The last stop in the South for the PGA Tour for quite some time takes place this week at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas for the Charles Schwab Challenge. Colonial presents a much different challenge than many of the modern PGA Tour venues, as precision is emphasized far more than pure distance. Rather than overpowering the course off the tee, players will need to consistently find fairways, position approach shots intelligently around the greens, and capitalize on scoring opportunities when they present themselves.

Last year’s champion was Carolinian Ben Griffin, who did exactly that by combining accuracy off the tee with smart club selection and an elite short game throughout the week. There are several players from the Carolinas in the field once again this week, and this event should suit a handful of their skill sets very well.

Kevin Kisner

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Kevin Kisner makes his first PGA Tour appearance of the season this week on a sponsor exemption, stepping away from the NBC/Golf Channel booth and back onto the golf course. The last few years have been difficult for Kisner in terms of consistency, as he made just 3 cuts in 17 events last season, contributing to his increasing role in television commentary.

Because this is his first start of the year, there are no current season statistics to evaluate. Historically though, Kisner’s game has fit Colonial perfectly thanks to his precision off the tee and elite short game.

He has enjoyed strong success at the Charles Schwab Challenge throughout his career, making the cut 7 times in 12 appearances while recording 1 win, 2 top-5 finishes, 3 top-10 finishes, and 3 top-25 finishes.

Oddsmakers understandably are not expecting a huge week from him given the long layoff, pricing him at +1900 for a top-20 finish (including ties), +5000 for a top-10 finish (including ties), and +100000 to win outright. At this point, making the cut would likely qualify as a successful week, but Colonial is certainly the type of venue where Kisner could potentially rediscover some old magic.

Andrew Novak

Andrew Novak has quietly put together some solid performances recently, finishing inside the top 25 at the Truist Championship before tying for 26th at the PGA Championship. On the season, Novak now owns 2 top-10 finishes and 5 top-25 finishes overall.

His strokes gained numbers have steadily improved during this stretch as well. Novak now ranks 99th in strokes gained total, losing just 0.072 strokes per round compared to the PGA Tour average.

Colonial may fit his game nicely, particularly due to his approach play and short game. He ranks 67th in strokes gained approach, gaining 0.182 strokes per round, and 35th around the greens, gaining 0.256 strokes per round.

Novak has played this event three times previously, making the cut twice with one top-25 finish. That strong result came last season when he tied for 11th.

This week he sits at +210 for a top-20 finish (including ties), +500 for a top-10 finish (including ties), and +5500 to win outright. He also carries the shortest odds in his featured group against Davis Riley and Joe Highsmith at +145.

Given his recent form and prior success at Colonial, Novak appears positioned for another strong performance this week.

Ryan Gerard

Ryan Gerard opened the season extremely well, though his recent form has cooled somewhat. His last three finishes include a T30 at the Cadillac Championship, a T65 at the Truist Championship, and a T70 at the PGA Championship.

Even with the recent dip, Gerard still owns 2 runner-up finishes, 2 top-5 finishes, 2 top-10 finishes, and 4 top-25 finishes this season.

Statistically, his game remains very strong overall. He is losing strokes in only one strokes gained category — around the green — where he ranks 148th while losing 0.318 strokes per round. Overall, he still ranks 50th in strokes gained total, gaining 0.462 strokes per round compared to the field.

Gerard has played Colonial once previously, making the cut but finishing tied for 73rd.

This week he is listed at +230 for a top-20 finish (including ties), +500 for a top-10 finish (including ties), and +6000 to win outright. If he can keep the driver under control and avoid consistently missing greens, Colonial could set up very well for him.

J.T. Poston

J.T. Poston continues to have a relatively mediocre 2026 season, posting just 2 top-25 finishes through 12 starts. He had last week off after missing the cut at the PGA Championship, where he finished +5 over two rounds.

Statistically, Poston has gained strokes off the tee and with his approach play, but has lost strokes in every other category. Overall, he ranks 111th in strokes gained total, losing 0.264 strokes per round versus the PGA Tour average.

Despite the inconsistent season, Poston does have solid experience at Colonial. He has made the cut 5 times in 9 appearances while recording 1 top-10 finish and 3 top-25 finishes.

Oddsmakers still appear fairly optimistic this week, pricing him at +210 for a top-20 finish (including ties), +500 for a top-10 finish (including ties), and +5500 to win outright.

Given his comfort level around Colonial and the course fit for his style of play, Poston should have a realistic opportunity to make the cut and potentially contend for a top-20 finish.

Trace Crowe

Trace Crowe enters this week having played only three PGA Tour events this season. He has made the cut in two of those starts and posted a top-5 finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Most recently, Crowe missed the cut at the Byron Nelson after shooting back-to-back rounds of 1-under 70. He has also played twice on the Korn Ferry Tour this season, making the cut in both events. His most recent Korn Ferry appearance resulted in a top-4 finish back in early April.

Crowe enters the week as a significant longshot, sitting at +650 for a top-20 finish (including ties), +1800 for a top-10 finish (including ties), and +25000 to win outright.

For Crowe, simply making the cut this week would provide a huge confidence boost against a much stronger field. Anything beyond a top-20 finish would likely require a truly exceptional performance given the depth of competition at Colonial.

Ben Griffin

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Defending Charles Schwab Challenge champion Ben Griffin returns to Colonial Country Club this week playing some really solid golf. A few weeks ago he finished solo 3rd at the Cadillac Championship, struggled a bit at the Truist Championship with a T63 finish, and most recently bounced back nicely with a T14 at the PGA Championship.

Overall, Griffin’s season has been very solid, as he now owns 1 third-place finish, 1 top-5, 2 top-10s, and 5 top-25 finishes. Statistically, his biggest issues continue to come off the tee and with approach play, where he is losing a combined 0.488 strokes per round to the PGA Tour average. However, he more than makes up for it with an elite short game and putting, helping him rank 60th in strokes gained total while gaining 0.386 strokes per round overall.

In three career starts at the Charles Schwab Challenge, Griffin has made the cut twice, including last year’s victory.

This week, sportsbooks currently have him at +115 for a top-20 finish (including ties), +250 for a top-10 finish (including ties), and +2500 to win outright. He is also heavily favored to make the cut at -380, making the top-20 market a much more appealing value play.

Tom Hoge

The last few weeks have been very encouraging for Tom Hoge after what had been a difficult season overall. Hoge posted an impressive T26 finish at the PGA Championship before following it up with a T6 finish at the Byron Nelson.

Those recent results now give him 3 top-10 finishes and 4 top-25 finishes on the season.

Hoge’s game continues to revolve almost entirely around his iron play, as he ranks 61st in strokes gained approach while gaining 0.209 strokes per round in that category. Despite that, he still ranks just 138th in strokes gained total, losing 0.726 strokes per round overall to the PGA Tour average.

Historically, Hoge has enjoyed decent success at Colonial, making the cut in 6 of 10 appearances while recording 2 top-25 finishes.

This week he sits at +340 for a top-20 finish (including ties), +750 for a top-10 finish (including ties), and +10000 to win outright. Given the precision-heavy nature of Colonial, this course should fit Hoge’s style well, making him an intriguing value play for another solid finish.

Webb Simpson

Raleigh native Webb Simpson finds himself in another PGA Tour event this season on a sponsor exemption. Simpson has played six PGA Tour events this year, making the cut in three while recording one top-25 finish.

He has not played enough events to qualify statistically in the strokes gained categories, but Colonial has historically been a solid venue for him.

In nine career starts at the Charles Schwab Challenge, Simpson has made the cut five times while recording 1 top-3 finish, 2 top-5 finishes, 2 top-10 finishes, and 3 top-25 finishes.

Given his lack of recent competitive success and limited schedule, sportsbooks are understandably cautious this week, pricing him at +600 for a top-20 finish (including ties), +1600 for a top-10 finish (including ties), and +22500 to win outright.

Like Kevin Kisner earlier in the field preview, Simpson’s realistic ceiling probably begins with simply making the cut, but Colonial is certainly the type of course where veteran precision players can occasionally find lightning in a bottle.

Lucas Glover

The 2026 season continues to be inconsistent for Lucas Glover, who has made just 5 cuts in 11 starts. Prior to the PGA Championship, he had pieced together three solid finishes in a row, but struggled badly at Aronimink and missed the cut at +9.

Statistically, Glover continues to lose strokes in every major category and currently ranks 144th in strokes gained total while losing 0.907 strokes per round to the PGA Tour average.

That said, Colonial Country Club has historically treated him fairly well. Glover has made the cut in 11 of 18 appearances at the Charles Schwab Challenge, recording 1 top-10 finish and 5 top-25 finishes. He has also played well here recently, finishing T12 two years ago and T22 last season.

This week he is listed at +390 for a top-20 finish (including ties), +850 for a top-10 finish (including ties), and +12500 to win outright.

Much like Hoge, Glover has enough experience and precision in his game to compete at Colonial if everything clicks for four rounds.

Akshay Bhatia

Akshay Bhatia has not played the majors particularly well this season, but outside of those events he has been extremely impressive overall. Through 12 starts, Bhatia has made 8 cuts while recording 1 win, 3 top-10 finishes, and 7 top-25 finishes.

Statistically, the only weakness in his game remains off the tee, where he ranks below average while losing 0.245 strokes per round to the field. Outside of that category, he continues to gain strokes consistently and now ranks 12th on tour in strokes gained total, gaining 1.115 strokes per round overall.

Bhatia has played the Charles Schwab Challenge three times, making the cut twice while recording one top-25 finish. That top-25 came last season when he tied for 22nd at 4-under par.

This week he is currently +160 for a top-20 finish (including ties), +350 for a top-10 finish (including ties), and +3500 to win outright. He is also heavily favored to make the cut at -340 and enters a 72-hole matchup against J.J. Spaun as a slight underdog at +100 versus Spaun’s -125.

After struggling at the PGA Championship, this feels like a good bounce-back spot for Bhatia on a course that should reward creativity and precision more than raw distance.