The 2013 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
May 20-26
2012 Champion Zach Johnson
This year’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial is another can’t miss rite of spring in Fort Worth. May 20-26 is the date for this year’s prestigious event. The championship’s $6.4 million purse and world-famous golf course are bringing in many top ranked and well-known golfers from around the world. At press time, top pros who have committed early to play include defending champion Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk, Rickie Fowler, Ben Crane, Ryan Palmer, Stewart Cink, Justin Leonard, J.J. Henry, Geoff Ogilvy, Hunter Mahan, Rory Sabbatini, Vijay Singh, David Toms, Corey Pavin, Johnson Wagner, Chad Campbell, Boo Weekley, Camilo Villegas and John Daly.
The event will be broadcast worldwide by The Golf Channel on Thursday and Friday and by CBS on Saturday and Sunday. The Golf Channel will have early-day coverage on Saturday and Sunday prior to the CBS broadcast.
A special free event starting the week will feature Nike golfer and Radio Disney hosting the Youth Clinic, a free event catering to kids at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 20 at the practice range. Monday’s activities also include a Pro-Am with a 10 a.m. start, followed by practice rounds. Pros will also play practice rounds on Tuesday. Wednesday is the all day Crowne Plaza Pro-Am. The championship rounds Thursday through Sunday begin at approximately 7:30 a.m. each day. The Colonial Country Club golf course is often rated Texas’ best, and is on “America’s best” golf list. The course is the site of two U.S. Opens and the Tournament Players Championship, and is the oldest event on the PGA Tour still played at its original site. The tournament’s popularity dates back to 1946 when golf legend Ben Hogan won the inaugural event. Since then, hosts of other golf superstars have stormed the course to win championships. Julius Boros, Bruce Devlin, Cary Middlecoff, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, Tom Weiskopf, Ben Crenshaw, Peter Jacobsen, Nick Price, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia are just a few of the famous winners who have appeared throughout the event’s colorful history.
Detailed spectator information and parking instructions can be found at the official tournament web site www.CrownePlazaInvitational.com. The tournament has generated cash and services for more than 130 different organizations in the last decade totaling more than $50 million. Over $7 million has been raised for its primary beneficiary, Cook Children’s Medical Center. Every year since 1998, the tournament has surpassed the million-dollar mark in annual charitable donations.
One-day tickets are $45 for Wednesday through Sunday. Admission Monday and Tuesday is free. A grounds badge-good all week-costs $100. A special youth ticket can be purchased online for $15 – an adult attending the tournament must accompany any child. Kids 12 and under are free. A pass to the Champions Club, a large air-conditioned hospitality tent near the main practice green, is $225 for the week. A venue called the Hogan Club @ 18 offers fans the experience of a corporate skybox. Next door to the Champions Club will be the Bank of Texas Fan Fest. This air-conditioned tent will be open to the public, featuring tournament souvenirs and interactive exhibits from PGA Tour partners such as Nike and others.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. They are not sold at the gate during the tournament. You may conveniently purchase tickets online at www.CrownePlazaInvitational.com or by calling 817-927-4280.
