Charles Schwab Challenge 2026 preview, picks & analysis

Ben Griffin returns to Colonial Country Club as defending champion after a career-changing 2025 season that included his first individual PGA Tour victory. Ludvig Aberg, Rickie Fowler and recent US PGA champion Aaron Rai are among the leading names looking to challenge at this year’s Charles Schwab Challenge.

TWELVE months ago Ben Griffin proved that his victory alongside Andrew Novak in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans was no fluke when he held on for his first individual PGA Tour victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Despite struggling to a one-over 71 in challenging wind conditions during the final round, Griffin's exceptional scrambling ability – honed through countless hours of practice during his family's toughest times – proved to be the difference maker.

The victory completed a remarkable comeback for Griffin, who stepped away from professional golf before returning in 2021. After several near misses, including runner-up finishes at the Sanderson Farms Championship and strong performances in majors, his breakthrough win at Colonial marked the start of a career-changing season that also included another PGA Tour title and a Ryder Cup debut.

Ludvig Aberg is in the middle of what must be an increasingly frustrating season. The Swede is a hugely talented golfer who keeps putting himself in contention but is struggling horribly when it comes to finishing off the job. He famously suffered something of a meltdown in the final round of the Players Championship when he had the tournament at his mercy. To his credit, he shrugged that off and has continued to play some wonderful golf but this is a golfer who desperately needs to win soon.

Rickie Fowler is showing signs of a welcome return to form. A six-time winner on the PGA Tour, he has been in the wilderness for a while but looks to have turned a corner in 2026. He started to turn things around at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he finished tied ninth. He followed that with missed cuts at the Houston Open and Texas Open, was not in the field for The Masters, but bounce back with a tied eighth at the RBC Heritage, tied ninth at the Cadillac and tied second at the Truist Championship. He would also have enjoyed a good finish at the US PGA had it not been for a final round of 75.

If John Parry and Dan Brown are to keep their PGA Tour cards then they are going to have to find some decent form - and soon.

Parry, who enjoyed such a wonderful season on the DP World Tour in 2025 after previously losing his card, has not missed a single cut but neither has he really challenged, with a best finish of tied eighth at the Puerto Rico Open. He will not need me to tell him that he needs to do better.

There is no doubt that Dan Brown is a wonderful ball striker but he has struggled to make the transition to life on the PGA Tour, missing too many cuts. He finished tied 19th at the Sony Open and briefly contended at the US PGA but was unable to keep it going and eventually finished in a tie for 75th. He currently languishes well outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings and is going to have to turn things around quickly if he is to have any chance of keeping his PGA Tour card.

Jordan Smith, meanwhile, is in pole position for another 12 months on the PGA Tour after his third-place finish at the Valspar Championship but there have also been five missed cuts. He is a terrific ball striker and is clearly enjoying life in America.

Tournament winners:

It was won in 2015 by Chris Kirk, in 2016 by Jordan Spieth, in 2017 by Kevin Kisner, in 2018 by Justin Rose, in 2019 by Kevin Na, in 2020 by Daniel Berger, in 2021 by Jason Kokrak, in 2022 by  Sam Burns, in 2023 by Emiliano Grillo, in 2024 by Davis Riley and last year by Ben Griffin

The course:

Colonial Country Club is a par 70 measuring 7,209 yards. Bordered by the Trinity River, it was designed by Perry Maxwell and John Bredemus. Its tree-lined fairways put a premium on accuracy from the tee. It features several doglegs and smallish greens.

Prize money:

Total prize money is just over $9m, with $1.7m going to the winner along with 500 FedEx Cup points

How to watch:

Thursday, May 28, Friday, May 29, Sky Sports Golf, 5pm; Saturday, May 30, Sunday, May 31, Sky Sports Golf, 4.30pm

Charles Schwab Challenge Picks & Tips

Form guide:

Ludvig Aberg is enjoying a consistent season but should have won the Players Championship. He contends most weeks and Colonial is a course that will suit his game.

To win:

Ludvig Aberg. Fabulous ball striker

Each way:

Rickie Fowler. Impressive run of form

Each way:

Jordan Smith. Sitting pretty

Five to follow:

Ludvig Aberg. Due another win

Rickie Fowler. Almost back to his best

Jordan Smith. Superb iron player

Max Greyserman. A real talent

Ryan Gerard. Gifted American

Five outsiders to watch:

Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Impressive South African

Joel Dahmen. Feeling the heat

Dan Brown. Needs to get cracking

John Parry. Desperate for a good week or two

Luke Clanton. Must breakthrough at some point