This week concludes the Texas golf swing as a full contingent of professionals gathers at one of the most historic sites on the PGA Tour’s schedule. Colonial Country Club is set to host the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge once again, but competitors will encounter the course’s redeveloped layout for only the second time.
Golf course architect Gil Hanse and his team arrived at the venue after the 2023 tournament with the intention of restoring the course to its original design principles by Perry Maxwell. Consequently, Hanse upgraded the underlying infrastructure, lowered most of the greens to enhance their receptiveness, and made notable alterations to a pair of the par-3 holes.
Last season, Ben Griffin triumphed at Colonial, marking his second career victory and his first in an individual format. He returns to defend his championship against a formidable roster that includes Ludvig Åberg, Russell Henley, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, J.J. Spaun, Hideki Matsuyama, and Tony Finau, who appeared to hit his stride last week.
Perhaps as conspicuous as those participating are two players who are not present: Dallas residents Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth. Due to the compacted nature of the calendar, both athletes, who typically compete at Colonial, have opted to rest in anticipation of the upcoming sequence of tournaments.
Brooks Koepka also elected to withdraw his entry from the field, despite his initial plans to play. His omission signifies he will not automatically qualify for next week’s Memorial—the second-to-last signature event—through the Aon Swing 5, a position for which Zach Bauchou, Keith Mitchell, and Finau are now contending.
2026 Charles Schwab Challenge schedule
Dates: May 28-31
Location: Colonial Country Club — Fort Worth, Texas
Par: 70 | Yardage: 7,289 | Architect: Perry Maxwell
Purse: $9,900,000
2026 Charles Schwab Challenge odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Ludvig Åberg (10-1): From a statistical perspective, Åberg operates on a distinctly higher plane than the rest of the players in this gathering. He has been accumulating nearly three strokes gained per round over the preceding three months—surpassing the second-highest ranked player in this lineup by more than a stroke over the identical period. Regrettably for the Swedish phenomenon, he hasn’t been in a class by himself regarding the paramount metric of victories. Åberg has not secured a title since last year’s Genesis Invitational, as he continues to stumble on Sundays. He had a prime chance in the final round of the PGA Championship to turn things around, and if his high level of performance persists, he should secure another opportunity this weekend.
- Russell Henley (20-1): Following a near-triumph at the Masters, Henley’s performance has shown a slight decrease. He followed his Masters appearance with a top-25 result at the RBC Heritage and subsequently finished T49 at Trump National Doral before missing the cut at the PGA Championship. His putting was the main issue at Aronimink—a common problem for many—implying that the fundamental elements of his play remain solid. He typically does not include Colonial on his schedule, but his last visit in 2023 resulted in a T16 finish.
- Robert MacIntyre (21-1)
- Rickie Fowler (24-1): His continuous sequence of top-10 finishes concluded at the PGA Championship, where Fowler struggled to decipher the putting surfaces at Aronimink. Before the season’s second major tournament, he had achieved three consecutive top-10 placements in signature events, including a near-victory at the Truist Championship. Fowler ranks fourth among this field in terms of total strokes gained, largely owing to a renewed ball-striking effort complemented by a revitalized putting touch.
- Justin Thomas (25-1): The two-time major titleholder appears to be growing stronger each week. He concluded his play at Aronimink with an energetic final-round 65 that positioned him as the clubhouse leader for much of the afternoon before he was ultimately forced to accept a T4 finish. This came after commendable performances at both Quail Hollow and Trump National Doral, where his putter was exceptionally effective. On a course where players can strategically hold back on their drives and thoughtful execution is essential, Thomas is adept at navigating its complexities, though he has not competed at Colonial since 2022.
- Ben Griffin (25-1): After three victories in 2025, Griffin entered a challenging period early in the current season, but he is commendably recovering. Griffin has secured three top-15 finishes in his last four tournaments, primarily due to his effective putting. His iron play, however, has been subpar by his own benchmarks as he implements swing adjustments.
- Akshay Bhatia (29-1)
- Hideki Matsuyama (31-1)
- Keegan Bradley (32-1)
- J.J. Spaun (32-1)
- Keith Mitchell (34-1)
