Charles Schwab Challenge 2026

The Charles Schwab Challenge is one of the PGA Tour’s most established and respected stops, returning once again to the iconic Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Often referred to as “Hogan’s Alley” in honour of Ben Hogan’s remarkable success here, this event traditionally rewards precision, patience, and elite course management far more than raw power, offering a refreshing contrast to some of the tour’s more modern, bomb-and-gouge setups.

Colonial is a classic par-70 layout measuring just over 7,200 yards, but its modest yardage can be deceptive. Tight fairways, strategically placed doglegs, small bentgrass greens, and a premium on accurate iron play make it one of the more exacting tests on the schedule. The infamous “Horrible Horseshoe” — holes 3, 4, and 5 — can quickly derail a round, while scoring opportunities are limited enough that avoiding mistakes is often just as important as making birdies.

With the PGA Championship now in the rear-view mirror, this week often presents an opportunity for in-form outsiders and strong ball-strikers to contend, particularly those comfortable on traditional positional golf courses. Colonial tends to expose any weaknesses in a player’s long game, making it a venue where discipline and sharp approach play usually separate the contenders from the rest.

Matt McCarty 1pt ew 45/1 (10 places Labrokes)

Matt McCarty looks an intriguing outsider at Colonial, the winner of the Black Desert Championship in 2024, arrives here in tremendous form, posting four top-12 finishes in his last five starts. A missed cut on his Charles Schwab debut is the only blemish, but he returns a far more confident and polished PGA Tour player this time around.

Zachary Bauchou 1pt ew 80/1 (10 places bet365)

Zachary Bauchou makes his Charles Schwab Challenge debut as one of the more overlooked names in the field, having made 11 cuts in 13 starts this season with six top-25 finishes, including a breakthrough top-10 at the CJ Cup last time out. On current form, the PGA Tour rookie looks far more than just a solid cut-maker — he has the profile of a player ready to make some real noise at Colonial. 

Tom Kim 1pt ew 45/1 (10 places Powers)

Tom Kim remains a difficult player to gauge right now, but that T6 in Myrtle Beach hinted that his game may finally be trending in the right direction after a long wait for a top-10 finish (35 starts). Last week’s T54 was a step back, yet solid course form at Colonial (T22 in 2024, T44 in 2025) suggests there’s enough comfort here for him to outperform expectations if he can rediscover his best level.

Austrian Alpine Open 2026

The DP World Tour heads to the Austrian Alps this week for the Austrian Alpine Open, a relatively fresh addition to the schedule but one that quickly feels distinct thanks to its spectacular mountain setting. This year’s edition brings a change of scenery, moving to Golf Club Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith for the first time, with the event shifting from Gut Altentann to the Tyrolean resort town of Kitzbühel. 

Set against a dramatic alpine backdrop, the new venue should offer a very different test. Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith sits at altitude, which will naturally allow the ball to travel a little further, while the course itself combines tree-lined fairways, water hazards, and elevation changes that should place a premium on smart club selection and adaptability rather than brute force alone. It’s a fresh examination for the field, adding an extra layer of intrigue to a tournament that continues to grow in stature on the European Swing. 

Nathan Kimsey 2pts ew 25/1 (10 places bet365)

It’s rarely easy to make a case for a player at 25/1 being overpriced, but Nathan Kimsey may just fit that description this week given the consistency he’s producing. With five top-12 finishes in his last nine starts and standout statistical numbers — 6th in driving accuracy, 7th in greens in regulation, and 8th in stroke average — the Englishman brings exactly the kind of reliable all-round game that could thrive on a new course where precision should be heavily rewarded.

Marcel Schneider 1pt ew 60/1 (10 places Powers)

Marcel Schneider arrives as an intriguing dark horse this week, playing solid enough golf without quite threatening the top of leaderboards — a profile not too dissimilar to this stage of last summer before his form suddenly caught fire. He’s the type of player who could easily take to a fresh test like this, and it would be no surprise at all to see the German quietly put himself in contention.

Austin Bautista 1pt ew 125/1 (10 places bet365)

Austin Bautista arrives as a fascinating outsider this week, seemingly playing the best golf of his career. After a strong January on the Australian circuit (27-3-3), the 26-year-old Sydney native took his game to the Sunshine Tour, where a short settling-in period has given way to a superb run of results: 8-7-2-2 in his last four starts. The obvious question now is whether he can translate that momentum onto the DP World Tour stage, but on current form, he’s certainly one to keep a close eye on.