Defending champion Kevin Na looks to do something only Ben Hogan has done
Only one player has successfully defended their title the following year at Colonial — the legendary Ben Hogan.
Hogan did it twice in 1946-47 and 1952-53. Kevin Na hopes to become the second player to accomplish the feat, although acknowledged it’s a difficult thing to do.
“There’s added pressure of being the defending champion and trying to perform and trying to repeat what you did the year before,” Na said. “But at the same time the field is that strong, and you just don’t know who’s going to win. There’s so many guys that can contend.
“It’s very difficult. Obviously not for Tiger Woods but for the rest of us, yes, it is pretty difficult.”
But this is a course that suits Na’s game. He matched the course record with a 9-under 61 in the final round of the 2018 tournament, and then won it last year. His low round last year was an 8-under 62 in the second round.
The highlight of winning, though, was receiving a custom 1973 Dodge Challenger. Na gifted the car to his longtime caddie Kenny Harms.
“I have not had the opportunity to ride in that car or drive it. I’m very disappointed,” Na said, laughing. “I’m sure I will get my chance. He’s loving it. He takes it for a joy ride on the weekends back home in Orlando.”
McIlroy impressed
Rory McIlroy is making his Colonial debut and has liked what he’s seen from the course so far. The world’s top-ranked golfer said this is a tournament he’s always wanted to play, but the schedule simply hasn’t worked out in previous years.
“I was excited to see the golf course and play it and try to learn it,” McIlroy said. “Obviously it’s not the longest course on tour, but you really need to position your ball around the golf course very well. It reminds me of a few different places. I can sort of see a little bit of TPC Southwind in Memphis out there, a little bit of Valderrama in Spain, just really having to hit it in certain parts of the fairways and not taking on too much.
“It’s a very historic venue, and a lot has happened here. Ben Hogan had a huge influence, so it’s been cool to come and see all that.”
DJ confident
Colonial is not known as a golf course that players can overpower. That would seem to go against Dustin Johnson’s strengths.
But Johnson is feeling good about his prospects this week as he returns to Fort Worth for the first time since 2014. This is his third appearance at the Colonial, finishing T74 in 2008 and T14 in 2014.
“There’s a few holes where you can try to maybe take advantage of it [with length],” said Johnson, who is ranked fifth in the world. “But it all depends on the wind and where the flags are because the greens are kind of small when they tuck them in the corners. You want to have full shots in, so you don’t want to be hitting little short pitches.
“I like the golf course. I think if I can drive it in the fairway, no matter what club I’m hitting, driver, 3-wood, 3-iron, whatever it is, if I can play out of the fairway, I’m going to have a lot of success around here.”
Giving back
Colonial is known for its charitable efforts and those continue this year.
The tournament provided two wounded warriors with mortgage-free homes during a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, courtesy of sponsors Hillwood, Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services and Vermeer Texas-Louisiana.
The tournament has been providing homes to military veterans since 2011. The two recipients this year, returned Marine Corps Major Samuel Rosales of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and retired Army Captain Vincent Gioielli of Manassas, Virginia, are the 18th and 19th veterans to receive homes.
The tournament also announced that Gus Bates Insurance and Investments will be matching donations up to $50,000 through the Birdies for Charity campaign. Half of the funds will be donated to Texas Health Resources Foundation and the other half will be distributed to local non-profit groups.
