Back to Business in Fort Worth: The 2025 Charles Schwab Challenge

The PGA Tour rolls into Fort Worth, Texas, this week for the 2025 Charles Schwab Challenge, one of the longest-running and most respected tournaments on the schedule. After the high drama and intensity of the PGA Championship, Colonial Country Club offers a different kind of test, one built on accuracy, strategy, and execution. While the setting may feel more relaxed than last week’s major, the implications remain significant. With the FedEx Cup standings tightening and Ryder Cup points still very much in play, every round at Colonial presents a valuable chance to gain ground. As always, this historic venue will demand the best from the field, turning precision and consistency into the keys to victory.

Tournament Details

Location: Colonial Country Club – Fort Worth, TX

Dates: May 22nd – May 25th, 2025

Defending Champion: Davis Riley

Purse: $9.5 million

FedEx Cup Points: 500

Event Type: Regular PGA Tour Event

Course Week Breakdown

Colonial Country Club is a 7,289-yard, par-70 layout that continues to stand the test of time. Designed by John Bredemus and Perry Maxwell in 1936, the course features tight fairways, penal bunkering, and subtle green complexes that place a premium on positional play and patience. Players who rely on brute force often struggle here, while those with precise iron play and creative short games thrive. The famed "Horrible Horseshoe" stretch, holes three through five, is one of the most difficult three-hole sequences on Tour and can make or break a player’s round. In short, Colonial is a cerebral test that demands discipline and rewards strategy over aggression. The weather forecast calls for dry, warm conditions early in the week with increasing humidity and potential storms by the weekend. Winds are expected to range between 13 to 17 mph, adding another layer of challenge to the already narrow corridors. With the course playing firm and fast, expect scores to hover just below par, and don’t be surprised if we get a tense, low-scoring duel on Sunday afternoon.

Defending Champion: Davis Riley – Riding a Wave of Confidence

Davis Riley arrives at Colonial with his confidence soaring after a great performance at last week’s PGA Championship, where he finished tied for second behind the eventual champion. That comes on the heels of an already steady 2025 campaign that includes several top-10 finishes and flashes of elite ball-striking. Riley’s win at last year’s Charles Schwab Challenge was his first individual PGA Tour title, and he returns with a far different reputation; now viewed as a rising threat, not just a surprise contender. His ability to navigate tight layouts and handle windy conditions makes him a natural fit for Colonial, and there’s every reason to believe he’ll be a factor again this week. With FedEx Cup implications looming and momentum fully on his side, Riley will look to go back-to-back and further cement his place among the game’s emerging stars.

Powerhouse: Scottie Scheffler – Back in Texas, Still on Top

Scottie Scheffler tees it up in his home state fresh off his monumental win at the PGA Championship, his third career major title and second win of the 2025 season. The world number one continues to set the pace for everyone else, leading the Tour in strokes gained total, strokes gained approach, and FedEx Cup points. Colonial’s tight fairways and doglegs may not suit bombers, but Scheffler’s surgical precision from tee to green and calm demeanor under pressure make him the clear favorite yet again. He has finished in the top ten at this event twice before, top three in the last three years, and he will be hungry to add another hometown win to his resume. With the crowd behind him and his game firing on all cylinders, Scheffler enters the week as the player to beat, and by a wide margin.

Looking to Bounce Back: Hideki Matsuyama – Reset After a Rare Miss

Hideki Matsuyama had his Major Championship run of consistency snapped last week when he missed the cut at the PGA Championship, his first missed Major cut since 2019. While one poor showing doesn’t erase what has been a solid 2025 season, it does raise some questions heading into a key stretch of the season. Matsuyama has quietly climbed into the top 20 in FedEx Cup points and remains one of the game’s most reliable ball-strikers. Colonial offers the kind of test that suits his game perfectly: tight landing areas, demanding approach shots, and an emphasis on creativity around the greens. Expect the former Masters champion to come out focused and motivated to right the ship this week, and don’t be surprised if he’s in the mix come Sunday.

Players to Watch: Ryder Cup Hopefuls on the Bubble

While the stars grab the spotlight, a handful of players just outside the automatic Ryder Cup qualification zone have plenty to play for this week. Harris English, Maverick McNealy, Andrew Novak, and Brian Harman are all within 500 points of one another in the Ryder Cup standings, making every round, birdie, and missed cut a potential difference-maker. McNealy has been one of 2025’s most pleasant surprises, ranking 12th in the FedEx Cup and notching several top tens, while English and Harman have each shown flashes of Ryder Cup-ready form without locking in a signature result. Novak, meanwhile, has emerged as a dark-horse candidate thanks to his consistency and strong putting stats. All four have the kind of grit and versatility that make for strong team players, and with Captain Keegan Bradley undoubtedly watching closely, this week at Colonial could be pivotal. If one of them can make a run at the trophy, or even just post a top-five, they’ll significantly boost their standing heading into the summer.

Final Thoughts

The Charles Schwab Challenge may not carry major championship status, but its timing, course setup, and implications make it one of the season’s sneakiest must-watch events. With Davis Riley trying to ride the wave of a career-best showing, Scottie Scheffler attempting to extend his dominance, and Ryder Cup hopefuls battling for crucial points, there’s no shortage of motivation or intrigue. Colonial’s old-school challenge will separate the sharp from the sloppy, and with unpredictable weather on tap, mental toughness will be as valuable as any club in the bag. In a season defined by parity, surges, and pressure-packed storylines, this week in Fort Worth might just be the pivot point before the summer swing takes off. One thing’s for sure: someone is going to make a statement, now it’s just a matter of who.