Deconstructing Colonial

Chokefest in Fort Worth

It's my opinion that mid-level PGA tourneys like the Byron Nelson or the Colonial can only hope for several things:

1. Drama.

2. Big names clogging the top of the leaderboard.

You can't sit around moaning and groaning that Tiger Woods and other hotshots aren't coming to your party and wonder how you can get them next time. The Nelson and Colonial aren't the only tournaments in this situation. There's the Majors, the big non-Majors and the tourneys Tiger plays. The rest of the tourneys are in the same boat. Just trying to stay afloat.

The Colonial should be pleased. It ended with a three-way playoff, there were plenty of big names contending and by 10:30 Sunday night, people were still talking about you.

Anyway, the leaderboards and the leaders who lead it:

Steve Stricker -- -17
He won the thing and had he not, he would've kicked himself from here 'til next Thursday. Opened the weekend with two 63s and eked by with a 68 and 69. Still, $1.1 million is still $1.1 million.

Tim Clark -- -17
Choked? You bet.

Steve Marino -- -17
Just lucky to be here. Parred everyone to death Sunday.

Vijay Singh -- -14
He averaged 6.5 birdies Thursday and Friday and had five total birdies Saturday and Sunday. He wasn't awful, just not good. "Good" probably gets Veej to -18.

Jim Furyk -- -11
A -5 on Sunday. Just too little too late.

Justin Leonard -- -10
Was right there to start Sunday with a beautiful Saturday. Then he had to play 18 Sunday. Christ. A +2 including four bogeys and a double bogey on 13.

Kenny Perry -- -6
After a good Thursday, Perry simple didn't have it for the final three days.

Rory Sabbatini -- -6
A -5 put him at -6 for the tourney. Otherwise, it was a pretty lackluster tourney after winning the Nelson.