2026 Charles Schwab Challenge Sleepers: Bet on Fowler, Bhatia at Colonial Country Club
The 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge will get underway from Colonial Country Club in Texas on Thursday, and there are no superstars in the field. Could Rickie Fowler or Akshay Bhatia finally get a win with no Scheffler or Rory? Let's take a look at this Charles Schwab Challenge sleeper picks for Thursday, May 28th.
Peter Alexis - May 27, 2026, 2:35 PM EDT
4 Minute ReadCan Rickie Fowler, Akshay Bhatia Find Success at Charles Schwab Challenge?
The Charles Schwab Challenge heads to Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, with a much more open board than most recent PGA Tour weeks. Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are not in the field, Jordan Spieth is skipping the event for the first time since 2013, and Brooks Koepka withdrew after a busy stretch, leaving Ludvig Aberg as the favorite in a tournament that suddenly feels wide open at the top.
Colonial is not a pure bomber’s course. It rewards sharp approach play, fairway discipline, putting touch, and patience on a classic par-70 layout with tight, tree-lined corridors. That makes this a strong week to hunt beyond the favorites, especially after Wyndham Clark just won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson with a final-round 60 and another reminder that longshots can break through in Texas.
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2026 Charles Schwab Challenge Odds
2026 Charles Schwab Challenge Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Thursday, May 28th - Sunday, May 31st, 2026
- Time: 7:00 AM ET
- Where to Watch: Golf Channel, CBS, ESPN+
Click here for complete 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge Odds
2026 Charles Schwab Challenge Sleepers Breakdown
Rickie Fowler (+2700) Check out the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Fowler is not a deep sleeper by name, but +2700 is still long enough to fit this board. He has been trending toward a win with three top-10 finishes in his last four starts, and while the PGA Championship ended in a disappointing T60, that was more about the putter than the rest of his game. Colonial is a much better rebound setting if his tee-to-green form carries over.
The course history helps the case. Fowler has finished T6 and T16 in two of his last three starts at Colonial, showing he can handle the demands of Hogan’s Alley. In a field missing Scheffler, Rory, Spieth, and Koepka, Fowler does not need to beat a stacked board. He needs to outlast a thinner top tier and finally convert the form into a win.
Akshay Bhatia (+3500) Check out the best odds at BetMGM Sportsbook
Bhatia is one of the more interesting mid-range sleepers because his recent statistical profile fits Colonial cleanly. He has been highlighted as one of the strongest players in the field over recent form windows, with sharp approach play and improved putting combining into a profile that should travel well to Fort Worth.
The appeal is that Bhatia has enough upside to win without needing a perfect putting week. He can gain on approach, work the ball into small targets, and take advantage of a course that does not simply reward raw power. At +3500, he is priced behind several bigger names, but his fit and current form make him one of the better upside plays outside the top tier.
Gary Woodland (+4900) Check out the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Woodland is the bigger swing, but the number makes sense in this type of field. He already has a win this season at the Houston Open, and that comeback story has added real momentum after his return from a brain tumor and PTSD battle. Colonial also gives him a natural Texas connection after the Houston success, and the course history is strong enough to keep him in the sleeper conversation.
Woodland has multiple top-15 finishes at the Charles Schwab Challenge, so this is not just a form dart. He knows how to play Colonial, has already won in Texas this season, and should enter with confidence in a field that lacks its usual top-heavy power. At +4900, he offers the clearest longshot payout of the group.
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