Martin Piller … Among the handful in the field able to sleep in their own beds in the Metroplex during this fortnight, he’s coming off a front-loaded T21 at Trinity Forest where he crafted a career-low 63 in the second round. It was his fourth top 25 of the season, the last two of which in his native Texas. The bigger news, however, is that he’s now making his third start as a first-time father who has all but sewn up his TOUR card for next season. With all kinds of positive mojo flowing, the 32-year-old can further lean on the vibes of a T6 in his debut at Colonial in 2016. Nick Watney … He locked up his card for next season with a co-runner-up performance at the Wells Fargo Championship three weeks ago, but he was already piecing together a respectful season, albeit sans the spike. Owns a consecutive cuts made streak of 12 as he prepares for his seventh appearance at Colonial. Seeking his first top 25 in the tournament, his approach game and putting are poised to produce like they did at Quail Hollow en route to leading the field in greens in regulation while ranking T4 in proximity to the hole and seventh in strokes gained: putting. Currently a respective T61, T3 and 47th in those three stats for the season. Danny Lee … Casual fans would have missed his runs at the Houston Open, RBC Heritage and Valero Texas Open because of massive Sunday fades, but devotees of consuming earlier action were not surprised to see him put all four rounds together at THE PLAYERS for a season-best-tying T7. The turnaround in general over his last six starts was due almost entirely to improved putting. He’s shaved 0.887 strokes per round on the greens and climbed 104 spots in strokes gained: putting to his current position of T89. Now the local resident gets another opportunity to sink his teeth into Colonial where he’s 5-for-5 with a T10, T22 and solo sixth in the last three editions. David Lingmerth … This endorsement likely hinges on him securing a tee time in the final round, and that’s not intended to be humorous. In four previous appearances at Colonial, he’s scored 65, 66, 65 and 67 to finish a respective T18, T5, T33 and T12. Contrarily, in nine final rounds in 15 starts this season, he’s manufactured only three red numbers and hasn’t logged a top 25 in over six months. As one of the most accurate off the tee, the 30-year-old will need to lean on his comfort level over current form. David Hearn … As the third alternate at the commitment deadline, this is a bonus start in a 121-man invitational. So, even though he’s 148th in the FedExCup standings, he might feel like he’s playing on house points. Even better, Colonial is the kind of place where he projects to collect, too. A regular here since 2011, he’s scattered three top 25s among six cuts made. His record also includes a career-low-tying 64 in the opening round of 2013 (the only edition in which he’s missed a cut). Lined up similarly well as a course horse at TPC Louisiana a month ago and tied for 10th with partner Seamus Power. The 38-year-old Canadian also fits the profile in Fort Worth, slotting 12th on TOUR in fairways hit and second in proximity to the hole.
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