From its Ben Hogan trophy room to its status as the longest-running event at its original site, the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth
is among the most venerable stops on the PGA Tour. This week, the course is playing like a pitch-and-putt. Tim Clark, Vijay Singh, and Shaun O’Hair shot 64s and were lined up right behind Stricker: Clark was one shot back, Singh one more, and O’Hair yet another. “The weather, for two days in a row – well, all week since we’ve been here – has been unbelievable,” Stricker said. “Wind is what this course needs to get difficult, but we haven’t seen it yet.” Clark’s two-round total of 127 matched the previous best for back-to-back rounds set by Justin Leonard in ’03. Singh’s two-round total of 128 matched the previous midway mark set by Kenny Perry in 2005. And they’re only good for footnotes because of Stricker’s 126. The cut line was further evidence of how tame the course is playing. It was even par (140). To put that in perspective, par would’ve beaten Hogan the last two times he won it, in 1959 and ’53 he was 1 under in all three of his other victories here. Chad Campbell hurt his calf playing the 17th hole and withdrew in hopes he’ll be healed in time for the US Open in three weeks. And Ian Baker-Finch, who hadn’t played a PGA Tour event since the 2001 Colonial, missed the cut after shooting 78. Champions – Tour newcomer Olin Browne, native Iowan Lonnie Nielsen, and Bruce Vaughan are tied for the lead at 4 under after the opening round of the Principal Charity Classic in West Des Moines.
Eleven others were within one shot of the lead, including Nick Price, Fred Funk, and Tom Kite. Two-time defending champion Jay Haas shot 1-over 72.