2023 Charles Schwab Challenge First Round Leader Predictions, Picks: Can Collin Morikawa Start Hot?
The PGA Tour heads to Fort Worth this weekend for the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge. Can Collin Morikawa start hot on Thursday? Johnny Covers shares his Charles Schwab Challenge first round leader picks.
Johnny Covers - May 24, 2023, 9:20 AM EDT
5 min2023 Charles Schwab Challenge First Round Leader Predictions, Picks: Can Collin Morikawa Start Hot?
Following an electric weekend in Rochester, New York, for the PGA Championship, the PGA Tour heads south to Fort Worth this weekend for the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge. A mainstay on the PGA Tour, the Charles Schwab Challenge returns to Colonial Country Club, which is much shorter but challenging than last week’s Oak Hill Country Club.
Despite following a Major, which typically brings a weaker-than-average field, there are some elite players in this field, including odds on favorite Scottie Scheffler (+400), Viktor Hovland (+1400), Tony Finau (+1400), and Jordan Speith (+1400). Spieth is a guy many will have their eye on this week, as he finished in second place three times and won the event here in 2016.
While Spieth deals with an injury that appeared to hinder him last week, my attention has turned elsewhere to three guys I think could get off to a hot start in Texas.
CHARLES SCHWAB CHALLENGE Start Time and Where to Watch
- Dates: May 25 - May 28, 2023
- Where: Colonial Country Club - Fort Worth, TX
- Where to Watch: CBS, Golf Channel, Peacock
Charles Schwab Challenge First Round Leader Predictions
Collin Morikawa
The two-time major winner has fallen into somewhat of a rut as of late, constantly making the weekend cuts but failing to get it done since his 2021 British Open victory. He comes into this week with some momentum, finally, however, as he played out of his mind Sunday to finish T26 at the PGA Championship. This week’s course should suit him even better, as he’s not the longest of hitters but has the short game to compete with anyone on Tour when he’s dealing.
Chris Kirk
With just one debutant winner of this event since 2001 (Sergio Garcia), this week’s winner will almost certainly be someone who has been here before. Kirk hasn’t just been here and played well; he’s a past winner, taking home the 2015 edition of the Charles Schwab Challenge. After a brief lull, he also got back into the winner’s circle this year, winning the 2023 Honda Classic in dominating fashion. With two other top 10s this weekend, a T3 at the Sony and a T10 here in Texas at the Valero, Kirk seems poised to come out firing Thursday back in Texas.
Andrew Putnam
This is certainly a flyer, but I think Putnam might just have some value to start off strong on Thursday. Coming into the week, he is No. 5 in the field in Strokes Gained: Bentgrass, and No. 13 in the field in course history, and now playing some of the best golf we have seen from him in years. He also will be looking to build off some momentum he had here in 2022, finishing T15, just outside his average position of T13 in his five events played.
Charles Schwab Challenge First Round Leader Picks
Collin Morikawa +2800 is currently the best odds. Click here to find out which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
Chris Kirk +4500 is currently the best odds. Click here to find out which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
Andrew Putnam +7000 is currently the best odds. Click here to find out which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
Golf Odds
