The Charles Schwab Challenge 2026: Matt Cooper's each-way picks from 35/1 to 90/1

Introduction to the Charles Schwab Challenge

First played in 1946, the first editions of the Charles Schwab Challenge two - and five of the first 13 - were won by the great Ben Hogan which has prompted the host course, Colonial Country Club, to be nicknamed 'Hogan's Alley'.

Since then, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson and Phil Mickelson have added their name to the list of winners.

It has a strong heritage, therefore, but its prestige was on the wane even before it missed out on PGA Tour Signature Event status.

Unlike those other greats, Scottie Scheffler has never quite cracked the Colonial test. He endured play-off defeat in 2022, was third in 2023, second in 2024 and fourth last year.

Schedule demands - and perhaps the sense that he's always playing a jigsaw puzzle with one piece missing - means that he is not in attendance this week.

The requirements for those who are playing is quite distinct.

Texas golf tends to be blustery and Colonial is no different, but it is also notable for tree-lined and doglegged fairways, and small bent grass greens.

It calls for a complete game. Eight of the last 10 winners ranked top 10 for both Strokes Gained Tee to Green and Putting and the exceptions ranked 20th/2nd and 1st/21st respectively.

Bet 1: Gary Woodland each-way @ 35/1

When Colonial was created the owner tasked two respected architects with the project.

Perry Maxwell was the first of those designers and in 2024 Gary Woodland said of Colonial: "I love the golf course. I grew up on a Perry Maxwell design, so I've always enjoyed coming here."

That year saw the unveiling of an update to the course by Gil Hanse and Woodland liked it.

"They have lowered the greens, which [means] now it really helps us, with how firm it is," he said. "If you miss the fairways, you can run it up. They did a very good job."

That year Woodland carded a second round 64, last year he was T11 and back in 2020 he was T9 having been second with 18 holes to play.

The clincher is that the other designer to work on Colonial was John Bredemus and he's also responsible for Memorial Park which hosts the Houston Open that Woodland won in late March.

Since Memorial Park joined the PGA Tour schedule form has tallied nicely with Colonial and Woodland's results since then are perhaps a little better than they seem at first glance.

His T8 at Harbour Town was obviously good, but T33 at Augusta and T17 at Quail Hollow was pretty good based on his past records there.

Bet 2: Bud Cauley each-way @ 40/1

Stephan Jaeger is tempting with a fine Memorial Park record and simmering form, but he admits he misses a lot of fairways and Colonial punishes him in that regard which explains his poor record there.

Instead, we'll add Bud Cauley who got off a flyer last year with a first round 64 and he hung around for solo third.

It was his first visit to the course since 2020 and, while he'd liked it (three top 30s in six visits), he also appreciated the changes.

"It's changed a little but it's generally the same," he said. "I've played a lot here and I'm comfortable here."

He's a good Texas performer (14 top 30s in 26 starts) and his form is solid too.

He's played 72 holes in 12 of his last 13 starts and within those results are plenty of good efforts.

He was T3 at halfway in the Texas Open before finishing T21.

He was T7 at Harbour Town (tight and doglegged - in that regard a little like Colonial).

He carded a 65 in the third round of his penultimate start at Quail Hollow in the Truist Championship.

And a Saturday 67 in the PGA Championship had him only four shots back of the lead heading into the final round. He was eventually T26.

His putter can be a little cold but he recorded good stats on the greens lastt year and a revival of that can see him go close.

His career was disrupted when he was badly injured in a car accident in 2018. The breakthrough win has never comes, but this is a good chance for him this week.

Bet 3: Emiliano Grillo each-way @ 90/1

The Argentine Emiliano Grillo broke a run of three missed cuts with a first round 64 at TPC Craig Ranch last week.

He revealed that he's not been far away from his best in the second round of the PGA Championship and his dissection of the 64 read: "Hit a bunch of fairways. Hit it very close with the wedges, I made the putts."

That's what is needed this week, as he said after winning this tournament back in 2023: "Got to keep it in the fairway, got to keep it on the green. I would think that's my strong part of the game."

His tournament log book backs him up.

He's missed just one cut in 10 visits, six times he ended the week in the top 25 and in addition to the win he was third - contending all week - in 2018.

He's also been patient this season.

"I've learned you've just got to keep grinding," he said last week, a lesson Hogan would be nodding at. "It sounds a little old, but there's no secrets. Just trust the process."

He always gets a unique little buzz on the first tee, seeing his name alongside that of his compatriot Roberto De Vicenzo who won in 1957.

"It's kind of cool," he said in 2024. "This is a special place to me."

Now read Steve Rawlings' Charles Schwab Challenge preview