After a captivating finish to the PGA Championship last weekend, the PGA Tour is back in Texas for the Charles Schwab Challenge.
A great lineup in The Charles Schwab Challenge
Five of the world’s top 10 players will take to the field this week. Justin Thomas will certainly be riding on the crest of a wave following his playoff win over Will Zalatoris last weekend at Southern Hills cemented his second PGA Championship title.
The Charles Schwab is the longest-running non-major event on the Tour and here are a few key stats to bear in mind:
- Ben Hogan is the only player to successfully defend the Charles Schwab Challenge
- Jason Kokrak is the reigning champion
- Zach Johnson holds the 72-hole record (259) which he achieved in 2010
With just a few weeks to go until the third Major of the campaign – the US Open – the Charles Schwab Challenge will kickstart an exciting run of tournaments and it could spark interest from those who like to place bets at the biggest online sports betting operators.
We have handpicked a few tips for you to mull over in the meantime.
Good Will hunting
There will have been some tough lessons to take from the PGA Championship for Zalatoris. Although he has been a model of consistency in the Majors with multiple top-10 finishes, it will be fascinating to see how Zalatoris responds in the face of adversity and this week will be an examination of his character. Zalatoris has been impressive with the driver this season averaging around 320 yards putting him T14 in the rankings for that particular stat, but at times, he seems to push his putts and arguably lacks conviction in that department.
Anyway, the 25-year-old has only been on the PGA Tour for a couple of years and he’s only going to get better. He’s one of the most exciting players to watch and his temperament is brilliant. If you like the outright markets, SugarHouse is offering odds of +1600 for Zalatoris to step into the winner’s circle this week.
Scottie Scheffler to bounce back
Southern Hills was a bit of a head-scratcher for Scottie Scheffler. The Masters champion was all at sea at the PGA Championship and while he was on the cut line at one point, rounds of 71 and 75 meant that he had a weekend free. Missed cuts are a rarity for Scheffler, who missed the cut for just the third time in the past year, and after his exploits at Augusta last month, the American will be desperate to prove that the PGA Championship was just a minor blemish.
The Charles Schwab Challenge has a few testers, but Scheffler won’t be fazed. While he might not clinch the title, he could have a productive week and a top-5 finish could be on the cards.
Scheffler is at a short looking +275 with BetMGM to finish in the top 5 this week if you fancy jumping on that one.
Jordan Spieth to hit the ground running
Back in his hometown state this week is Jordan Spieth. Up to eighth in the FedEx Cup rankings, Spieth’s journey back has been an arduous one, but he’s starting to show the signs of old and that he can contend again.
Well, let’s not forget that he recently won the RBC Heritage. Although he faded at the PGA Championship, coming home in T34 with a total score of +4, the American has had three runner-up finishes at the Charles Schwab Challenge, so he shouldn’t be completely discounted.
While he may not come out on top this week, he could well lay down an early marker in Round 1. You can get a price of +2200 with BetMGM for Spieth to end Round 1 as the leader.
