The PGA TOUR remains deep in Texas for one of the most historic stops on the calendar, with the 80th edition of the Charles Schwab Challenge returning to the iconic Colonial Country Club this weekend. Colonial has long been considered one of the purest tests in golf, rewarding patience, precision and elite iron play rather than raw power. In an era of bomb-and-gouge setups, this place still asks players to think their way around the course.
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PGA Tour Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Tips
Colonial Country Club, Thursday 28th - Sunday 31st May
The Field
Ludvig Åberg headlines the field after another excellent major performance at the PGA Championship, where the Swede finished T4 to continue a remarkable stretch that has now produced six top-10 finishes in his last seven starts. While this marks his Colonial debut, his elite ball-striking and calm temperament look perfectly suited to a course that punishes recklessness.
Defending champion Ben Griffin returns attempting something rarely seen at Colonial. No player since Ben Hogan in the 1950s has successfully defended this title, but Griffin arrives in solid touch after a T14 at the PGA Championship. Justin Thomas also returns to Fort Worth for the first time since 2022 after showing encouraging signs recently, highlighted by a T4 finish at Aronimink.
There are storylines everywhere throughout the field. Alex Smalley continues one of the steadiest runs on TOUR with six consecutive top-25 finishes, while former winners including Chris Kirk, Emiliano Grillo and Davis Riley return looking to recapture some Colonial magic. Meanwhile, players such as Matt McCarty and rookie Zach Bauchou are chasing career-defining weeks with Signature Event qualification implications hanging over every shot.
The Course
Colonial Country Club remains one of the most respected venues on the PGA TOUR rotation and continues to reward disciplined golf above all else. The par-70 layout stretches to 7,289 yards, but distance alone rarely conquers Colonial. Players who consistently find fairways and control their approach play traditionally separate themselves here.
This will be the third year since Gil Hanse’s sweeping restoration project reshaped the historic venue. Greens were repositioned, bunkers restored and several visual corridors cleaned up to bring Colonial closer to its original character. The result has been overwhelmingly praised by players, with the course once again emphasizing strategy, shot-shaping and precision iron play.
Colonial’s famous “Horrible Horseshoe” stretch from holes three through five remains one of the trickiest sequences on TOUR, while the closing stretch constantly creates leaderboard drama. Winning scores can still reach deep into double digits under par, but unlike some modern birdie-fests, Colonial tends to expose loose driving and poor decision-making very quickly.
Top Picks
Justin Thomas
No doubt eager to continue riding momentum after a solo 13th at the Truist Championship and a T4 at the PGA Championship, his best finish in a major since he lifted the Wanamaker Trophy in 2022. His surgically repaired back appears to be holding up well and Colonial’s emphasis on elite iron play should fit him beautifully.
Ben Griffin
This is his second title defense of the season but the first entirely on his own ball, and he has every reason to feel confident. Griffin followed a solo third at the Cadillac Championship with a T14 at the PGA Championship and continues to look increasingly comfortable in elite company. Returning to a course where he already owns a trophy certainly does not hurt.
Value Picks
Matt McCarty
It took a major championship to slow the left-hander down. Prior to missing the cut at the PGA Championship, McCarty rattled off four straight top-25 finishes, including back-to-back top 10s. He consistently finds fairways and has adapted quickly to scoring opportunities at TOUR level.
Zach Bauchou
The 30-year-old rookie arrives fresh off a career-best T6 at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, his third consecutive top-25 finish and sixth of the season overall. The steady improvement has been impressive and his reliable, workmanlike game profile feels tailor-made for a venue like Colonial.
