The 2025 Charles Schwab Challenge will be played May 22-25 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. This course has hosted the event since 1946, making it the longest-running PGA Tour event at one venue. It’s a par-70 layout that rewards smart play, not just big drives. The winner will take home $1.71 million from a $9.5 million purse.
Scottie Scheffler leads the field as the heavy favorite at +250. He’s coming off a major win at the PGA Championship and has three straight top-three finishes at Colonial. Davis Riley, the 2024 winner, returns to defend his title after a strong runner-up showing last week. Other big names in the field include Jordan Spieth, Daniel Berger, Hideki Matsuyama, and Tommy Fleetwood. Want to run your own sportsbook? WagerHome can help you get started.
Scheffler Preview – Can He Win Three Straight?
Scottie Scheffler is the hottest golfer on the PGA Tour right now. He’s won three of his last four starts, including the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and the PGA Championship. In those wins, he outplayed the field by a wide margin and is gaining over three strokes per round more than anyone else in this tournament.
He’s finished second, third, and second at Colonial the past three years. That makes him one of the top course horses in the field. He also ranks No. 1 in strokes gained tee-to-green and approach, which are the most important stats on this course.
Colonial is a shot-maker’s course, and Scheffler checks every box. He leads the field in ball striking, good drives gained, and approach from 125-200 yards. The only question is whether he can stay sharp after winning a major. Based on past performances, he can.
Riley Preview – Defending Champ with Momentum
Davis Riley pulled off a surprise win at this event last year at 300-1 odds. He held off Scheffler and Keegan Bradley by five strokes with a final score of -14. That performance proved his game fits Colonial, where accuracy and short irons matter more than power.
This season, Riley is coming off a solo second at the PGA Championship. His iron play is sharp, and he’s gained strokes on approach in most events this year. He also finished T4 at Colonial in 2022, showing his win last year was not a fluke.
Riley ranks high in key categories for this course. He’s top 20 in strokes gained approach, good drives, and scoring on par-4s between 350-450 yards. If he keeps the driver in play and putts well, he has a strong chance to finish top five again.
English Preview – Trending Toward Another Win?
Harris English is heating up. He finished second at the PGA Championship and has four top-30 finishes in his last six events. He also posted strong numbers in approach and tee-to-green at Quail Hollow, ranking second in both stats.
English has good history at Colonial. He finished runner-up here in 2016 and was T12 in 2023. His game fits the course well, and he’s done well on similar layouts like the Travelers Championship, which he won in 2021 after a top-3 finish at the U.S. Open.
He enters this week priced at +4000. That gives good value for a player in form with strong course history. His iron play and putting are in a good spot, and he has experience closing out events. He should be in the mix on Sunday.
Rai Preview – Course Fit Could Pay Off
Aaron Rai is the most accurate driver on the PGA Tour and ranks high in good drives gained. That matters a lot at Colonial, where tight fairways and tree-lined holes punish missed shots. He’s coming off a T19 finish at the PGA and ranked third in strokes gained approach last week.
Rai has played well at Colonial before. He finished T12 here in 2023 and has avoided missed cuts at this course. His control and precision give him a chance to make birdies and avoid trouble. He’s also a strong wind player, which could help if the weather picks up.
At +4500 odds, Rai is a good sleeper pick to watch. His consistent ball-striking makes him a solid play for top-10 or top-20 bets. He fits the mold of past winners at this course who won with accuracy and iron play, not distance.
PPH Betting Prediction
Scottie Scheffler is the favorite for a reason. He’s the best player in the world right now and has dominated at Colonial in the past. He’s gaining over three strokes per round and just won another major. If you’re betting the outright winner, he’s the safest pick. But for more value, backing him to win wire-to-wire at +1600 is a stronger payout.
Other good betting targets include Davis Riley, Harris English, and Aaron Rai. Riley is in great form, English has course history and trending stats, and Rai is a course fit with top ball-striking numbers. This event rarely produces winning scores beyond -15, which keeps things close. Want to become a pay-per-head bookie?
