners, how it should play this week and the introduction of a new title sponsor in 2019.
POWER RANKINGS: FORT WORTH INVITATIONAL
Rank Player comment 15 
Patrick Cantlay Age 26. Second appearance. Doesn't match up exceptionally well on paper, but he's been the chameleon almost everywhere. That includes a T7 at Harbour Town, which comps well to Colonial.
14 
Jon Rahm Age 23. Second appearance. The slump-proof Spaniard hasn't contended since winning his national open in mid-April, so this rolls around at the perfect time. In a not-so-surprising debut (for him) here last year, he finished T2.
Age 23. Second appearance. The slump-proof Spaniard hasn't contended since winning his national open in mid-April, so this rolls around at the perfect time. In a not-so-surprising debut (for him) here last year, he finished T2.
13 
Rickie Fowler Age 29. Sixth appearance but first since 2014. Always a threat no matter the inconsistency and regression in putting. Still 13th on the PGA TOUR in GIR and 18th in adjusted scoring.
Age 29. Sixth appearance but first since 2014. Always a threat no matter the inconsistency and regression in putting. Still 13th on the PGA TOUR in GIR and 18th in adjusted scoring.
12 
Bryson DeChambeau Age 24. Third appearance. The SMU product is still after his first red number and cut made at Colonial, but it's just a matter of time. Solo second, T3 and a solo fourth in his last five starts.
Age 24. Third appearance. The SMU product is still after his first red number and cut made at Colonial, but it's just a matter of time. Solo second, T3 and a solo fourth in his last five starts.
11 
Jason Dufner Age 41. Tenth appearance. The two-time runner-up also has a T6 at Colonial (in 2016), but he didn't crack the top 40 in his other six showings. Fresh off a T5 at THE PLAYERS this time.
Age 41. Tenth appearance. The two-time runner-up also has a T6 at Colonial (in 2016), but he didn't crack the top 40 in his other six showings. Fresh off a T5 at THE PLAYERS this time.
10 
Justin Rose Age 37. Fifth appearance. Hasn't missed a cut at Colonial but hasn't made the trip since 2010. Remains as consistently strong as anyone. Only two results outside a top 25 in last nine months.
Age 37. Fifth appearance. Hasn't missed a cut at Colonial but hasn't made the trip since 2010. Remains as consistently strong as anyone. Only two results outside a top 25 in last nine months.
9 
Chesson Hadley Age 30. Fourth appearance. Strides in with six consecutive top 20s since Houston. Ranks seventh in proximity but strong across the board. Eight rounds of experience and a T24 at Colonial in 2015.
Age 30. Fourth appearance. Strides in with six consecutive top 20s since Houston. Ranks seventh in proximity but strong across the board. Eight rounds of experience and a T24 at Colonial in 2015.
8 
Matt Kuchar Age 39. Eleventh appearance. He'll be champing at the bit to begin his next consecutive cuts made streak at Colonial where he's posted five top 20s, including in each of the last two years.
Age 39. Eleventh appearance. He'll be champing at the bit to begin his next consecutive cuts made streak at Colonial where he's posted five top 20s, including in each of the last two years.
7 
Adam Scott Age 37. Sixth appearance. Surging. T9 at Trinity Forest was first top 10 anywhere in 11 months. Led field in strokes gained: tee-to-green; ranked second in proximity. Winner here in 2014.
Age 37. Sixth appearance. Surging. T9 at Trinity Forest was first top 10 anywhere in 11 months. Led field in strokes gained: tee-to-green; ranked second in proximity. Winner here in 2014.
6 
Brian Harman Age 31. Sixth appearance. You'd expect his profile as a small-ball artist to thrive at Colonial, and he has. Since 2015: T10-T25-T7 with a scoring average of 68.50. Seven top 10s this season.
Age 31. Sixth appearance. You'd expect his profile as a small-ball artist to thrive at Colonial, and he has. Since 2015: T10-T25-T7 with a scoring average of 68.50. Seven top 10s this season.
5 
Zach Johnson Age 42. Thirteenth appearance. The tournament's all-time money leader is 12-for-12 with two wins among five top 10s. Leads the TOUR in proximity and ranks 20th in adjusted scoring.
Age 42. Thirteenth appearance. The tournament's all-time money leader is 12-for-12 with two wins among five top 10s. Leads the TOUR in proximity and ranks 20th in adjusted scoring.
4 
Kevin Kisner Age 34. Fifth appearance. Colonial has been a reliable soft landing regardless of form. He's averaged 67.67 on the course in his last 12 rounds. Currently 12th on TOUR in strokes gained: putting.
Age 34. Fifth appearance. Colonial has been a reliable soft landing regardless of form. He's averaged 67.67 on the course in his last 12 rounds. Currently 12th on TOUR in strokes gained: putting.
3 
Jordan Spieth Age 24. Sixth appearance. Remaining positive about putting, but it got even worse at Trinity Forest. Colonial's smaller greens should help. His record here is impeccable: T7-T14-T2-Win-T2.
Age 24. Sixth appearance. Remaining positive about putting, but it got even worse at Trinity Forest. Colonial's smaller greens should help. His record here is impeccable: T7-T14-T2-Win-T2.
2 
Jimmy Walker Age 39. Fifth appearance. Three top 10s among five straight top 25s upon arrival. It's all clicking as he continues to emerge from the fog of Lyme disease. The gratification has to feel as good as anything he's experienced.
Age 39. Fifth appearance. Three top 10s among five straight top 25s upon arrival. It's all clicking as he continues to emerge from the fog of Lyme disease. The gratification has to feel as good as anything he's experienced.
1 
Webb Simpson Age 33. Fifth appearance. Enjoyed a week off after winning THE PLAYERS. Sits fifth in strokes gained: putting and third in adjusted scoring. T3-5th at Colonial in the last two editions.
Age 33. Fifth appearance. Enjoyed a week off after winning THE PLAYERS. Sits fifth in strokes gained: putting and third in adjusted scoring. T3-5th at Colonial in the last two editions.
AT&T Byron Nelson champion Aaron Wise, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith and Colonial Country Club member Ryan Palmer will be among the notables in Tuesday's Fantasy Insider.
Time will tell if course experience at Trinity Forest will be a predictor for success at the AT&T Byron Nelson, but there's zero doubt or argument that it matters at Colonial.
Kevin Kisner defends his title on the par 70 tipping at 7,209 yards. Prevailing in his fourth appearance and at the age of 33, he was nearly five years younger than the average age since Sergio Garcia broke through for his first PGA TOUR title here in 2001. Every winner but then-22-year-old Jordan Spieth in 2016 was at least 30 years old.
In connecting to another trend among champions at Colonial in the same time frame, Kisner had already recorded a pair of top 10s in the tournament before slipping on the plaid jacket. Only Steve Stricker (2009) and Adam Scott (2014) hadn't prefaced their victories with at least one top 10.
Not only is Garcia the last first-time winner at Colonial – the Fort Worth Invitational ranks third in terms of droughts for first-timers behind the Sentry Tournament of Champions and World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship – he's also the last tournament debutant to prevail. Every winner has competed at least twice before victory.
Isolating Kisner's performance in 2017 to project how Colonial will play this week is unnecessary due to the gusty winds that defended the course and inflated scoring. He managed just 10-under 270 for the week – second-highest among all winners of the last 18 editions – and the field average of 71.154 was the highest in the tournament since 2002.
This week's forecast is docile by comparison as the forecast calls for no worse than moderate winds. And despite hot and humid conditions throughout, the threat for inclement weather is minimal. Of course, in these parts at this time of year, it's still not a zero-percent chance.
As a result, Colonial should be there for the taking. Hitting greens in regulation and sinking putts is the default formula to contend. The bentgrass greens will have every opportunity to run the full 12 feet on the Stimpmeter for which they are prepared.
Beginning in 2019 and extending through 2022, Charles Schwab will assume title sponsorship. Architect Gil Hanse has also been retained to consider modifications for the 82-year-old track. The last renovation was overseen by Keith Foster in 2008.
ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE
PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton reviews and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled.
MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings
TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Facebook Live, Fantasy Insider
WEDNESDAY: One & Done, Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Champions One & Done
* - Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.
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Age 26. Second appearance. Doesn't match up exceptionally well on paper, but he's been the chameleon almost everywhere. That includes a T7 at Harbour Town, which comps well to Colonial.