PGA Tour
Golf Tips
Date: May 23–26, 2024
The Charles Schwab Challenge, formerly known as the Colonial National Invitation, is a notable professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour held annually in May at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas which this year is fresh of a 20 million Dollar re-vamp. The most notable changes are on the 4 par 3s where the greens for #8 and #16 were moved to bring trouble into play. They took bunkers out for hole #4 and hole #13’s green was raised for better viewing. Some of the elevated greens were lowered and barrancas were added to give the course a more natural look. It has a rich history, with this being the 79th time the course hosts a PGA Tour event. The course, designed by Bredemus/Maxwell, is renowned for favoring players with excellent shot-making abilities.
Colonial Country Club is a par 70 course spanning 7,209 yards. While it features a challenging length, it’s worth noting that a significant portion of the yardage comes from the four par 3s, all playing over 190 yards, and the lengthy 635-yard par 5 on the 11th hole. The primary focus lies on the seven par 4s falling into the 400-450 yard range.
In comparison to the tour average, driving distance and accuracy are slightly lower at this course, with approach play taking precedence. Putting also holds more significance than usual, specifically in the 5-10 ft and 10-15 ft ranges, which will be considered in our model. It’s important to emphasize short to mid iron play, as approach shots from the 125-150 and 150-175 yard ranges comprise a significant portion of all shots played.
Course history at Colonial has shown some predictability, likely due to its long-standing presence on the PGA Tour. However, when analyzing Strokes Gained: Total, it’s evident that even the top performers have had some missed cuts. This indicates that relying solely on past success may not be foolproof. Considering winning scores, we can anticipate a range of approximately 13-14 under par. Players transitioning from the PGA Championship might have an advantage, having faced exceptionally challenging conditions, although mental fatigue could also be a factor. Striking a balance between these factors seems reasonable.
Examining players who have enjoyed success at this event, names like Spieth, Finau, Morikawa, Emiliano Grillo, Brian Harman, and Russel Knox stand out. This suggests that the course caters to various player types. Assessing their performances in Strokes Gained categories, it becomes evident that their success stemmed from strong all-around play rather than excelling in one specific area.
For this event, we are seeking players who display overall solidity in their tee-to-green game.
Our Picks:
Max Homa @22/1
He’s one of only a handful of players in this field we could legitimately see taking down Scottie. His approach has been hot over the last few events, and we know how capable he is with the putter. This course minimizes off the tee game which will help, and he’s got a solid history here with a 27th, 23rd, and 9th place finish in 3 of his last 4 appearances.
Brian Harman @35/1
He’s proven he can take down the big dogs at last year’s Open Championship and he took a run at Scottie in The Players in March. He can go nuclear with both the irons and putter which makes this a very good course for him. He’s got an excellent track record here with 9 of 11 made cuts and 3 top 10s.
Harris English @30/1
Were interested in English because of how hot he can get with the putter. His approach game also showed signs of life last week so if he can keep that going this should be an easy cash. No outright here for us because we just don’t think he can take down this strong of a field. He’s got some solid course history as well with 2 top 5 finishes.
*All picks based on bet365 odds of 5 places*
Best Golf Betting Tips, PGA Tour, Image Credit: Hoodline.com
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