PGA First Look: Charles Schwab Challenge

The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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Event Preview

Last week’s PGA Championship shouldn’t have surprised anyone. Brooks Koepka is the most confident golfer on the planet and he has the game to back it up. He built such a big lead after the first two days that his B-game was good enough on the weekend to take home his fourth major. He’s the first golfer in history to win defend his title at two majors at the same time — he’s won each of the last two U.S. Opens and PGA Championships. There is typically a letdown after each major, but we have quite the field teeing it up in Fort Worth this week for the Charles Schwab Challenge, which was formerly known as the Fort Worth Invitational and the Dean & Deluca Invitational.

Colonial Country Club is a classical course that can’t be overpowered. It is a Par 70 that measures 7,209 yards. The yardage itself is a bit misleading, as the two par fives are a combined 1,200 yards. When you are thinking of comparison courses, this is more like Harbour Town than it is like Bethpage Black. The course is flat, it features narrow and tree-lined fairways, and it has very small bentgrass greens. Most of the holes feature dog legs and with challenging rough, accuracy is more important than distance off the tee. It’s not that bombers can’t succeed here, but many will be forced to club down on most of these holes. When Kevin Kisner, Jordan Spieth, and Zach Johnson have some of the best course history in the field, you know this is more of a plodder’s course.

In each of the last three years, this course has ranked in the top 20 in difficulty on tour. I don’t expect that to change this week, especially after seeing the forecast. We are expecting 14+ MPH winds (sustained) for each of the four days. When the wind is up, scoring becomes more difficult. It also makes the greens harder to hit, which places a bigger emphasis on a golfer’s short game. You’ll have to hit fairways here, but with many golfers clubbing down off the tee, I’m not even looking at driving statistics. This course is all about iron play and given the expected conditions, I will be taking a long look at around the green play.

Cut Rule: Top 70 and ties move on after the first two rounds. The MDF rule is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the initial cut.

Recent Winners of this Event:Justin Rose (2018), Kevin Kisner (2017), Jordan Spieth (2016), Chris Kirk (2015), Adam Scott (2014)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Strokes Gained Around the Green
3) Bogey Avoidance
4) Strokes Gained Putting (Emphasis on Bentgrass)
5) Proximity Blend

Sports Betting Card

It was a week of close calls at the PGA Championship. I sided with Dustin Johnson over Brooks Koepka and the sweat became real on the back nine on Sunday. Ultimately, Johnson made some mistakes in his final few holes and Koepka didn’t really have enough pressure to make him crack. At this point, I’m not sure any amount of pressure can make him crack. We did hit the Patrick Cantlay top five, but narrowly missed out on the Jason Kokrak top 20 bet. We had 10 units in play and brought back eight, which means we are officially down one unit for the first time all season.

YTD: 4 wins, -1 units

Outright Bets

Jon Rahm 12/1
Paul Casey 22/1

Top 5 Bets

Emiliano Grillo 10/1
Chez Reavie 10/1
Jim Furyk 16/1

Top 20 Bets

Jim Furyk 3/1
Boo Weekley 11/1

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2014-2018)

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Sal OWGR Odds DK % FD % FDRFT % Cuts 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
Justin Rose $11,400 $12,200 $17,700 2 10 0% 0% 0% 1/1 1 500 500 500 500
Jon Rahm $11,200 $12,000 $17,600 11 11 0% 0% 0% 2/2 5 2 500 500 500
Jordan Spieth $10,900 $11,400 $17,100 39 14 -33% 20% -33% 5/5 32 2 1 2 14
Rickie Fowler $10,500 $11,800 $17,100 10 13 25% 0% 0% 1/2 14 500 500 500 122
Xander Schauffele $10,000 $11,300 $16,800 9 15 0% 17% 0% 1/2 85 48 500 500 500
Francesco Molinari $9,800 $11,600 $16,600 7 17 0% -50% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tony Finau $9,600 $11,200 $15,800 15 26 -14% -14% -14% 3/3 500 29 34 19 500
Bryson DeChambeau $9,400 $11,100 $15,600 8 28 -13% -13% 0% 1/3 42 73 85 500 500
Paul Casey $9,300 $10,900 $15,800 12 24 22% 22% 0% 2/3 500 10 500 43 76
Kevin Kisner $9,200 $10,500 $15,500 24 33 0% 17% 0% 4/5 52 1 10 5 88
Ian Poulter $9,100 $10,600 $15,100 28 36 -9% -9% 0% 1/2 500 500 117 5 500
Louis Oosthuizen $9,000 $10,700 $15,500 21 33 8% -10% -10% 2/3 5 500 94 500 38
Jason Kokrak $8,900 $10,300 $15,000 66 43 0% 0% 0% 2/4 32 117 55 112 500
Rory Sabbatini $8,800 $10,200 $14,700 138 45 0% 0% 0% 2/4 20 73 500 10 88
Emiliano Grillo $8,700 $10,000 $14,500 61 47 -7% 0% 6% 3/3 3 24 55 500 500
Scott Piercy $8,600 $9,800 $14,700 64 46 6% 25% -7% 3/4 89 7 67 43 500
Matthew Fitzpatrick $8,500 $10,000 $14,600 34 49 0% -6% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ryan Palmer $8,400 $9,700 $14,100 73 63 -33% -9% -9% 3/5 109 70 3 81 5
Chez Reavie $8,300 $9,900 $14,300 65 55 5% 0% 0% 1/3 85 48 71 500 500
Joel Dahmen $8,200 $9,600 $14,100 81 64 -25% -4% -14% 1/1 20 500 500 500 500
Billy Horschel $8,100 $9,900 $14,300 43 57 10% -6% -6% 1/1 500 34 500 500 500
Kevin Na $8,000 $9,700 $14,000 49 62 0% 0% 12% 3/4 4 500 42 10 76
Zach Johnson $7,900 $9,800 $14,200 91 62 9% -5% 0% 4/5 98 63 17 19 73
Brandt Snedeker $7,900 $10,100 $14,300 52 57 13% -33% -11% 5/5 42 48 17 2 45
Graeme McDowell $7,800 $9,500 $13,900 120 69 -4% 0% 0% 1/1 500 29 500 500 500
Tyrrell Hatton $7,800 $9,600 $14,100 38 63 8% 4% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Si Woo Kim $7,700 $9,400 $13,900 53 70 0% 4% -4% 1/3 66 73 71 500 500
Sungjae Im $7,700 $9,400 $13,400 60 82 -30% -25% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Pat Perez $7,700 $9,500 $13,900 90 74 -7% -12% -12% 2/4 42 82 500 5 96
Charley Hoffman $7,600 $9,300 $13,700 70 75 0% 0% 0% 5/5 52 24 42 10 51
Abraham Ancer $7,600 $9,300 $13,800 62 73 7% 7% 3% 1/1 52 500 500 500 500
Daniel Berger $7,600 $9,200 $13,500 89 81 -13% -6% -6% 0/1 500 500 500 81 500
Byeong Hun An $7,500 $9,100 $13,400 57 87 -18% -15% -18% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kiradech Aphibarnrat $7,500 $9,200 $13,600 41 80 3% 0% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kevin Tway $7,500 $9,000 $13,400 104 87 -15% -6% -15% 2/3 5 18 500 500 109
Branden Grace $7,500 $8,900 $13,000 48 97 -36% -15% -7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Russell Knox $7,400 $9,100 $13,400 68 81 11% 3% 0% 3/3 20 500 500 24 21
Matt Jones $7,400 $8,800 $13,400 183 79 16% 26% 6% 2/3 500 63 71 500 45
Jimmy Walker $7,400 $8,800 $13,200 107 86 0% 12% 5% 4/4 20 500 29 65 10
Jason Dufner $7,400 $8,900 $13,400 187 95 -19% -13% -33% 3/5 89 73 6 43 2
Jim Furyk $7,300 $9,000 $13,100 50 91 2% -11% 0% 2/3 66 500 85 500 51
Jhonattan Vegas $7,300 $8,800 $13,100 80 85 12% 14% 10% 2/4 73 111 115 53 500
Danny Lee $7,300 $8,700 $12,900 119 92 -2% 7% 5% 5/5 14 6 22 10 38
C.T. Pan $7,300 $9,000 $13,000 54 94 -5% -19% -2% 1/2 20 88 500 500 500
Corey Conners $7,200 $8,900 $12,900 86 92 9% -5% 7% 1/1 8 500 500 500 500
Trey Mullinax $7,200 $8,400 $12,600 227 119 -20% 0% -6% 1/1 58 500 500 500 500
Bud Cauley $7,200 $8,700 $12,900 188 102 -2% -2% -5% 2/2 500 41 500 500 21
Matt Every $7,200 $8,500 $12,700 235 110 -13% 0% -4% 0/2 500 88 500 500 114
Seamus Power $7,200 $8,700 $12,600 266 123 -29% -29% -14% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Stuard $7,100 $8,600 $12,800 164 109 2% -2% -4% 3/4 32 24 500 62 76
Joaquin Niemann $7,100 $8,600 $12,600 141 116 -6% -10% -4% 1/1 8 500 500 500 500
Sam Burns $7,100 $8,600 $12,800 113 110 0% -4% -6% 0/1 113 500 500 500 500
JT Poston $7,100 $8,300 $12,500 171 122 -14% 2% 2% 2/2 20 41 500 500 500
Bill Haas $7,100 $8,500 $12,700 308 106 4% 6% 2% 4/4 14 12 47 500 21
Aaron Baddeley $7,000 $8,100 $12,400 189 132 -15% 2% -3% 2/5 89 82 55 101 51
Kramer Hickok $7,000 $8,100 $12,300 197 129 -13% 3% 2% 0/1 500 500 102 500 500
Ollie Schniederjans $7,000 $8,200 $12,400 217 132 -15% -3% -3% 2/2 74 29 500 500 500
Martin Kaymer $7,000 $8,300 $12,600 186 126 -7% -2% -16% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Martin Laird $7,000 $8,400 $12,600 254 113 5% 4% -2% 2/5 79 73 71 43 30
Kevin Streelman $6,900 $8,400 $12,600 127 105 22% 13% 8% 3/4 76 18 102 58 500
Kyoung-Hoon Lee $6,900 $8,000 $12,200 250 143 -15% -3% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Max Homa $6,900 $8,300 $12,500 100 127 -2% -5% -5% 0/1 500 500 500 108 500
Austin Cook $6,900 $7,800 $12,100 155 140 -12% 11% 3% 0/1 79 500 500 500 500
Brian Harman $6,900 $8,500 $12,600 93 122 7% -10% -10% 5/5 14 7 25 10 30
Shawn Stefani $6,800 $8,100 $12,500 280 126 9% 8% -2% 3/3 66 500 34 19 500
Scott Stallings $6,800 $7,900 $12,100 128 156 -15% -4% -9% 1/4 79 63 102 500 76
Michael Thompson $6,800 $7,900 $12,100 111 152 -9% 1% -3% 3/4 32 57 500 98 10
Andrew Putnam $6,800 $7,700 $12,000 58 161 -20% 0% 0% 1/1 20 500 500 500 500
Nick Taylor $6,800 $7,800 $12,000 258 176 -23% -7% -3% 3/4 109 61 47 27 500
Talor Gooch $6,700 $8,000 $12,100 167 146 0% -4% -1% 0/1 104 500 500 500 500
Vaughn Taylor $6,700 $8,200 $12,300 182 120 21% 10% 13% 3/3 20 18 55 500 500
Doug Ghim $6,700 $7,800 $12,100 351 155 -6% 1% -7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Patton Kizzire $6,700 $7,900 $12,100 98 159 -10% -7% -12% 2/3 64 63 109 500 500
Beau Hossler $6,700 $8,400 $12,200 110 132 10% -17% 3% 1/2 64 94 500 500 500
Cameron Champ $6,700 $8,200 $12,200 102 143 3% -11% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Andrew Landry $6,600 $7,700 $12,100 130 154 5% 8% -4% 0/1 104 500 500 500 500
Denny McCarthy $6,600 $8,000 $12,200 143 138 13% 1% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Nick Watney $6,600 $8,000 $12,100 184 154 4% -9% -6% 1/3 117 53 500 500 96
Scott Brown $6,600 $7,600 $11,700 241 188 -9% -2% 1% 2/5 108 12 109 33 88
Peter Uihlein $6,600 $8,000 $12,100 124 158 0% -13% -10% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
David Toms $6,600 $7,300 $11,200 201 -18% 3% 11% 2/3 500 500 25 108 5
Adam Schenk $6,500 $7,500 $11,800 233 163 4% 6% 2% 0/1 89 500 500 500 500
Jonas Blixt $6,500 $7,700 $11,900 305 179 1% -4% -1% 2/3 500 18 55 118 500
Dominic Bozzelli $6,500 $7,200 $11,000 345 278 -24% -5% 0% 1/1 500 69 500 500 500
Brendan Steele $6,500 $7,500 $11,600 181 220 -18% -15% -8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ben Crane $6,500 $7,300 $11,600 442 206 -12% 1% -2% 3/3 8 500 29 71 500
Anirban Lahiri $6,500 $7,300 $11,700 231 203 -11% 2% -8% 2/3 58 88 6 500 500
Nate Lashley $6,400 $7,400 $11,700 386 190 3% 3% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Boo Weekley $6,400 $7,000 $10,800 880 313 -18% 0% 2% 2/4 500 111 85 33 75
Wyndham Clark $6,400 $7,500 $11,800 244 194 1% -4% -7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Bronson Burgoon $6,400 $7,400 $11,600 179 210 -6% -6% -3% 0/1 500 500 94 500 500
Brian Gay $6,400 $7,600 $11,800 137 181 7% -1% -1% 2/2 500 34 500 500 57
Kenny Perry $6,400 $7,000 $10,300 588 -31% -11% -3% 0/1 500 500 500 92 500
Peter Malnati $6,300 $7,400 $11,700 263 189 11% 5% 0% 0/1 500 500 107 500 500
Adam Long $6,300 $7,100 $11,500 121 224 -4% 3% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Josh Teater $6,300 $7,000 $10,700 472 331 -15% -4% 0% 1/1 500 500 500 500 38
Roger Sloan $6,300 $7,100 $10,400 275 433 -18% -10% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ryan Blaum $6,300 $7,400 $11,600 302 216 -2% -9% -7% 1/2 113 24 500 500 500
Chris Stroud $6,300 $7,100 $11,500 199 215 -1% 6% -1% 3/4 500 41 13 92 14
Chesson Hadley $6,200 $7,500 $11,700 95 193 14% -2% -2% 2/4 20 500 102 24 121
Mac Hughes $6,200 $7,600 $11,700 264 199 12% -9% -5% 1/2 42 114 500 500 500
Tom Hoge $6,200 $7,000 $10,900 341 313 -4% 0% -1% 2/2 42 500 17 500 500
Michael Kim $6,200 $7,000 $10,200 363 653 -16% -12% 0% 1/2 500 41 118 500 500
Ted Potter $6,200 $7,000 $10,900 163 323 -7% -3% -4% 1/1 42 500 500 500 500
Colt Knost $6,200 $7,000 $10,700 363 -10% -6% -2% 2/2 500 500 67 10 500
Rod Pampling $6,200 $7,000 $10,200 1090 738 -18% -13% -2% 0/3 109 100 500 500 76
Carlos Ortiz $6,100 $7,200 $11,300 270 200 17% 8% 10% 1/1 500 500 500 58 500
Ryan Armour $6,100 $7,400 $11,500 117 213 12% -7% 0% 1/1 14 500 500 500 500
Hudson Swafford $6,100 $7,300 $10,800 261 313 3% -12% 2% 1/2 500 500 47 92 500
Richy Werenski $6,100 $7,200 $11,500 206 228 7% -2% -5% 1/1 74 500 500 500 500
Benjamin Silverman $6,100 $7,000 $11,400 389 241 7% 4% -2% 1/1 11 500 500 500 500
Brice Garnett $6,100 $7,200 $10,900 168 295 4% -6% 0% 1/3 89 500 500 81 30
Scott Langley $6,100 $7,000 $11,300 246 276 6% 3% -2% 2/3 500 500 71 27 68
Keith Clearwater $6,100 $7,000 $10,100 1913 -14% -17% -3% 0/5 118 100 119 122 123
Tyrone Van Aswegen $6,000 $7,000 $10,300 671 528 3% -8% 0% 2/3 14 111 42 500 500
J.J. Henry $6,000 $7,000 $10,300 707 538 2% -9% -1% 1/5 79 94 85 101 57
Whee Kim $6,000 $7,000 $10,700 216 340 5% -5% -1% 3/3 58 34 500 65 500
Tim Herron $6,000 $7,000 $10,300 958 565 1% -10% -2% 3/5 11 100 29 81 63
Dru Love $6,000 $7,000 $10,200 693 -2% -13% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Mike Weir $6,000 $7,000 $10,100 1238 -3% -14% 0% 0/1 500 500 500 112 500
Tucker Wadkins $6,000 $7,000 $10,100 1368 -4% -15% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tom Purtzer $6,000 $7,000 $10,100 1410 -5% -16% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend

Term Description
Site % Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2013 – 2017 Columns Course history at this event in the last five seasons.
Cover Image Credit: USA Today Sports Images

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on Twitter – @RG_Notorious