Cameron Davis is the headline selection for Niall Lyons as he shares his golf betting tips for the Charles Schwab Challenge 2023.
Charles Schwab Challenge - Winner
From the USPGA to the Charles Schwab the standard of tournament doesn't drop an awful lot this week with this tremendous Colonial layout in Texas ready to be tamed by plenty of the world's best making the trip from New York.
The course is a shortish par 70 at just over 7200 yards but with tight tree-lined fairways the players are tested from the tee. Smaller than average greens mean the test doesn't get any easier the closer you get to the hole.
Ball striking is paramount here and it'll be almost impossible to compete with a tee-to-green game that isn't on song. The wind which often rears its head in Texas looks relatively calm this week. Shorter hitters often dominated this event and length off the tee certainly isn't a pre-requisite but it is worth noting the last three winners have hit the ball considerably further than the winners from the previous decade or so.
Despite a runner-up last year there are certainly reasons to suggest there are better courses on tour for Scottie Scheffler and this is probably a week to take him on following a tough week in New York where he traded strong favourite at the halfway stage. Tony Finau was very disappointing and a couple of top-five finishes here isn't enough to tempt me at the odds following that effort in New York.
Jordan Spieth continues to play through the pain and Colonial is one of those courses in his hometown where he will battle on through for the fans. He didn't disgrace himself in defeat last week and generally speaking I'd say he was quite pleased with a top-30 finish in New York having had his wrist taped up all week.
It would be peak Spieth to win here when we least expect him to but he is another quite easily passed up towards the top of the market. We can add Sungjae Im to that list also limping to a MC at Oak Hill following a long trip from Korea. A third week on the trot looks to be the last thing he needs so it's quite easy this week to head further on down the market.
Cameron Davies at 40/1 (Eight Places)
It's almost certain one or two of the market leaders suffer a hangover from the USPGA and with that in mind, one who wasn't quite in contention all week but who impressively hung tough and fired one of the best rounds of the week on Sunday was Cameron Davis, and I'm happy to back him this week at 40/1.
The big hitting Australian has been in fine form and produced his best ball striking effort of the season a month ago at Harbour Town. That was eclipsed last week at Oak Hill where he ranked 4th from tee to green and I expect him to kick on from that effort.
Berger, Kokrak and Burns have somewhat shifted the narrative away from plodders here over the last couple of renewals and if that trends continues Davis looks like one of those able to capitalise. He hit nearly 80% of fairways last Sunday on route to that 65 and should he continue with that accuracy he will be a major force to contend with here.
6th at Sawgrass, 7th at Harbour Town then 4th at Oak Hill is an impressive run of figures on tracks that demand an accurate tee to green game and if the longer hitters begin to dominate events like this we can kiss goodbye to your Kevin Kisners and Zach Johnsons!
1.5pt each-way C.Davis 40/1 1/5 8 (Bet365, Paddypower, Betfair, 888sport)
Hayden Buckley at 80/1 (Eight Places)
Hayden Buckley kicked off his PGA tour rookie season in the fall of 2021 with two top-ten finishes and followed that up later the following year with a 13th-placed finish at the US Open. In his second season, he has continued some solid form with top 20s coming at the Shriners and Sanderson Farms.
His fondness for the tighter golf tests continued with a 5th place at Narashino in Japan before a very unlucky runner-up finish to Si Woo Kim at Waialae. 5th place at Harbour Town last month was further evidence to suggest his best chances lie on these shorter tracks that demand good ball striking whilst a top 10 at the Valero is another positive for form nearby.
Buckley has consistently produced efforts to contend events and with distance and accuracy in abundance he has the tools to go well here at Colonial. He can take heart from a top 30 finish last week in New York which means two out of three made cuts at the three majors he has played.
If he does have a weakness it's his work around the greens but I'm hoping his ball striking prowess will result in a high GIR % for the week. Looks to be slightly underestimated by the bookies and I'd be keeping a close eye especially in any weaker events upcoming.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout at 75/1 (Eight Places)
Christiaan Bezuidenhout was inside the top 20 all week long at this event last year courtesy of rounds of 68,68,69 and 72 and looks to have the perfect game to fire in a repeat effort or possibly even better here at Colonial this week. As ever, Bezuidenhout's stats off the tee don't make for great reading but that's more down to the lack of length he has with the driver. He makes up for it in accuracy and that bodes well for this track.
He missed the cut last week but that was down to a largely uncharacteristic week of poor putting. He missed the cut on the number which is a fair effort considering how poorly he putted. His irons were in good shape in New York and that continued a long spell of excellent iron play.
13th at Sawgrass in March was a sign of what he can do with a course that suits his game. Basically his game gets better and better the closer he gets to the green and if he manages a week of hitting fairways then he has all the tools to contend.
1pt each-way C.Bezuidenhout 75/1 1/5 8 (Bet365 Each way extra)
Harris English at 80/1 (Eight Places)
Harris English looked like a sleeper in the pack last week for the PGA but he struggled with his short game which is a rare occurrence for the Georgian native. His short game doesn't go missing for long periods so I'm prepared to give him another chance here at a course where he has finished runner-up and 5th on previously. English has produced some eye-catching efforts this season most notably 3rd at Quail Hollow and 2nd at Bayhill.
He is definitely more suited to venues where he doesn't need to hit the ball as far and if his irons continue to fire even like they did last week on route to a missed cut then I expect him to figure at some stage throughout the week. Experienced sorts have gone well here down the years and he fits the perfect profile to add his name to the winners' rota here.
1pt each-way H.English 80/1 1/5 8 (Padypower, Betfair)
