FORT WORTH, Texas _ It is difficult to round a corner at this week's Dean & DeLuca Invitational without spotting an image of Jordan Spieth, the tournament's defending champion.
He's featured on banners in the neighborhood near the course and on signage throughout Colonial Country Club. Based on past performances, which show the Dallas resident has finished 14th or better in all four of his career starts at Fort Worth's annual PGA Tour event, he'll likely find himself on leader boards once again at "Hogan's Alley."
Spieth, after all, owns the lowest career scoring average of any competitor in Colonial tournament history (67.31).
But he projects to be pushed for this year's title by a collection of intriguing newcomers and recent returnees to the event. The list includes PGA Tour rookie Jon Rahm, who ranks fourth among tour competitors in season earnings ($3,976,615), and Phil Mickelson, a two-time Colonial champ who is returning for the first time since 2010.
It also includes Billy Horschel, a first-time Colonial competitor who is coming off Sunday's victory at the AT&T Byron Nelson, and European standout Graeme McDowell, a four-time Ryder Cup participant and 2010 U.S. Open champion making his Colonial debut.
This begs the question: How important is experience at this course in regard to securing a plaid jacket on Sunday afternoon? Zach Johnson, a two-time winner in Fort Worth, considers local knowledge significant ... but only to a point.
"I think there are other courses we play where that comes into effect more," Johnson said before Wednesday's pro-am round. "With this one, what you see is what you get. That's a distinct compliment. It's not contrived or manipulated. You can hit driver on a lot of holes. You can hit a 4-iron. It gives you options but you have to hit it good."
A perceived inability to lean on his driver led Mickelson to drop Colonial from his schedule following a missed cut in 2010, his last appearance in Fort Worth. A year later, Mickelson criticized tweaks to the Colonial layout made by golf architect Keith Foster following his 2008 title, saying the changes neutralized his advantage as a long hitter.
Mickelson, 46, returned Wednesday as a golfer who ranks 65th among tour competitors in driving distance (293.8-yard average). Back in 2009, he averaged more than 300 yards off the tee and stood 13th in driving distance. Apparently, Father Time has changed some of Mickelson's views about whether Colonial's current configuration impacts his power game.
Asked if the course fits his game better today, Mickelson said: "It's hard to say. I think if you're playing well, you can play just about any golf course. You can't overpower Colonial ... but you can be rewarded. My favorite thing about this course is that very rarely is a well-struck shot penalized."
Mickelson, who won Colonial titles in 2008 and 2000, said "nothing real specific" caused him to return this year. He also conceded that he faces a bit of a learning curve this week.
"I haven't played here in a while, so I still remember the course prior to it going under some renovation," Mickelson said, adding that "little nuances" caught him off-guard in his pro-am round. "But it's in great shape. It's nice to be back."
Rahm, winner of the past two Ben Hogan Awards given to the nation's top college golfer (2015, 2016) during tournament week in Fort Worth, has yet to play a competitive round at Colonial. But the venue oozes with good vibes and the layout offers plenty of left-to-right tee shots that suit his game.
"That fits my eye. I like hitting fades. I'm comfortable on this course," Rahm said. "There is a lot of positivity for me surrounding this place. I haven't had a single bad moment here yet, so it's all good going forward."
Horschel, in turn, is brimming with confidence after Sunday's win in Irving broke a streak of four consecutive missed cuts at PGA Tour events. Horschel said he feels no added pressure in trying to become the first golfer to win both D-FW titles in consecutive weeks as a Colonial newcomer.
"I'm just going to go out there and try and enjoy the week like I did last week," Horschel said. "I have two things I am going to focus on: Nice swing, smooth tempo. Like Ernie Els or Freddie Couples. Those are my mental pictures in my head."
For Rahm, the No. 12 player in the world golf rankings, the mental picture is clear: another trip to Fort Worth, another item for the trophy case.
"Being able to walk out of here with a trophy twice, even if it's not the same one we're competing for this week, I do have that positivity in the back of my head," Rahm said. "I kind of have the same feeling as if I played great here before and I've never played it."
