DEFENDING CHAMPION: The first event played on the PGA Tour following its COVID-19 hiatus saw Daniel Berger claim the title. Berger made a birdie at the 72nd hole to draw level with Collin Morikawa, who he then beat in a sudden-death play-off.

COURSE: Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas has hosted this event for all of its 75 years and will do so again this week.

Narrow tree-lined fairways and regular doglegs form the challenge from the tee here, where small greens only further the reputation of Colonial as a ball strikers’ course.

Designed by John Bredemus and updated by Perry Maxell before hosting the US Open in 1941, the course will measure 7,000 yards this week.

PRIZEMONEY: US$7,500,000

PLAYERS TO WATCH …

After winning a major championship at 50, Phil Mickelson is certainly worth keeping an eye on here.

‘Lefty’ will have obviously had plenty taken out of him by his heroic performance at Kiawah Island, which he followed with an unplanned trip to California to see his family, but as he showed last week, he appears to have discovered the fountain of youth.

Mickelson will have plenty of engagements this week, and is primarily here to honour his commitment to the tournament, but could still contend.

Mickelson is clearly in good form and he has won twice at Colonial in the past. And as proven last week, we should never count Phil out.

RIGHT: Daniel Berger poses with the trophy and his plaid jacket in 2020 after defeating Collin Morikawa in a play-off. PHOTO: Tom /Getty Images.

Justin Rose will surely have been a little inspired by Mickelson’s charge last week having recently joined the 40 somethings on the PGA Tour looking to win more major championship titles.

Rose has been fairly inconsistent so far this year, but was T8 last week at Kiawah and is something of a Colonial specialist.

The Englishman won here in 2018 and shared T3 last year, and is an elite ball striker, which explains his success around ‘Hogan’s Alley’.

Abraham Ancer feels like he just simply has to win at some stage soon, and yet again, his game is well suited to this week’s venue.

Ancer has now finished 5th, 2nd and T8 in his last three starts, including the PGA last week, and is a high quality ball striker who will handle the tight and turning challenge of Colonial well.

The Mexican was T14 at this event last year and lives in Texas, all signs pointing to another solid week.

72-HOLE RECORD: Two-time major winner Zach Johnson set the tourament scoring record here in 2010 when he needed just 259 strokes (21-under) to record a three-shot win over England's Brain Davis.

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

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Cam Davis, Matt Jones and Cameron Percy. 

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 4am – 9am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 507 LIVE 3am – 8:30am)

*AEST, check local guides