The PGA Tour heads to Fort Worth this week for the Charles Schwab Challenge, starting Thursday, May 28, with a $9.9 million purse. This marks the 79th installment of the event, with Colonial Country Club serving as the longest-running host venue for a non-major on Tour. With the Memorial Tournament looming next week and the U.S. Open two weeks away, this represents a crucial opportunity for players outside signature event thresholds to bank FedEx Cup points and sharpen their games on one of golf's most demanding tests.
Ben Griffin returns as defending champion after his career-changing 2025 season that included his first individual PGA Tour victory. Griffin is looking to become the first golfer since Ben Hogan in the 1950s to successfully defend his title at Colonial. The field features Ludvig Åberg, Russell Henley, Robert MacIntyre, Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, and a competitive roster of players seeking form ahead of the season's major championship stretch.
Colonial's Renovated Challenge
Colonial Country Club plays as a tight, 7,289-yard par-70 that demands accuracy and the ability to work the ball both left and right. Immediately following the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge, Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner embarked on an extensive renovation project with the goal of restoring Colonial Country Club to its roots. The course was re-sodded using the same Bentgrass base, with the layout largely unchanged.
There are just two par-five holes, and despite the fact the 11th is more than 600 yards long, it remains a test of accuracy rather than a track where big hitters flourish, with heavy rough and numerous creeks awaiting errant drives. The famed "Horrible Horseshoe", holes 3, 4, and 5, is one of the most demanding three-hole stretches in golf. The greens here are small (5,000 square feet) and tough to hit in regulation, very fast (13 on the stimp) and feature pure bentgrass.
The renovated layout rewards players who can control trajectory and shape, particularly on approach shots. Precision off the tee matters more than distance, and the bentgrass surfaces demand elite putting touch. Course history has proven very predictive at Colonial, with six of the last 10 winners posting a T10 or better finish within three years prior.
Players to Watch
Ludvig Åberg enters as the favorite at +850 odds. The Texas Tech graduate has had great results in Texas throughout his career, and has done everything but win on Tour this season, with six top-10 finishes over his last seven starts. Åberg returns to action after finishing T4 at the PGA Championship, notching six top-10 finishes on Tour so far this season with all six coming in his last seven weeks, including three in a row. His ball-striking consistency and approach play fit Colonial's demands perfectly, and he's shown comfort navigating tight, tree-lined layouts throughout his career.
Justin Thomas makes his return to the Charles Schwab Challenge for the first time since 2022, where he missed the cut, coming into the week after a T4 at the PGA Championship. Thomas has historically thrived on courses that neutralize distance and reward precision, and he showed out very well at the PGA Championship and is in good form. His experience navigating pressure situations and pedigree on demanding layouts make him a legitimate contender this week.
Hideki Matsuyama brings proven major championship mettle to a field lacking several top-ranked players. Matsuyama has the game that runs hot anywhere, and his accuracy in ballstriking should be a big asset this week. While his form has been inconsistent in recent starts, Colonial's emphasis on iron play and scrambling suits his skill set. Course history matters at Colonial, and Matsuyama has shown repeatedly that he can contend on precision-demanding tracks.
Russell Henley ranks as one of the top contenders with +1800 odds. Henley's consistent ball-striking and steady putting profile align with what Colonial demands. He's been among the Tour's most reliable players on bentgrass surfaces, and his ability to avoid big numbers on demanding par-4 stretches gives him a solid floor this week.
Pool Strategy for Colonial
Focus on players with strong course history and proven accuracy metrics rather than recent winners from bomber-friendly tracks. Driving accuracy, strokes gained approach, scrambling and putting on bentgrass greens are the key metrics to target this week. Colonial's small greens and penal rough mean wayward approach shots lead to difficult up-and-downs, making steady iron players more valuable than explosive athletes who rely on length.
In prize money pools, consider diversifying away from chalk favorites and identifying mid-tier players with Colonial pedigree. The course's design neutralizes pure talent differentials more than most Tour stops, creating opportunity for savvy ball-strikers who may not dominate headline coverage but consistently cash checks on positional layouts.
Ready to test your picks at Colonial? Set up your Charles Schwab Challenge pool now, or if you're running a season-long game, create your custom pool in minutes and invite your group before Thursday's first round.