The PGA Tour returns to Texas for the final time in 2025 for the Charles Schwab Challenge. Located at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, this par 70 runs 7,289 yards and underwent major renovations that debuted last year.
Scottie Scheffler is unsurprisingly the betting favorite to win his first Charles Schwab Challenge at +250 odds. He’s coming off of back-to-back wins, including his third major title during the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on Sunday. No other golfer in this field is remotely close to Scheffler, with Jordan Spieth and Daniel Berger, two former winners at Colonial, sitting behind him at +2200 odds.
Last week, my PGA Championship DFS Primer returned great value on three of four selections. Only Justin Thomas, the most expensive golfer to roster in lineups, played poorly and missed the cut. Harris English (T2), Keegan Bradley (T8) and Corey Conners (T19) all managed top 20 finishes or better with cheap salaries.
I’m back with another PGA DFS Primer ahead of Round 1 at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more PGA DFS recommendations, along with analysis and free picks throughout the 2025 PGA Tour season.
2025 Charles Schwab Challenge DFS Primer
Previous Winners
- 2024 – Davis Riley (-14)
- 2023 – Emiliano Grillo (-8)
- 2022 – Sam Burns (-9)
- 2021 – Jason Kokrak (-14)
- 2020 – Daniel Berger (-15)
Relevant Betting Stats
- Driving Accuracy
- Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Scrambling
- Strokes Gained: Putting
Course Overview
Colonial Country Club plays as a par 70 at 7,289 yards. It’s surfaces include Bermudagrass fairways and rough, the latter standing 2.5 inches. Bentgrass greens running up to 13 feet via Stimpmeter will feature fast-paced conditions with a 5,000 square foot average.
Underwent significant restoration effort in 2023 by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner. Opens with one of two par 5s on Hole 1, while three of four par 3s are under 200 yards. Seven par 4s run less than 450 yards.
Tree-lined fairways and sand bunkers are most consistent hazards. Some water hazards but a windy forecast during Round 3 and Round 4 could complicate tee-to-green accuracy after the cut.
Recommended Plays: DraftKings
DraftKings maximum salary is set at $50,000
Aaron Rai: $9,100
Oddsmakers are bullish on Aaron Rai to contend at Colonial this week. The Englishman leads the PGA Tour in driver accuracy and sits 20th SG: Approach. Also ranked 22nd in total strokes gained an 16th at finding greens in regulation.
Rai’s putter is the weakest club in his bag. He’s 96th SG: Putting but sixth on par 4s, 30th in birdie average, and 46th for scoring average in 2025. Logged a T32 finish at Colonial in 2024.
I’ll bite on Rai at $9.1K due to his tee-to-green accuracy that aligns nicely at a short course like Colonial.
J.J. Spaun: $8,400
Since losing to Rory McIlroy at TPC Sawgrass during The PLAYERS Championship, J.J. Spaun has only one top 25 finish in his last five events.
Spaun has four top 10s in 2025, averages 69.7 FPPG and has made 16-19 birdies in back-to-back events at the Truist Championship and PGA Championship.
He’s fourth SG: Approach, sixth in total driving, 13th proximity and 24th at finding greens in regulation. Let’s pounce on Spaun at a discounted rate ahead of Round 1 at Colonial on Thursday.
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Recommended Plays: FanDuel
FanDuel maximum salary is set at $60,000
Thorbjorn Olesen: $9,600
This is my first time taking Thorbjorn Olesen in a DFS lineup in 2025. The Dutch golfer ranks 10th in total strokes gained, including 32nd SG: Off-the-Tee, 19th SG: Approach, top 40 in driving accuracy and ninth in scoring average.
Olesen has a pair of top 10 finishes in his last five events at the Valero Texas Open and ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, posting T5 and T7 finishes. He’s got a consistent ability to remain accurate tee-to-green, while his putting is an area to improve.
At $9.6K, Olesen fits the bill at the Charles Schwab Challenge this week.
Alex Smalley: $9,500
I’ll go back to Alex Smalley again in DFS. He’s had a volatile season on the PGA Tour but still ranks sixth in total strokes gained, including 16th SG: Off-the-Tee and 35th at hitting greens in regulation.
Smalley is second in total driving, fusing power and accuracy to gain an edge against the field off-the-tee. His irons are also solid, ranked 57th SG: Approach, while sitting 20th in scrambling.
Smalley’s short game is reliable and he’s 32nd in birdie or better percentage in 2025. Let’s wrap up with Smalley in lineups at $9.5K in FanDuel DFS contests.
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Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for BettingPros and FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.
