The Biggest Storylines Ahead of the 2015 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, is the host of this week's PGA Tour event, the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. 

We've been treated to two exceptional weeks of drama on tour, first with Rickie Fowler's playoff win at The Players Championship and then with Rory McIlroy's romp at the Wells Fargo Championship. The state of professional golf looks pretty good at the moment. 

Mr. McIlroy is playing overseas at the BMW PGA Championship this week, but world No. 2 Jordan Spieth will be in the field in Texas. His return to competition after missing the cut at The Players Championship is a storyline this week. 

What are the other narratives of note?

Read on to find out.

Rory Reigns

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While he's not in the field at Colonial, Rory McIlroy's statement victory at the Wells Fargo Championship was a sonic boom that's still reverberating on tour. 

The world No. 1 trounced the field at Quail Hollow, winning by seven strokes in a bold declaration that he's still the best golfer in the world. The Ulsterman seemed to suggest with his play that any talk of a "Big Three" of McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler is immature. McIlroy is still the man. 

And while the shadow he casts over the tour may not be as long or heavy as Tiger Woods' through most of the early 2000s, understanding that Rory presently lords over all is the appropriate frame for this week's event. 

Jordan Spieth Returns to Competition

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After missing the cut at The Players Championship, Jordan Spieth skipped last week's Wells Fargo Championship in a rare week off for the 21-year-old. 

The Texas native will be teeing it up in his home state at a course where he's finished inside the top 10 in his two starts. 

He'll be both a fan favorite and a favorite at the sportsbooks this week as he seeks to rebound from a disappointing showing in Ponte Vedra two weeks ago.

Defending Champ Adam Scott

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Defending champion Adam Scott arrives at Colonial in search of a putting stroke and on the heels of a missed cut at the Wells Fargo Championship. 

The Australian is returning to a venue where he picked up .642 strokes on the field with his putting last season. This season, Scott is 196th on tour in strokes gained: putting, He'll be hoping to putt more like he did last year at Colonial and less like he has throughout this season. 

Will he be able to find some comfort on greens he conquered last year?

Patrick Reed?

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

This is certainly atypical. 

First, a statement Patrick Reed issued Tuesday: 

"

We will not be able to travel overseas at this time. My sincere apologies go to the organizers of both events, and to the fans. I am really looking forward to playing on the European Tour this year which makes me even more disappointed to withdraw from [the BMW PGA Championship at] Wentworth and the Irish Open.

"

OK. Fine. Patrick Reed is bowing out of the BMW PGA Championship and next week's Irish Open. 

Here's the odd part: Reed committed to the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Friday. Wouldn't it have been better to withdraw prior to making that commitment rather than raising eyebrows (and perhaps ruffling feathers)?

While there may be legitimate reasons why Reed needs to be closer to home, the sequencing is odd to say the least and likely suspect in the eyes of some. 

It's another bizarre item in the Patrick Reed saga, and golf fans will be interested to see what else comes of the situation.

Ryan Palmer...

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Texas native Ryan Palmer finished tied for fifth at the Crowne Plaza Invitational last year. He tied for 13th in 2013. 

Although he missed the cut at The Players Championship in his last start, Palmer traditionally plays well in his home state. Most recently, he finished tied for sixth at the Valero Texas Open. 

After Jordan Spieth, Palmer is the Texan to keep an eye on this week.

Champions' Choice

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An unique element that has been part of the tournament at Colonial for years: the Champions' Choice invitation. 

Past tournament champions choose two young players to participate in the tournament who otherwise weren't going to be in the field. 

Tom Weiskopf, Craig Stadler, Curtis Strange, Mark O'Meara, Paul Azinger, Davis Love III and Dave Stockton were all Champions' Choices. Stockton actually won the tournament as a Champions' Choice in 1967. 

Sam Saunders and Cody Gribble are the Choices this year. Keep an eye on how they play.