Preview and Predictions for the 2016 Dean & DeLuca Invitational

Following Sergio Garcia's return to the winners circle at the AT&T Byron Nelson, the PGA Tour stays in Texas for this week's Dean & DeLuca Invitational.

Perry Maxwell/John Bredemus-designed Colonial Country Club has hosted the Colonial Invitational since 1946 and is the longest-running host venue of a PGA Tour event.

Jordan Spieth headlines the field in Texas, playing for the second week in a row after a disappointing final round at the Byron Nelson. Adam Scott tees it up as well, along with seven more of the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Bryson DeChambeau will be pegging it also, appearing as one of a pair of “Champions Choice” invitation recipients.

For the full breakdown of this week's biggest storylines, favorites, dark horses and our pick to don the plaid jacket, click through.

Tournament Information

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Defending Champion: Chris Kirk

Where: Colonial Country Club, 7,204 yards, par 70

What

Total Purse: $6,700,000

Winning Share: $1,206,000

FedEx Points to Winner: 500

When

Thursday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)

Saturday-Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. ET (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS)

Biggest Storylines

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Jordan Spieth carded a disappointing final-round 74 to finish tied for 18th at the Byron Nelson as he struggled with his swing. He'll be looking to get back on track this week after undoubtedly spending time with teacher Cameron McCormick and is still seeking his first win in his home state.

Adam Scott seeks to add another win to his existing "Texas Grand Slam," as he has raised trophies at Colonial, the Byron Nelson and the Valero Texas Open. Also Ryan Palmer is a member at Colonial, for what that's worth. He's tallied top-15 finishes in three of his last four tries.

According to fantasy strategy site GolfStrat's preview newsletter, key stats this week include: Proximity, Proximity to Hole ARG, Approaches from 150 to 175 yards, Driving Accuracy, Approaches from 100 to 125 yards, Approaches from greater than 100 yards.

An interesting Colonial tidbit: The last seven winners at Colonial have come from behind to win, while the seven winners prior to that had held the 54-hole lead. So, if the pattern holds (which it probably won't) the 54-hole leader will win this week.

The Favorites

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Jordan Spieth: Spieth finished runner-up at Colonial last year and hasn't placed worse than 14th in three tries. He finished 18th at the Byron Nelson in his most recent start, missing the cut at The Players prior to that. Spieth is 10th on tour in strokes gained: total and first in birdie average.

Charley Hoffman: Only a missed cut at The Players has marred Charley Hoffman's hot streak in recent months. He finished 12th at last week's Byron Nelson, three starts removed from his win at another Texas event, the Valero Texas Open. Hoffman finished 10th here last year and 13th in 2012, so he knows his way around Colonial.

Matt Kuchar: Kuch (or is it Kooch?) finished third at the Byron Nelson in his most recent week of work on tour and tied for third at The Players in his start before that. While he missed the cut his last go-round at Colonial in 2014, Kuchar did finish second in 2013. He's 14th in strokes gained: tee-to-green and 12th in strokes gained: total.

The Dark Horses

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William McGirt: While he wasn't terribly impressive in his most recent work at TPC Sawgrass, McGirt has been making cuts, and he's made four of five cuts at Colonial. He's hitting better than 66 percent of fairways for the season and is 16th in strokes gained: total.

Jason Dufner: Duf Daddy finished 24th at the Byron Nelson last week and returns to a venue where he won in 2014. No doubt his game is not at maximum sharpness at the moment, but from a horses-for-courses standpoint, all recent serious contenders deserve consideration (Duf finished second in 2014). At a course that prizes accuracy over distance, Dufner is a threat.

Jim Furyk: Furyk continues to ease back into competitive golf after a lengthy layoff following wrist surgery. He finished 35th at The Players in his most recent start, and the Pennsylvania native recorded top-10 finishes in two of his last six starts at Colonial. Always an accurate driver, Furyk could contend if he has returned to sharpness with his irons.

Prediction

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Winner: Adam Scott

Sergio Garcia indicated Texas has been very good to him after his win at the Byron Nelson. If the Lone Star state has been good to Garcia, it's been incredibly good to Adam Scott, who has completed the Texas Grand Slam, winning all three PGA Tour events in the state.

Most recently, Scott finished 12th at The Players, which followed a top-20 showing at the Wells Fargo Championship. He won at Colonial in 2014, taking down Jason Dufner in a playoff.

Scott's stats this season are formidable: He is the tour leader in strokes gained: tee-to-green and strokes gained: total. He's second in eagles and sixth in birdies, and leads the tour in scoring average. He's third in proximity to the hole and fifth from 125 to 150 yards and second in approaches from 175 to 200 yards.

Good recent play, great course history, superb stats: Scott is the man to beat this week.

All stats via PGATour.com.