Charles Schwab Challenge 2023 Headlined by Top Texans

Following the PGA Championship at Oak Hill in Rochester, NY, the PGA Tour returns to Texas for the Charles Schwab Challenge 2023. I chip-in coverage for the 78th edition of the tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth – the longest-running non-major on Tour contested on the same course.

I won’t spend much time on this event, as I’ve been scrambling to save par on a number of fronts this week. Last year I added coverage for this event for PlayTexas highlighting the top golfers with Texas ties including this year’s favorites Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth, who both live in Dallas and played golf at the University of Texas in Austin.

Those two are featured in my 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge tournament coverage in Forbes. Full odds, insight and comments from Scheffler and Spieth.

But beyond those leading favorites and eight of the top-20 players in the world ranking in the 120 player invitational field, there are many longshots and dark horses to consider for win wagers, top finishing position bets and match-ups. I add more coverage for FanDuel and affiliates including The Duel Sports.

Charles Schwab Challenge Odds 2023

After a T-2 finish at the PGA, Scottie Scheffler is back in his home state and a clear betting favorite at Colonial.

Opening @CSChallengeFW odds:

+400: Scheffler
+1400: Spieth
+1600: Morikawa, Finau, Hovland
+2200: Homa, Im
+2500: Burns
+2800: Rose, Fleetwood
+3300: Fowler pic.twitter.com/PgpfM3JOw3

— Golfbet (@Golfbet) May 22, 2023

Here is a brief review of the course at Colonial CC.

Nicknamed ‘Hogan’s Alley’ after five-time Colonial winner Ben Hogan, Colonial Country Club is an old-fashioned style course that requires an emphasis on tee-ball and ball-striking accuracy and strategy.

The 7,209-yard par 70 is for shot shapers and shot makers. Sharp iron play and ball striking are rewarded. Putting also becomes a more important strokes gained statistic at Colonial. Golfers with the best short games have typically done well, and the list of winners at Colonial is filled with top ball strikers.

Texas golfers in Charles Schwab Challenge

The field at Colonial is also filled with golfers that have Texas connections.

• Scottie Scheffler: Dallas, University of Texas
• Jordan Spieth: Dallas, University of Texas
• Harry Higgs: Dallas, SMU
• Austin Smotherman: Dallas, SMU
• Dylan Frittelli: Austin, University of Texas
• Beau Hossler: Austin, University of Texas
• Ryan Palmer: Colleyville, Texas A&M
• Tom Hoge: TCU
• Sam Stevens: Dallas
• Pierceson Coody: Plano, University of Texas

Sportsbook Data

No surprise that the public is hammering the top 3-4 favorites again. Scheffler, Spieth and Morikawa account for 36% of the total money (handle) to win the event. Scheffler continues his exceptional play with elite tee-to-green and short game and a runner-up finish last week at the PGA Championship. Spieth has a wrist injury to consider, but no golfer has more dominant results at Colonial than Spieth – a win, three runner-ups and four straight top-10s the last four years. Hovland comes off a runner-up finish in the PGA Championship and his ball strikiing is elite. Collin Morikawa could/shout have won this event in 2020. Tony Finau disappointed in the PGA Championship with his worst ball striking performance in 2 1/2 years. Finau has a pair of top-5s at Colonial that includes a runner-up the last four years.

Inside the Book @CSChallengeFW

Here's where the money is coming in on who will win at Colonial this weekend. pic.twitter.com/LFv1YVuH6L

— Golfbet (@Golfbet) May 24, 2023

Charles Schwab Challenge 2023 Picks

Fairway’s Favorites: Tony Finau, Sungjae Im, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Cam Davis
Fairway’s Longshots: Brian Harman, Andrew Putnam, Davis Riley, Scott Stallings, Sam Stevens

Tournament Match-ups: Tommy Fleetwood (-115) over Chris Kirk

Chip-in for additional tournament match-up picks, and email me for added direct picks and updates: [email protected].

Check out more of my coverage that includes strokes gained stats and know driving distance matters more this week at Oak Hill, along with approach play and being able to make and save pars.

I’ll return next week to add more picks and match-ups for the Memorial Tournament at Jack Nicklaus’ place at Muirfield Village in Columbus, Ohio. Last year we had the winner Billy Horschel as our top match-up play for an easy winner.

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Golf Betting Notes and History from FairwayJay

My golf coverage and research includes use and references from sites at Golf Stats along with Fantasy National and Data Golf. I gain added information and betting news with fantasy golf insight from FanShare Sports and other sites and golf analysts. That includes top golf insider Justin Ray Golf, who contributes to PGA Tour (dot com) and The Athletic with insightful stats. The site GolfStats has also has player performance charts and a player competitor tool plus added stats and previews.