A scheduling conflict with his daughter’s college graduation ceremonies likely will prevent Ben Crenshaw from playing in next month’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, May 16-22 in Fort Worth.
Scott Sayers, Crenshaw’s representative, said today in an email that it “looks like Ben will not play Colonial now” because his daughter, Katherine, is scheduled to graduate on the Friday night of Colonial week from the University of Texas and Crenshaw plans to be in Austin for the ceremony. Crenshaw, a two-time Colonial champion (1990, 1977), has been included on the tournament’s commitment list since January.
Colonial officials said PGA Tour records show Crenshaw still is committed to the event and has made housing plans in Fort Worth for tournament week. Sayers said Crenshaw, 59, envisioned doing both a tournament round and the graduation on the same day but uncertainty about a second-round tee time in Fort Worth made it difficult to return to Austin that night in time for the graduation ceremony. Crenshaw's brother, Charlie, also is graduating from Texas that night.
“I know he’s sorry it didn’t work out,” Sayers wrote in his email.
Peter Ripa, Colonial tournament director, said he hopes something can be done to allow Crenshaw _ Colonial’s career leader in appearances (33) _ to participate in Fort Worth. If not, Ripa said tournament officials “certainly understand” Crenshaw’s choice to attend the graduation in lieu of the tournament.
In other tournament news, Colonial officials received commitments Wednesday from Tim Clark, reigning champion at The Players Championship, and Robert Karlsson, an 11-event winner on the European Tour who joined the PGA Tour this season.
_ Jimmy Burch
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