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Charles Schwab Invitational: Expert Picks

Can Kevin Na continue his strong play after the break?

By Mark Abell
Charles Schwab Challenge - Final Round Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR

Tournament Information

Charles Schwab Invitational
Date: June 11th – 14th
Course: Colonial Country Club
Purse: $7.5MM ($1.4MM to winner)
FedEx points: 500 to winner
2019 Winner: Kevin Na (-14)

Course

Colonial Country Club – Opened in 1936 by John Bredemus and Perry Maxwell, this 7,209 yard par 70 course runs along the Trinity River. The course is long with some well-placed bunkers around the greens but by and large it is fairly flat with some generous fairways. Importance is placed on solid drive distances and good approaches to the green. Putting is one of the more crucial attributes here.

Crowne Plaza Invitational - Final Round Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images

My Starting 4

Marc Leishman (3rd selection this year) — Marc has a strong track record in Texas courses. His last tournament before the break was a 2nd place finish at Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Louis Oosthuizen (2nd selection this year) — He has been one of the best golfers in Texas courses over the last few years. He averaged a 5th place finish last year, 7th in 2018 and 18th in 2017.

Jon Rahm (2nd selection this year) — He finished in the top 5 here in 2017 and 2018. He opened up here to a 75 last year which caused him to miss the cut. He sometimes struggles on the first event back after a break, that is the only concern I have with one of the best golfers on tour right now.

Kevin Na (2nd selection this year) — He finished 4th here two years ago and won here last year. He’s currently 11th in the FedEx Ranking and 31st in OWGR.

My Bench 2

Kevin Tway (1st selection this year) — Kevin has a strong track record at Fort Worth, he’s been in the top 20 here each of the last three years. He’s struggling this season (up until the delay, he has missed the last three cuts) hopefully he took his time off to regain his swing.

Emiliano Grillo (1st selection this year) — He finished 3rd at the Puerto Rico open before a missed cut at the Honda Classic and a DQ at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (he signed an incorrect scorecard and would have missed the cut regardless). Grillo has a Greens in Regulation percentage of 72.37% this year, good enough for 8th best on the tour.

Fun Fact: Both Jordan Spieth and Justin Dufner have finished 2nd here twice in the last eight years.

2020 Stats:

Starting 4: Avg finish 45th (33rd percentile)
Bench 2: Avg finish 58th (44th percentile)