Charles Schwab Challenge tips: Sepp Straka to lead chasing pack as Scottie Scheffler dominates

Charles Schwab Challenge key stats:

• When: May 23-26 2024
• Where: Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas 
• How long: 7,289 yards - par 70
• What to expect: Classical tree-lined parkland course, tight off the tee, six water hazards and numerous barrancas that are best avoided
• Who won last year: Emiliano Grillo (-8) after play-off

Scottie Scheffler is the inevitable pre-tournament favourite at present at miserly odds of just 11/4, after winning four of his last six events, and finishing runner-up and eighth in the other two. He finished third here a year ago, a shot adrift of Adam Schenk and Emiliano Grillo, who won the play-off.

The homegrown Texan played well at the PGA Championship last week, apart from his third round, when he was coming down mentally from his sensational arrest the day before, plus his usual caddy was notably absent from his side. 

This is Scheffler’s home-town event, and his current form, combined his second and third-place finishes on his last two visits to this course, bodes well for another imperious performance, and the world number one is hard to oppose here.

Suggested bet: Scottie Schffler (11/4) in the Charles Schwab Challenge

 

 

Next in the betting is 12/1 shot Collin Morikawa, who was in contention for his third Major at the PGA, but could not buy a birdie until the 18th hole on Sunday, ultimately settling for fourth spot. The jury is out as to whether he gets up for these non-big-week tournaments, but he is in good form and the course should suit.

Course specialist Jordan Spieth is at 20/1, and while his game is not to be trusted of late, if any course can revive him this could be it. He won here in 2016, was runner-up in 2015, 2017 and 2021 and has made the top ten on three other occasions. 

Tempting as it is to go with Spieth, our next-best pick behind Scheffler is Sepp Straka, who was showing some great form before failing to make the cut at Valhalla last weekend.

Prior to that, the American-based Austrian had posted a decent score at Augusta to finish 16th in the Masters, then came fifth in the RBC Heritage, before tying for eighth at the Wells Fargo Championship a fortnight ago.

If we can forgive him last week’s blot on the copybook, and he brings his previous form to Texas, then he certainly has the game to make a mockery of the bookies’ early 40/1 odds.

Suggested bet: Sepp Straka (40/1) each-way in the Charles Schwab Challenge

 

 

Others to watch:

• Harris English (33/1) - Played well to finish top 20 last week, and was the 36-hole leader here in 2023, so could be useful at this price
• Billy Horschel (45/1) - In best form for a while, won at Puntacana a month ago, and currently running second to Scheffler in Tour metrics
• Robert MacIntyre (90/1) - Shook off early-season PGA Tour struggles to finish 13th at Myrtle Beach and 8th at Valhalla last week - could make his odds look huge by the weekend

Suggested bet summary:

1. Scottie Scheffler (11/4) - 5 points win
2. Sepp Straka (40/1) - 1 point each-way