Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Picks, Odds, Course Preview and Prediction
The Charles Schwab Challenge returns to Fort Worth, Texas this week. Andy Lack shares his Charles Schwab Challenge betting picks, odds, course preview, and prediction. Don't miss out on these Golf picks.
Andy Lack
| 7 min
Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Picks, Odds, Course Preview and Prediction
After a thrilling week in Louisville for the year's second major, the PGA Tour returns to Fort Worth, Texas for the Charles Schwab Challenge. Colonial has been an annual stop on the PGA Tour since 1946 and it is a venue that has produced a ton of great history over the years. Certainly falling in the short, positional bucket of golf courses, the Perry Maxwell track will provide a stark contrast from the driver heavy, long iron test that we saw at Valhalla last week. It will be fascinating to watch some of the world's best players attempt transition their games for a different style of golf, which requires controlling spin with short irons into small targets. Scottie Scheffler returns to his home state of Texas after a hectic week at the season’s second major, and he will be challenged by the likes of Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Max Homa, Tony Finau, and Brian Harman, amongst others.
Charles Schwab Challenge DATE, START TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: May 23 - 26, 2024
- Where: Fort Worth, TX
- Where to Watch: Golf Channel, NBC, Peacock
Charles Schwab Challenge ODDS
- Winner: Scottie Scheffler (+280), Collin Morikawa (+1400), Jordan Spieth (+2200)
Click here for the latest Charles Schwab Challenge odds
Charles Schwab Challenge: Course Preview
Colonial Country Club
Colonial Country Club, one of the most historic and iconic venues on the PGA, got a major facelift this year, and it's important to note how it will affect how we handicap the golf course going forward. Much of our data from prior years may need to be taken with a grain of salt, although we can truly only speculate how much the changes will alter the character of the course. Gil Hanse, who completed the restoration, is the master of subtlety, and his intention was not to create a new Colonial, but rather restore the venue to play closer to Perry Maxwell's original intent.
Colonial is in good hands. Hanse completed restoration work on some of the best golf courses in the country, including Los Angeles Country Club, the Country Club at Brookline, and Southern Hills. It feels a fairly safe bet that Colonial will only improve, and Colonial has already done a solid job standing the test of time to modern technology despite measuring just a hair over 7,200 yards. Hanse actually shortened the golf course, which will now play 7,160 yards, something we rarely ever see in a restoration. Yet this speaks to the challenge and intrigue that Colonial presents.
The biggest changes will be to holes eight and 13, both par threes. Number eight will be brought back to its former self, with the green shifted to the left bring the creek into play. Number 13 will also receive a makeover. Hanse called the changes on those holes "dramatic." In totality, Hanse removed some trees and bunkers, opening up the golf course and creating more playing options. My hunch is that Colonial will emphasize the second shot even more than it already does, with wider corridors off the tee, yet more challenging green complexes. As previously mentioned, Hanse is the master of subtlety, and his intent was not necessarily to make the golf course any easier or harder, but rather enhance shot values and intrigue.
Despite playing as the sixth-shortest course on Tour, Colonial has ranked in the top 10 in difficulty each of the last two years. This is largely because the course generally plays very firm and fast, and there is often wind. Colonial is the poster child for the fact that firm and fast conditions – not distance – is what challenges golfers in 2024. The beauty of Colonial is that it's a second-shot golf course where power off the tee is completely neutralized, and the name of the game is controlling spin on short irons to small, firm targets. I expect Hanse's restoration work to only enhance this. This week, I will primarily be looking for players in great recent approach form that have also performed well other short, positional golf courses with smaller greens.
Charles Schwab Challenge Key Stats
- Proximity 125-175 yards
- Strokes Gained Total: Short Courses with Small Greens
- Strokes Gained Putting: Bent-grass
Charles Schwab Challenge: Outright Picks
Brian Harman (+4500) CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS
I rarely find myself on Brian Harman, but I’m willing to make an exception, as Colonial Country Club feels the perfect spot for the reigning Champion Golfer of the Year. Harman is coming off a top-30 finish at the PGA Championship where he gained nearly six strokes on approach, and one of the strongest indicators of success at Colonial is recent approach form. Harman has shown his ability to spike on approach particularly on shorter golf courses with small greens, and it is no coincidence that he led the field in approach play at the Players Championship this year. Over the last three years, Harman ranks fourth in strokes gained total on short courses, and outside of a strong resume at Colonial, the three-time PGA Tour winner has also recorded numerous strong finishes at TPC River Highlands, Sea Island, and Mayakoba, all positional golf courses that require precise short iron play. With already eight top-30 finishes in 11 appearances at Colonial, I expect Harman to add to his impressive resume this week with his fourth career victory.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+5500) CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS
I'm not going to read too deeply into a missed a cut from Christiaan Bezuidenhout at the PGA Championship, as the test this week in Colonial should be far more up the South African's alley. In three appearances at the Maxwell design, Bezuidenhout has already recorded a 15th and a 21st, gaining over two strokes on APP and strokes putting in all three appearances. Bezuidenhout remains one of the best short-iron players in this field, and he significantly raises his baseline on shorter courses with small greens. Outside of the approach play, Bezuidenhout ranks second in this entire field in Bent-grass putting, and he perfectly combines the skill-set of elite short iron play and Bent-grass putting that has proven to pay dividends at Colonial time and again.
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