John Daly, a two-time major champion who finished 66th at last year’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial while making his first appearance in 11 years at Fort Worth’s annual PGA Tour stop, has accepted a sponsor’s exemption to return in May.
Daly, winner of the 1991 PGA Championship and the 1995 British Open, was among six new commitments to this year’s event confirmed today by tournament officials. Daly is joined on the latest wave of commitments by Rory Sabbatini, a Fort Worth resident and 2007 Colonial champion who broke a two-year winless drought at tour events with his March 6 victory at the Honda Classic.
Other recent additions to the Colonial field include Pat Perez, D.A. Points, Henrik Stenson and Johnson Wagner, winner of the Mayakoba Golf Classic on Feb. 27.
The 2011 Colonial dates are May 16-22 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.
Daly, a crowd favorite, played his way into contention at last year’s event with pre-cut rounds of 66-69 before sliding back to the pack with a third-round 75. The 2010 tournament marked the first time in five career appearances at Colonial that Daly _ known for his long and sometimes erratic drives _ had made the 36-hole cut in Fort Worth.
Until last year’s opening round, Daly, 44, had not broken even-par 70 at Colonial in any round as a touring pro.
Sabbatini, 34, ranks eighth on the PGA Tour’s season money list ($1,485,194) and is fourth in the latest FedEx Cup standings with 766 points.
Because of a unique wrinkle on the 2011 Champions Tour schedule, which does not include a tournament for competitors on the 50-and-over circuit during Colonial week, six past Colonial champions from that tour have committed to compete in Fort Worth. The list includes Ben Crenshaw, Kenny Perry, Fulton Allem, Olin Browne, Keith Clearwater and David Frost.
_ Jimmy Burch
BELOW IS A LOOK AT THE LATEST LIST OF COLONIAL COMMITMENTS:
Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial commitments
A list of golfers who have committed to compete in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, May 16-22 in Fort Worth. Commitments are not official until Friday, May 13:
Fulton Allem, Ricky Barnes, Cameron Beckman, Matt Bettencourt, Kris Blanks, Jason Bohn, Olin Browne, Keith Clearwater, Ben Crane, Ben Crenshaw, John Daly, Brian Davis, Brendon de Jonge, Jason Dufner, Steve Flesch, David Frost, Jim Furyk, Robert Garrigus, Brian Gay, Tom Gillis, Lucas Glover, J.J. Henry, Charley Hoffman, Zach Johnson, Matt Jones, Jerry Kelly, Martin Laird, Derek Lamely, Marc Leishman, Justin Leonard, Spencer Levin, Jamie Lovemark, Bill Lunde, John Mallinger, Rocco Mediate, Bryce Molder, Kevin Na, Ryan Palmer, Pat Perez, Kenny Perry, Carl Pettersson, D.A. Points, Alex Prugh, John Rollins, Rory Sabbatini, John Senden, Heath Slocum, Kyle Stanley, Henrik Stenson, Kevin Streelman, Steve Stricker, Vaughn Taylor, Nick Taylor, David Toms, D.J. Trahan, Bo Van Pelt, Jhonattan Vegas, Johnson Wagner, Charlie Wi, Mark Wilson.
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