2025 Charles Schwab Challenge Predictions

Colonial Country Club was founded in 1936 by Marvin Leonard. Colonial has since set a record in championship golf as the only club to host a Men’s U.S. Open (1941), a Women’s U.S. Open (1991), and THE PLAYERS Championship (1975). Colonial has hosted the longest-running tournament on the PGA Tour. Every May since 1946, the world’s greatest golfers travel to Fort Worth to compete in the Colonial National Invitation, known today as the Charles Schwab Challenge. Golfers compete to add their name to the Wall of Champions and get their name on the Leonard Trophy.

The event has been part of golfing history as well, with Annika Sorenstam playing in 2003, while the 2020 edition was the first event back after the enforced break due to COVID-19.

Ben Hogan is a five-time winner of the tournament. His dominance at the club earned him the nickname “Hogan’s Alley.” Hogan’s last victory at Colonial was in 1959. There is a statue of the great man outside the clubhouse at Colonial and a dedicated room honoring him.

The Horrible Horseshoe, the nickname for holes 3-5, is one of the toughest stretches on TOUR. In 2019, the Horrible Horseshoe played 284 over par, the most difficult three-hole stretch on the PGA TOUR that season. Dan Jenkins, the legendary sportswriter and Fort Worth native, is credited with giving these three holes their nickname in the 1980s.

In addition to Ben Hogan, the winners include Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Lee Trevino, Ben Crenshaw, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Jordan Spieth, and Justin Rose.  

Charles Schwab Corporation became the title sponsor of the event starting in 2019 with the Charles Schwab Challenge, the tournament title. The winner will receive 1.7 million dollars, a Scottish Royal Tartan Plaid jacket, and a 1992 Land Rover Defender. It features a modern 430HP Chevrolet LS3 Conversion with a 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission and custom leather interior with Colonial plaid inserts.

The Block Party returns to Colonial. An invitation was extended to fan favorite Michael Block. He will play the tour two weeks in a row after qualifying for the PGA Championship.

Player to Fade:

This is a scary category. You make a pick and then bam, first round leader. At the time of writing this article, there are three past winners in the current field: Olin Browne, David Frost, and Corey Pavin. I was working the tournament each time these men won. I won’t choose them but will enjoy seeing them play.

My pick is a member of the club. He has competed in every Colonial since 2004. He has finished in the top six multiple times, with his best finish being third. This year, he has played in twelve tournaments, missing the cut nine times and his last five. I will not have any money on him. My fade is Ryan Palmer.

Dark Horse:

I’m going out on a limb, but I believe in this player. I have been following him on his Dad’s YouTube channel since he was an early junior golfer. He won on the Korn Ferry Tour and graduated to the tour via the Korn Ferry Championship. He has played in only ten tournaments and already registered a win at the Puerto Rico Open. He has earned over a million dollars as a rookie. He graduated from Stanford, which led to him being the only golfer Tiger Woods has sponsored. My Dark Horse is Australia’s Karl Vilips.

Top 10:

My Top 10 selection is a fan favorite wherever he goes. This will be his 13th visit. He has finished runner-up three times, with an additional four top tens. This pairs with a victory in 2016. Spieth is a three-time Major winner and the 2015 FedEx Champion. He is a native Texan, born in nearby Dallas, and he is considered an addopted son here at Colonial. My Top 10 selection is Jordan Spieth.

Winner:

I looked hard to find a different winner, but can’t get off my selection. Although not born in Texas, it is where he attended the University of Texas. He resides and plays from Dallas. He has a history at Colonial. In his last three visits to Colonial, he has a third and two seconds. In 2022, he lost in a playoff to winner Sam Burns. He has 15 victories in his career, has amassed over 81 millions dollars in earnings, and is the number one golfer in the world, a position he has held for over 100 weeks in a row. My Winner selection is no surprise, winner in his last two starts at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson and the PGA Championship, Scottie Scheffler. 

About the Author:

I’m Steve Sanders, a long-time Fort Worth resident. This will be my 37th year volunteering for the Caddie Committee at The Colonial. Lifelong Lions and Reds fan. I play golf, disc golf, drink stouts, and smoke cigars. Fantasy Football is a passion. Joe Montana was my first draft pick. I’m a 20+ year member at Madjacksports (Another Steve). This is where I post all my golf plays for the week, also a home of many great cappers.