DEFENDING CHAMPION: Korean-born American Kevin Na defeated current World No.16 Tony Finau by four shots here last year, reaching 13-under-par, 267.

COURSE: The highly regarded Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, opened in 1936 and was designed by John Bredemus and Perry Maxwell. Host of the US Open in 1941 and Women’s US Open in 1991, Colonial today plays to 6,592 metres (par-70) and has hosted this event since 1946.

PRIZEMONEY: US$7,500,000.

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH …

Spain’s Jon Rahm revealed on Tuesday that he didn’t touch his clubs for seven weeks during the COVID-19 lockdown. But, with the expected rust aside, the 25-year-old finished T2nd during his first visit to Colonial in 2017 – alongside Sean O’Hair and Jordan Spieth behind the winning Kevin Kisner – and was T5th the year after.

The World No.2 hasn’t finished worse than T17th on US soil since May last year and has bagged nine top-10s in the process. Rahm hasn’t tasted victory, however, since the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last April.

RIGHT: Kevin Na won his third PGA Tour title at Colonial last year. PHOTO: Tom Pennington/Getty Images.

American Brooks Koepka finished runner-up to Justin Rose during his Colonial debut in 2018 and will make his second appearance at the Texan track this week.

The outspoken 30-year-old shot two rounds of 63 back in 2018 and will be eager to turn the tables on his 2019/20 PGA Tour season, which so far has seen him finish no better than T43rd.

Koepka, currently ranked third in the Official World Golf Ranking, went under the knife last October to repair a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee and hasn’t won on Tour for 11 months. It will be interesting to see how an extra three-month break has helped his recovery.

72-HOLE RECORD: American Zach Johnson shot 21-under-par 259 in 2010 when he defeated Englishman Brian Davis by three shots.

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Adam Scott (2014), Ian Baker-Finch (1989), Bruce Devlin (1966) and Bruce Crampton (1965).

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Cameron Davis, Jason Day, Matt Jones, Marc Leishman, John Senden and Cameron Smith.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 6am – 9am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 6am – 9am)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 3am – 8am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 3am – 8am)
*AEST, check local guides