2026 Charles Schwab Challenge: 6 Bets for Colonial Country Club
The PGA TOUR leaves behind last week's Texas birdie binge for one of the sport's oldest and toughest tests at Colonial Country Club for the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge. "Hogan's Alley" doesn't care how far you hit it - this place punishes mistakes with tight fairways, tiny greens and the brutal "Horrible Horseshoe" waiting early in the round. Colonial rewards elite iron play, patience and a short game capable of surviving pure chaos.
With stars like Ludvig Aberg, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler leading the field, there's betting value all over the board this week. These six bets mix proven grinders, sneaky long shots and a little bit of beautiful Colonial madness.
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change. DraftKings does not sponsor this content.
Hideki Matsuyama First-Round Leader (+4600)
Matsuyama feels like the golfer equivalent of buying fireworks even though you're not totally sure how responsible this decision is. The recent finishes haven't exactly screamed "future champion," but the iron play still looks spicy enough to light up Colonial for one day. And honestly, that's all a Round 1 leader ticket needs. Hideki has the exact mix of elite approach play and beautiful randomness to fire a Thursday 64, grab the lead and leave everyone wondering where that version disappeared by the weekend.
Brian Harman Top-20 Finish (+200)
Harman feels like the guy at the casino quietly stacking chips while everybody else is distracted losing their minds at the craps table. The finishes lately haven't fully matched how well he's actually hitting it, but Colonial is basically built in a lab for his game. Tight fairways, precision irons and patience matter way more than raw power here, which should have Harman grinning ear to ear. If the putter cooperates even a little, another sneaky top-20 feels very much on the table.
Rickie Fowler Top-10 Finish (+215)
Fowler currently feels like the golf version of "I can fix him," and honestly, a lot of us are buying back in again. The recent form has been legit, with three straight top-10s before the PGA, where one ugly Sunday basically turned a solid week into a garage fire. Colonial has also treated Rickie pretty well over the years, and his irons have been humming lately. If the putter behaves and the final round stays drama-free, another top-10 run feels very doable in Fort Worth.
J.J. Spaun Top-5 Finish (+560)
Spaun feels like the guy who keeps showing up with receipts every time people doubt him. The irons have been ridiculously good lately, and Colonial is basically a playground for accurate ball-strikers who don't need to overpower a course. The only real adventure comes on the greens, because Spaun's putter tends to operate like a moody house cat - either loving you or disappearing for hours. But when it cooperates, he suddenly starts hanging around leaderboards in a hurry. Another Sunday sweat at Colonial feels very possible.
Justin Thomas to Win (+2350)
Thomas suddenly looks like the guy who remembered he's capable of ruining everybody else's weekend when the irons heat up. Colonial is basically a giant playground for creative shot-makers, and JT loves shaping golf shots around corners like he's playing a video game on expert mode. The confidence is clearly building again after a strong PGA Championship run, and the putter finally stopped acting like an enemy for a few days. If that combo sticks around, Thomas could absolutely start cooking the field by Friday afternoon.
Chris Kirk to Win (+6900)
Kirk feels like the golf version of that veteran softball guy who never looks impressive until you realize he's somehow beating everyone again. Colonial is basically his happy place - tight fairways, tricky greens and zero need to swing driver like a maniac. The irons have quietly started cooking lately, and he already owns a win here, which matters on a course that rewards experience. If the putter wakes up in a good mood this week, Kirk could absolutely turn this 69-1 ticket into a very fun Sunday sweat.
One-And-Done Play of the Week
If you play in a One-and-Done league, the idea is simple: You get to use each golfer once all season, so picking the right spot matters.
Akshay Bhatia feels like the classic "save the superstar for later" One-and-Done decision that could quietly pay off in a big way. Colonial doesn't reward mindless bombing off the tee, which is perfect for Bhatia's game. The guy rolls the rock as well as almost anybody on TOUR, and his smooth iron play fits these tiny greens beautifully. Add in the confidence from an already loaded season, and suddenly he looks like the golfer most likely to casually annoy the leaderboard all weekend while everyone else fights the "Horrible Horseshoe."
Last Week's Result
CJ CUP: Hisatsune - T19: $100,597
Season Total: $5,583,258
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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 4:07 PM.