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PGA Golf Preview: Charles Schwab Challenge

Tournament Details

  • Event: Charles Schwab Challenge (PGA Tour)
  • Date: May 23-26, 2025
  • Venue: Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas
  • Course: Par 70, 7,289 yards
  • Purse: $9.5 million
  • Defending Champion: Davis Riley
  • TV Broadcast: Golf Channel, CBS Sports

Course Overview

Colonial Country Club has hosted the Charles Schwab Challenge since 1946, making it the longest-running non-major held at the same venue. The course underwent a Gil Hanse-led restoration in 2024, which players praised for maintaining its classic design while adapting to the modern game.

Colonial is known for its tight fairways, small greens, and strategic bunkering, making accuracy off the tee and strong iron play essential. The “Horrible Horseshoe” (holes 3-5) is one of the toughest stretches on the PGA Tour, with the par-4 fifth hole ranking as the 18th hardest hole on Tour last year.

Field & Notable Players

The 135-player field includes some of the biggest names in golf, with 10 players ranked inside the top 30 of the world rankings. Key contenders include:

  • Scottie Scheffler (World No. 1) – Fresh off his PGA Championship victory, Scheffler is looking for his third straight win.
  • Hideki Matsuyama (No. 7) – A consistent performer with strong iron play.
  • Tommy Fleetwood (No. 14) – Known for his precision and ability to handle tough courses.
  • Harris English (No. 17) – Coming off a runner-up finish at Quail Hollow, English has been in great form.
  • Daniel Berger (No. 25) – Won this event in 2020 and has a strong track record at Colonial.
  • Jordan Spieth (No. 22) – A former champion (2016) with three runner-up finishes at Colonial.
  • Davis Riley (Defending Champion) – Looking to become the first back-to-back winner since Ben Hogan.

Other notable players include Jhonattan Vegas, J.T. Poston, Ben Griffin, Ryan Gerard, Joe Highsmith, Si Woo Kim, and past champions Olin Browne, David Frost, and Corey Pavin.

Key Storylines

Scottie Scheffler’s Dominance

Scheffler has been unstoppable, winning the PGA Championship and finishing top-three in his last three starts at Colonial. He enters as the +250 betting favorite, significantly ahead of the rest of the field.

Davis Riley’s Title Defense

Riley shocked the golf world last year by defeating Scheffler by five strokes. Can he repeat his success and join Ben Hogan as the only back-to-back winners?

Course Challenges

Colonial was the fifth hardest course on Tour in 2024, with a scoring average of 70.824. Players will need elite ball-striking and putting to contend.

Betting Odds & Predictions

  • Scottie Scheffler (+250) – Heavy favorite after his PGA Championship win.
  • Jordan Spieth (+2200) – Strong history at Colonial but inconsistent form.
  • Hideki Matsuyama (+2500) – Reliable ball-striker with a chance to contend.
  • Davis Riley (+4000) – Defending champion looking to repeat.
  • Aaron Rai (+4500) – A sleeper pick with elite iron play.
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