PGA TOUR: John Daly Contending at Colonial

Featured Columnist Andy Reistetter is on site at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

Today's report will be on the shorter side, as I may have a touch of sun stroke from walking the golf course today in the heat of Texas.

Anyone who does not think a golfer is an athlete ought to come out on a day like today- low 90s temperatures with no wind and see, or feel for themselves.

Yes admittedly so I am not in the best of shape but I have walked 10 tournaments today with little exertion until today.

Ben Hogan's Tournament at Hogan's Alley has a unique and heralded tradition of providing competitive golf with a bit of a flair for staging the special act nobody else thinks of.

Remember Annika Sorenstam when in 2003 playing Colonial became the first women since 1945 to play in a PGA TOUR event.

Colonial, with historic roots yet embracing something unique and good for the game of golf.

How they courted Phil Mickelson return to this tournament in 2008 after he missed two Colonials in a row was masterful.

Well Phil was masterful rising to his just place in the world of golf with that victory at Augusta National in 2006.

And Phil is Phil, loyal if anything else.

After all he played in 11 of 12 Colonials prior to that.

The tournament with that something extra was extra special last year when Phil could not return to defend his title.

A title he won with a little bit of flair if you remember that approach shot through the trees to the final hole on Sunday afternoon to seal the deal.

A PINK OUT Day in support of Phil's wife Amy diagnosed with breast cancer on May 20 of last year.

This year is PINK OUT II Day on Saturday to support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure charitable organization.

Together, Anything and Everything is Possible.

And there you have a sponsor's exemption this year for a slimmed down, taking his golf game seriously John Daly.

A banner on the house across the street from the Colonial Clubhouse proudly displays support for "J.D.-" The Man, The Lion, The Legend.

J.D. went out and shot an impressive bogey-free 4-under par 66 this afternoon and is currently tied for 14th with his blue-checkered "picnic table cloth" pants as described by CBS Sports' David Feherty.

Could it be, could it happen- Daly back in the winners' circle just in time for the 15^th anniversary of his Open victory at The Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland?

We will have to wait and see.

Jeff Overton who has been knocking loudly on the victory door this year with seconds in New Orleans and last week at the Byron Nelson along with Jason Bohn and Blake Adams lead the field with first round seven-under 63s.

Bohn is the guy who beat Overton in New Orleans.

Adams is the guy who lost to Jason Day last week with that wet and wild finish on the 18^th hole at TPC Four Seasons.

Defending champion in spirit, though one year removed, Mickelson shot a 71.

Defending champion in reality, returning from a shoulder injury for the first time since a T30 finish at The Masters, Steve Stricker shot a 68.

Get some rest as I am sure to do tonight…

Y'all we have one heckuva Shootout coming up in the heat of Texas!

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer. He follows the PGA TOUR volunteering and working part time for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, and The Golf Channel.

He resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.

He enjoys pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it. He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him to [e-mail]