Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Tips: 5 Panel Selections From Colonial
The PGA Tour’s Texas Swing concludes with this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial, a classical parkland track upgraded by Gil Hanse a couple of years ago.
Tight fairways and fast greens make this par-70 course measuring just under 7,300 yards one of the toughest on the PGA Tour.
Ben Griffin heads to Fort Worth as the defending champion and is 25/1 on betting sites for a successful title defence, but the in-form Ludvig Aberg is the 9/1 favourite despite the fact he is making his professional debut at Colonial.
The Swede has produced a remarkable six top 10s in his last seven outings, including fourth spot at Harbour Town which has many similarities to Colonial.
However, 9/1 looks too short for someone playing this course for the first time since he was studying at Texas Tech University.
Looking at the two champions since the restoration was completed, winners proved very strong from tee-to-green and with the putter, so the focus is generally on those players who have good numbers in both those areas - or are showing signs of improvement.
The Panel got a return on Erik van Rooyen finishing T19 in the top 20 market at last week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson at 8/1 and they have another similar selection in this market.
But, they kick off their Charles Schwab Challenge betting tips with four selections from the outrights for what is expected to be a windless, hot and humid four days, with rain forecast for both mornings over the weekend.
Charles Schwab Challenge Tips: Fowler Can Banish Aronimink Memory
Rickie Fowler closed with a 75 to finish well down the leaderboard at the USPGA Championship, but played well for the first three days.
His Strokes Gained numbers were almost wholly positive for the week, barring putting which is usually one of Fowler’s strong suits.
Fowler headed to Pennsylvania in excellent nick, having posted three consecutive top 10s, starting with eighth spot at The Heritage which has already been mentioned as a tournament whose course has similar characteristics to Colonial.
The American was also runner-up to Kristoffer Reitan at Quail Hollow a week before the second major of the year, so The Panel are happy to look at the positives surrounding his trip to Aronimink.
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Fowler was sixth here in the year before the course was upgraded, after which he finished 37th in 2024 and 16th last year.
That’s enough to suggest that Fowler can end his three-year title drought against a field featuring just one member of the world’s top 10.
Fowler kicks off this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge tips at 25/1 with several betting apps.
Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Tips 1: Rickie Fowler 25/1 (Each-Way) - With Betfred
Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Tips:
- Rickie Fowler 25/1 (Each-Way) - With Betfred (Five Places)
- JJ Spaun 30/1 (Each-Way) - With PricedUp (Six Places)
- Andrew Novak 66/1 (Each-Way) - With Bet365 (Five Places)
- Eric Cole 90/1 (Each-Way) - With Star Sports (Six Places)
- Mark Hubbard 13/2 Top 20 - With Sky Bet
Prices correct at time of publication 2.30pm on May 26, 2026
Charles Schwab Challenge Predictions: Colonial Should Suit Spaun
US Open champion JJ Spaun is the highest-ranked player at this week’s tournament and although his form has been hit and miss in 2026, the last two months have been positive.
Spaun may have missed the cut at the USPGA Championship, but he had won the Texas Open for the second time just six weeks earlier and he posted a top five at Doral in the week before the major.
What The Panel like about Spaun’s prospects this week is that he has been very strong from tee-to-green (14th) and for approach (eighth) using the Strokes Gained measures this season.
Last year, he bolted out of the blocks with an opening-round 66 en route to finishing sixth, posting positive numbers across all the major metrics.
Spaun’s putting has been his Achilles heel this season, but he gained 0.48 strokes on the field in this area at the Blue Monster.
If he has a good week with the flat stick as he did in Texas, then there is no reason why he can not be wearing the winning plaid jacket at 30/1 with PricedUp.
Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Tips 2: JJ Spaun 30/1 (Each-Way) - With PricedUp (Six Places)
Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Tips: Novak Under the Radar
Looking further down the field, Andrew Novak appeals at 66/1 with Bet365.
It would be appropriate should Novak triumph in the Lone Star State as his sole victory on the PGA Tour came in the two-man team event alongside Griffin at last year’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
The week before, Novak had finished runner-up to Justin Thomas in a play-off at The Heritage and he was 16th at last month’s renewal at Hilton Head.
What is even more encouraging is that Novak was handily placed in seventh heading into last year’s final round at Colonial only to finish just outside the top 10.
Novak ranks high from tee-to-green and for approach against this field, although like Spaun he has struggled with the putter this season.
That said, he almost broke even on the greens even using the Strokes Gained metric at the USPGA Championship where he finished inside the top 30, just as he had done at Doral.
Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Tips 3: Andrew Novak 66/1 (Each-Way) - With Bet365 (Five Places)
Charles Schwab Challenge Outrights: Cole Looks Hot
The last of The Panel’s Charles Schwab Challenge predictions is Eric Cole, who can be backed at 90/1 with Star Sports.
Cole is outside the top 100 of the world rankings, but he is on an encouraging run of form and could cause a surprise this week.
The 37-year-old Californian, still awaiting his maiden PGA Tour victory, was sixth at the Myrtle Beach Classic five weeks after finishing inside the top 15 at the Texas Open.
Just as heartening is the fact his approach and putting numbers have been excellent this year, so he may well be a contender in Texas.
Inside the top 30 last year, Cole also played well at The Heritage in his last visit to Harbour Town 12 months ago when he finished in 18th place.
Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Tips 4: Eric Cole 90/1 (Each-Way) - With Star Sports (Six Places)
Charles Schwab Challenge Top 20 Tips: Hubbard Can Make Mark
The first-round leaderboard lacks appeal this week, so The Panel are sticking with the top 20 market for the last of their selections.
It was a shame Van Rooyen had to share the top 20 with so many players at the Byron Nelson and hopefully that won’t be the case for Mark Hubbard, who catches the eye at 13/2 with Sky Bet.
Hubbard has only once been inside the top 20 this season, but that came at the Myrtle Beach Classic where he finished just a shot behind champion Brandt Snedeker.
Only two players had better Strokes Gained: Approach figures than Hubbard at last week’s Byron Nelson where he finished just outside the top 30.
Hubbard has also been strong from tee-to-green in the last couple of months, so if he can improve his putting he can be challenging towards the top of the leaderboard.
Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Tips 5: Mark Hubbard 13/2 Top 20 - With Sky Bet
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