The Best Players in History at Colonial Country Club

THIS year’s edition of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial will attract more attention than it has ever done, purely and simply because it marks the return of competitive action on the PGA Tour, albeit without spectators. Here we look at the 15 golfers who have performed best at Colonial over the years. Phil Mickelson is the only current player who figures in what amounts to a who’s who of golf...

Cary Middlecoff: Of the six runners-up to Ben Hogan's five wins at Colonial, Middlecoff was second in 1953, but won in 1951. Among 17 cuts made, he amassed seven top 10s and another pair of top 20s.

Billy Casper: Picked up two of his 51 victories on the PGA Tour with wins at Colonial in 1964 and 1968. Added a solo third and another four top 25s, all within the span of nine cuts made from 1958-1968.

Phil Mickelson: For many, the first memory of Lefty at Colonial is of the fan who leapt into the greenside pond beside the 18th hole when he sealed victory in 2008. However, Mickelson first won the tournament in 2000 and finished T2 in his defence of that title in 2001. Of his 12 cuts made, four were top 10s; another four were top 25s.

Bruce Lietzke: Had four top 10s among 12 top 25s. He won twice (1980, 1992) and placed T3 in 1983. A T58 two months before his 50th birthday not only represented his last cut made of 401 in his career, it also was his last of 506 PGA TOUR starts.

Gardner Dickinson: Half of his 18 cuts made at Colonial were top 10s, the last of which was a victory in his 15th start in 1969. He also finished third three times.

Kenny Perry: When he followed a T2 in 2002 with a six-stroke victory in 2003, he established the tournament record of 19-under 261. He matched it in 2005 for his second win, this time by seven shots. His record stood until Zach Johnson went two lower in 2010. Perry enjoyed four top 10s and another four top 25s.

Zach Johnson: One twice at Colonial. From 2009-2013, he finished no worse than T9 and he's totalled eight top 20s. His 21-under 259 in 2010 is the tournament record.

Nick Price: The Zimbabwean enjoyed considerable success at Colonial. In 17 starts, he posted five top 10s and another four top 25s. In addition to a T2 in 1990, he prevailed in 1994 and 2002, the latter his last of 18 PGA Tour victories at the age of 45. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame the following year.

Tom Watson: From 1977-1986, he finished third twice and fourth four times. In his 21st start in 1998 and at the age of 48, he finally won at Colonial. It was the last of 39 titles in his PGA Tour career. His final appearance in 2002 resulted in a solo seventh, giving him 10 top 10s and 13 top 25s among 20 cuts made.

Lee Trevino: SuperMex won twice at Colonial in 1976 and 1978. They punctuated seven top 10s among 12 top 25s. He also lost by one stroke in 1970.

Ben Crenshaw: He and Corey Pavin effectively are Nos. 4 and 4a given the similarities in their career records at Colonial. Each won twice, finished second twice and totalled eight top 10s among 15 top 25s in 32 starts.

Corey Pavin: In addition to winning twice, Pavin lost in a playoff in 1992 and made 25 cuts. His T7 as a 50-year-old in 2010 was the penultimate of 107 career top 10s on the PGA Tour.

Gene Littler: Among his 23 cuts made, he won once (1971) and finished secondfour times, three of which by one stroke (1960, 1970, 1979). He also placed third, T4, fifth, T6, T7, T8 (twice) and inside the top 25 another six times.

Julius Boros: Compiled the strongest overall record among the 11 two-time champions. Boros had six top-five finishes including victories in 1960 and 1963, three of which came after the age of 51. He had nine top 10s and 15 top 25 finishes and made the cut 24 times.

Ben Hogan: Hogan owned Colonial. He lived in Fort Worth for most of his life and is the only man to win consecutive editions, something he achieved twice (1946-1947 and 1952-1953). His fifth title at the age of 46 in 1959 was the last of 64 in his career. He also finished T2 once and T3 twice en route to 15 top 10s among 19 top 20s. Finished T56 in his last appearance in 1970.

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