Crowne Plaza Invitational Preview: Now it's Spieth's Turn

Nine wins on the PGA Tour since 2012. Four major championships since 2011, including two of the last three. One missed cut on the PGA Tour since August 2013. Rory McIlroy is not Tiger Woods, but no one since Tiger has been the unquestioned "best player on the planet." With all due respect to Jordan Spieth, McIlroy's accomplishments are well ahead of Spieth. Sure, McIlroy had a head start on Spieth, but to compare the two is unfair. But that's not what I'm talking about here. The reason for the Tiger comparison is that feeling of inevitability with either in the lead. A decade ago, when Tiger started well, he was untouchable and Rory has that same ability. The Wells Fargo Championship was essentially over halfway through McIlroy's round of 61 on Saturday.

McIlroy hasn't always been bullet-proof -- he famously blew a weekend-lead at the Masters -- but that was eons ago in the progression of what we'll one day consider one of the best ever to play this game. McIlroy is not Tiger Woods, but it's not necessarily his fault. Tiger came along at a time when competition wasn't nearly as deep as it is now and the best players in the world weren't seemingly as strong -- mentally anyway. Woods took full advantage of the situation and in doing so, became one of the all-time greats. No one is good enough to dominate the current make-up of the PGA Tour as it stands because there's simply too much talent. McIlroy is not Tiger Woods, but he's the closest thing we've seen in the last decade.

This week: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial - Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas

Last Year: Adam Scott shot a final-round 66 on his way to a playoff victory over Jason Dufner.

PLAYERS TO CONSIDER

Jordan Spieth

If Spieth is to challenge McIlroy for the title of "best player on the planet," he needs to step up in situations like these. McIlroy just reestablished himself as the alpha dog, and now it's Spieth's turn to respond. Fortunately, he's played pretty well at Colonial with two top-15s in two tries.

Zach Johnson

If this list were determined by course history only, then Johnson would be atop the list. His record here is unmatched among the players in the field this week. Johnson has four top-5s here in the last five years, including two wins. For some inexplicable reason, though, he finished 73rd last year.

Jason Dufner

Dufner is not playing well this year, but if any spot is going to snap him out of his funk, it's this one. Dufner finished runner-up last season at this event, but it wasn't the first time he had success here. He also finished runner-up two years prior in 2012.

Ryan Palmer

Palmer hasn't played his best golf the last few weeks, but his last three events -- the Masters, WGC Cadillac Championship and The Players -- aren't exactly good barometers for what he'll face this week. Palmer has played very well on this course the last three years, and that trend should continue this year.

Bo Van Pelt

Through all the ups and downs, through thick and thin, Van Pelt has always found a way here. In 11 starts, Van Pelt has played the weekend all 11 times. He hasn't always contended, but he's usually finds his way into the top 25.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Rory Sabbatini

Sabbatini is a former champ here, which will put him on more than a few radars, but his performance here since that win in 2007 has been quite poor. In six starts since his win, Sabbatini has cracked the top 20 just once.

Jimmy Walker

Top 10 here last year, but he doesn't have much of a track record as he's only played this event twice. Besides that, Walker has hit a bit of a lull lately, and there are much better options this week.

Brandt Snedeker

Snedeker has made the cut every time he has teed it up here, but he hasn't done much on the weekend. Snedeker has struggled to get back to his top form and until he's there, or near there, he's not worth taking in a one-and-done format.

Kevin Streelman

Streelman does have a top-10 here, but outside that finish in 2011, he's largely struggled. In five starts at this event, Streelman has only two made cuts. He is coming off a top-10 last week, but it will be tough to overcome the course history this week.

Jeff Overton

Overton played well here a few years back when he posted back-to-back top-15s, but he's struggled for the most part at this event since, and his form now is awful having missed his last five cuts on the PGA Tour.

ONE AND DONE GOLFER

Last week: Phil Mickelson (T4) - $293,467; Season - $3,223,812

This week: Zach Johnson - Johnson's length off the tee, or lack thereof, is going to limit him in many spots on the PGA Tour schedule, but this isn't one of them. Colonial is all about accuracy, and Johnson is one of the best when it comes to ball striking.

YAHOO PICKS

Points: 2798
Rank: 14,072

This Week:

Group A: Adam Scott, Jason Dufner

Group B: Phil Mickelson, Kevin Kisner, Hideki Matsuyama, Nick Watney

Group C: Geoff Ogilvy, Ryan Moore

SURVIVOR PICK

Last week: Geoff Ogilvy (T7); Streak - 2

This week: Bo Van Pelt - Risky pick? Certainly, but if you can get through a week with a player like Van Pelt, then you are gaining on the field. Van Pelt may not be the golfer he was five years ago, but he always makes the cut here.