The week after the week before! Following a pulsating week at the PGA Championship, we turn our attention to the 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge taking place at the Colonial Country Club.
2021/2022 US PGA Tour
Charles Schwab Challenge
Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas
26th-29th May
Where do I start with last week? The year’s second Major was one of the most chaotic, unpredictable affairs in recent memory. The weather played its part in Tulsa, constantly rewriting the script like an overbearing Hollywood producer.
Mito Pereira had a meltdown of Jean van de Velde proportions, opening the door for Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris. Justin Thomas held off the impressive Zalatoris to secure his second US PGA Championship title. Can I give myself a bit of a pat on the back for Cameron Young? Please excuse a brief moment of self-appraisal.
Tour heads to Texas
The tour moves from Oklahoma to Texas this week for the Charles Schwab Challenge. This is usually an opportunity for the players to decompress following the rigours of a Major Championship.
But many of last week’s main protagonists feature this week in an absolutely stacked field (including Justin Thomas). The US PGA Tour is truly relentless with producing high-octane, ultra-competitive golf.
This event has had as many identities as Ethan Hunt. It has been formally known as the Fort Worth Invitational, the Dean & Deluca and the Crowne Plaza (amongst other monikers).
The Charles Schwab Challenge was first staged back in 1946. This event is a living testimonial to Fort Worth legend Ben Hogan. Ben Hogan won the first two editions of this event and would go on to win a further three.
No other player in history has won this event more than twice. The winner is presented with a pretty nifty tartan jacket that adds to the unique vibe of this event. It may have been held under many different guises over the years, but there’s one thing that hasn’t changed about the Charles Schwab Challenge: Colonial.
Colonial the only constant
Colonial Country Club has hosted every edition of this famous event. In fact, this is the longest-running non-Major event to be held at the same venue.
Known affectionately as Hogan’s Alley, Colonial Country Club is a classical test of golf. Designed by John Bredemus and opened in 1936. Perry Maxwell did some touch-ups prior to the 1941 hosting of the US Open.
This is a classical test that isn’t going to be overpowered. Measuring just a smidge over 7,200 yards, Colonial is a tight, tree-lined test that will reward the more surgical operators.
But I think the most crucial stats will be GIR and putting. These smaller-than-average bentgrass greens require pinpoint approach play. 11 of the last 14 winners have ranked inside the top ten for GIR.
Putting has also proven to be pivotal. Winds in Texas was expected to be blustery this week. So, the players should be pretty well prepared for the trails at hand.
Thomas looking to build on PGA Championship win
I was slightly surprised to see that JT is teeing it up this week. Recent Major Championship winners have tended to skip the next week’s action. But it will be interesting to see his intensity levels going into this week.
Will Zalatoris- the unfortunate ‘other’ man in Sunday’s playoff- doesn’t seem like the sort of character who lingers on disappointment. World Number One Scottie Scheffler will be out to prove that his missed cut at Southern Hills was an aberration.
Texan Jordan Spieth will also be looking for a pick-me-up after a disappointing tilt at a career Grand Slam. I’m sure that he will receive uproarious support from his Texas brethren.
There are a multitude of subplots in what should be a relatively stress-free antidote to the unbearable tension of Southern Hills.
Past Winners
2021: Jason Kokrak (-14)
2020: Daniel Berger (-15)
2019: Kevin Na (-13)
2018: Justin Rose (-20)
2017: Kevin Kisner (-10)
To Win Outright:
Scottie Scheffler 11/1 | Justin Thomas 12/1 | Jordan Spieth 14/1 | Collin Morikawa 16/1 | Will Zalatoris 20/1
Value Bets
Davis Riley- To Win 45/1 | To Place 19/2
Davis Riley has really snuck up on us in recent weeks. The 25-year-old from Mississippi comes into this event off the back of some very positive performances. He delivered an eye-catching T13 last week. That just built on previous finishes of T9 and 5th (at the AT&T Byron Nelson and Mexican Open respectively). Riley showed last week what he was capable of doing in windy conditions. He is currently 10th on tour in Birdie Average and I think he could be a nice dark horse pick this week.
Brian Harman- To Win 55/1 | To Place 12/1
Brian Harman is the definition of a surgical operator. Last week, he was the final-round leader in Strokes Gained: Approach last week. This is a metric that will be hugely important this week. Harman should feel far more comfortable with Colonial. He has three top 10’s and three top 25’ in nine appearances here. Prior to the US PGA Championship, Harman had two top 10 finishes in his previous four starts (a T5 at the Valspar and a T9 at the Wells Fargo). This all combines for a nice blend of form, course expertise and suitability.
The Man to Beat- Collin Morikawa- To Win 16/1 | To Place 7/2
This has to be the week to play Morikawa. A poor performance at Southern Hills has left Morikawa at a very competitive 16/1 this week. And there is simply no better iron player in world golf. It’s as simple as that. I think he will also be keen to pick up some momentum after a few dodgy weeks on tour. He also has course experience, finishing solo 2nd on debut here in 2020 before a decent T14 last year.
