PGA Tour Golf Betting Odds: Charles Schwab Challenge Predictions
The PGA Tour returns for the first time in three months with the Charles Schwab Challenge from Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, starting on Thursday. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is favoured on the golf odds.
The last official round played on the PGA Tour was Round 1 of the prestigious Players Championship in Florida on March 12. After that, the Tour shut down, like the rest of the sports world, due to the coronavirus. There will be several precautions in place as the Tour resumes its 2019-20 wraparound schedule at the Charles Schwab Challenge from historic Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday. For example, there will be no fans in attendance.
While some events were outright cancelled during the past three months of inactivity, this tournament was moved from May 21-24. A stronger than usual field will be in attendance at Colonial simply because all the top golfers in the world are ready to make money again – although Tiger Woods will not be playing. There are a few international players, like Aussie Adam Scott, who are waiting a few more weeks to return to the USA for travel/health reasons. A two-week quarantine is required of any international traveler arriving in the United States in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Charles Schwab Championship at Colonial Odds
This event has had numerous names over the years but has been played since 1946; the 2003 tournament, called the Bank of America Colonial, was notable because then-LPGA star Annika Sorenstam played in it. She was the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event in 58 years at the time but missed the cut.
Colonial is a par 70 measuring around 7,200 yards and is considered a shotmakers’ track with tight fairways. The Texas winds are often a factor. Legendary Ben Hogan, who was from the area, won this tournament a record five times. No one else has more than twice. The 18-hole record is a 61 and the 72-hole mark 259.
McIlroy is the clear-cut +595 betting favourite on the golf odds – every player in the world Top 5 is scheduled to play. It’s his first time playing this tournament. In the 2019-20 wraparound season, McIlroy has yet to finish outside the Top 5, including a win in China.
Spain’s Jon Rahm is +900. His worst finish in 2020 is T17. Rahm missed the cut at this tournament last year but was fifth and runner-up the previous two years. He was part of a four-man playoff in 2017, won by Kevin Kisner (+6000).
Justin Thomas is +1200 with Bryson DeChambeau at +1700, Brooks Koepka +1800 and Webb Simpson +1900. None have won at Colonial. Koepka was runner-up by three shots to Justin Rose (+3600) in 2018. Kevin Na is +3900 to repeat. He finished last year at 13-under 267, four up on Tony Finau (+3000).
No Canadian has won this tournament. George Knudson finished runner-up by three shots to Aussie Bruce Crampton in 1965.
The highest-ranked Canadian in the world, Adam Hadwin, is +8800 to win, followed by Corey Conners at +9000 and Mackenzie Hughes at +14100. Hadwin has a best finish of fifth at Colonial (2015). Conners was eighth two years ago. Hughes was eighth last year.
Charles Schwab Challenge Golf Predictions
Back McIlroy and Ryan Palmer for Top 10s. But take a flier on local boy Justin Spieth at +2500 to end his slump and win. He did win here in 2016 and has a few other high finishes at Colonial but hasn’t had a victory anywhere since 2017.
