Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Preview

The PGA returns to the course this week for the first time since March with the Charles Schwab Challenge. The PGA may be back but it will look a little different than usual, as there will be no fans in attendance at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

For anyone who forgets the last completed PGA tournament (and that’s understandable after three months without golf), it was the Players Championship back in early March. Tyrrell Hatton was the surprising winner, but he won’t be able to make it two in a row as he’s not in this week’s field.

World No. 1 McIlroy favored in tough field

The Charles Schwab Challenge will feature an extremely tough field with the top five ranked golfers in the world and 37 of the top 50 from the world rankings.

The favorite at Bovada Sportsbook this weekend is world No. 1 Rory McIlroy at +750. On the odds list he’s followed by Jon Rahm at +1200, Justin Thomas at +1600 and Bryson DeChambeau at +2200.

When play was suspended, McIlroy was putting together an impressive season on the tour. He has finished in the top five in all six completed tournaments he’s played in this season. That includes winning the WGC-HSBC Champions event. One drawback for McIlroy this week may be his unfamiliarity with the course as he’s never played at Colonial in his career.

Na +5000 underdog to defend title

At last year’s Charles Schwab Challenge, Kevin Na was a surprising underdog winner, capturing what was at the time his third career PGA Tour win. He’s since added a fourth win at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open last October. Na shot 13 under par last year to finish four strokes ahead of Tony Finau. If you think Na can pull off back-to-back wins at Colonial, he’s a +5000 underdog at Bovada.

Along with Na, other former Charles Schwab Challenge winners in this week’s field include 2018 winner Justin Rose at +4000, 2017 winner Kevin Kisner at +8000, 2016 winner Jordan Spieth at +4000 and 2015 winner Chris Kirk at +20000.

Johnson, Mickelson are two-time winners

Also in the field this week are a pair of two-time Charles Schwab Challenge winners back to go for a third. First is Zach Johnson, who won at Colonial in 2010 and 2012. He’s a +15000 long shot.

The other two-time winner back this week is Phil Mickelson. He won at Colonial in 2000 and 2008 and is a +10000 underdog to win for a third time.