Jordan Spieth

Winged Foot Golf Club was built up to be a difficult course for four rounds of the 2020 U.S. Open. 

On Thursday, the top players in the field proved that wrong, as 21 golfers finished in red numbers. 

Justin Thomas turned in the best scorecard of the round with a five-under 65, which was the best score at Winged Foot in its history as a U.S. Open host. 

Patrick Reed, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele are among the high-profile players within a few shots of Thomas after 18 holes. 

If the course becomes more difficult in the next three rounds, Thursday's low scores could be even more significant since they give Thomas, Reed and others a cushion to work with over golfers who struggled throughout the first round. 

            

Notable Friday Tee Times

7:45 a.m. ET: Matthew Fitzpatrick, Daniel Berger, Branden Grace

7:45 a.m. ET (10th hole): Gary Woodland, Andy Ogletree, Shane Lowry

7:56 a.m. ET (10th hole): Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau

8:07 a.m. ET (10th hole): Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Paul Casey

12:54 p.m. ET (10th hole): Harris English, Brendon Todd, Davis Thompson

1:16 p.m. ET: Webb Simpson, Sergio Garcia, Jason Day

1:16 p.m. ET (10th hole): Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth

1:27 p.m. ET: Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Adam Scott

1:27 p.m. ET (10th hole): Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods

Full list of tee times can be found on PGATour.com.

       

Predictions

Leaders Rewarded For Consistency

Before the tournament began, high scores were expected over four rounds because of Winged Foot's U.S. Open history. Two of the last three winners in Mamaroneck, New York, finished well over par. 

Rory McIlroy, who is two shots back of Thomas, responded with a comparison of another tough course, Oakmont Country Club, to give an example of low scores being attainable at Winged Foot, per ESPN.com's Nick Pietruszkiewicz.

"It's hard, obviously, but I think it's very, very fair," McIlroy said. "When I played Oakmont for the first time, my initial reaction was, this place is impossible. This course doesn't feel quite as...it gives you a little more chance."

If the course becomes more difficult Friday, the players at the top of the leaderboard could benefit from their first-round consistency to remain in contention. 

Thomas, McIlroy and Reed combined for one bogey and a double bogey out of the morning threesomes. 

Thomas Pieters followed a similar path to card the best total from the afternoon session. He had five birdies and one bogey on his way to a four-under 66. 

The players in the top five may not need an abundance of birdies to remain in front Friday. The leader could finish with an unscathed scorecard thanks to plenty of pars. 

Playing an even-par 70 round should be the hope for Thomas, Reed and McIlroy specifically Friday afternoon since the second wave of golfers produced higher scores Thursday. 

         

Jordan Spieth Continues To Struggle

One of the unfortunate constants of the last few major tournaments has been the struggle of Jordan Spieth. 

On Thursday, Spieth started his round with a bogey at No. 1 and a double bogey at No. 2. He followed a similar trend on the back nine with a dropped shot at No. 10 and a double at the 12th hole. 

His comments after the first round should not make anyone believe he will make significant round-by-round improvement. 

"There's a lot that's off. I'm not really sure. If I knew, I'd fix it. So I'm kind of just—kind of working through it and looking forward to having a little more time off to figure it out. I mean, yeah, I'm late behind it.  The second I try to get back out in front of, it's hooking," Spieth said, per PGATour.com's Cameron Morfit.

The three-time major winner missed the cut at the 2018 U.S. Open and finished in a tie for 65th a year ago. 

At the PGA Championship in August, Spieth made the cut behind a second-round 68, but he failed to follow up on that and finished in a tie for 71st. 

If Winged Foot plays as a more difficult course Friday, Spieth could be in for a long afternoon while his playing partner Reed chases the lead.

             

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from PGATour.com.

The first round of the 2020 Northern Trust produced a crowded leaderboard, with four players tied for the top spot.

Kevin Streelman, Harris English, Cameron Davis and Russell Henley each finished the day with scores of seven under par. In addition to competing with each other, there's a group of six players one shot behind them. 

Here's the top of the leaderboard from TPC Boston, via PGATour.com:

T1. Kevin Streelman (-7)

T1. Harris English (-7)

T1. Cameron Davis (-7)

T1. Russell Henley (-7)

T5. Louis Oosthuizen (-6)

T5. Charley Hoffman (-6)

T5. Scott Piercy (-6)

T5. Bubba Watson (-6)

T5. Kevin Kisner (-6)

T5. Sebastian Munoz (-6)

T5. Matthew Wolff (-6)

   

Henley closed in a flurry to join that group tied for the lead. He was three under par through 14 holes before closing with two birdies on his next three holes and this eagle on No. 18 to finish seven-under overall:

🦅 @RussHenleyGolf saved his best for last.

An eagle on the 18th gives him a share of the lead after Round 1.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/9WqvBkzjMa

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 20, 2020

The back nine was particularly fruitful for all four players sharing the lead. English shot a 31 after making the turn, which included a streak of four consecutive birdies from No. 11 through 14. 

Streelman, who started his round on the back nine, also had a 31 thanks to two birdies and an eagle from 148 yards out on No. 15. 

Davis had the best score of the foursome on the back nine with a bogey-free 30. He took the outright lead at eight under par with a birdie on his 15th hole but gave the shot back two holes later with his only bogey of the day. 

When you’re on, you’re ON.@CamDavisGolf with his 8th birdie of the day to take the solo lead @TheNTGolf.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/H2z3FiBqXy

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 20, 2020

Looking further down the leaderboard, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are all in strong positions to contend as the weekend moves on. 

After wrapping up the PGA Championship two weeks ago with a 67, Woods continued his strong play with a three under par 68. This marks the first time since the Hero World Challenge in December that he's posted consecutive rounds under 70. 

🎯 @TigerWoods' quest for a third #FedExCup began with an opening-round 68 @TheNTGolf. pic.twitter.com/YO57XnESyt

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 20, 2020

McIlroy and Spieth are one shot behind Woods heading into the second round. McIlroy's day started off on the back nine, but he was initially on shaky ground with back-to-back bogeys on No. 12 and 13. He eventually found a groove to finish his day under par. 

Spieth was all over the place en route to finishing two under par. The 27-year-old opened with a double-bogey and was three-over through eight holes, but he found his momentum with an eagle on his ninth hole. 

That set Spieth on a run in which he shot six under par over five holes.

Opening 12 holes for @JordanSpieth:

First 8 holes: +3
Last 4 holes: -5 pic.twitter.com/lkQnxz0nPZ

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 20, 2020

The stage is set for drama all weekend with 15 players within two shots of the leaders. A total of 30 players are at least four under par and 84 players broke par. 

Friday's second round will tee off at 7:20 a.m. ET. 

Dustin Johnson and the rest of the favorites to win the 2020 PGA Championship could produce low rounds Sunday at TPC Harding Park. 

The golfers already out on course have taken advantage of the pin positions and conditions for a few hours. 

Ryan Palmer and Jordan Spieth were the first two players to finish with under-par rounds, as they combined to go nine-under. 

Tiger Woods, Erik Van Rooyen, Louis Oosthuizen and others have recorded multiple birdies throughout their final rounds. 

Johnson will tee off alongside Scottie Scheffler at 4:50 p.m. ET. Two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka will start 20 minutes before them, as he tries to make up the two-shot gap between him and Johnson.

            

PGA Championship Leaderboard

Dustin Johnson (-9)

Scottie Scheffler (-8)

Cameron Champ (-8)

Brooks Koepka (-7)

Paul Casey (-7)

Collin Morikawa (-7)

Daniel Berger (-6)

Tommy Fleetwood (-6)

Jason Day (-6)

Justin Rose (-6)

Tony Finau (-6)

Bryson DeChambeau (-6)

Full leaderboard can be found on PGATour.com.

        

Palmer and Spieth set the tone for what could be a round that features a plethora of birdies from the top players. 

Palmer used an eagle at No. 16 and birdies on the final two holes to tie the best round of the week at 64. 

Spieth put five birdies on his final scorecard at TPC Harding Park, but he had a pair of bogeys limit him to shooting a 67. 

After experiencing the conditions and pin positions, Spieth predicted a player would shoot 30 on the back nine, per Golf Channel's Will Gray:

Spieth believes a back-nine 30 is possible this afternoon. Described it as much more “gettable” than earlier this week.

“The back nine, other than No. 11, you have the most gettable pins on every single one of the greens.”

— Will Gray (@WillGrayGolfbet) August 9, 2020

The one hole Spieth did not describe as "gettable" produced the best moment of the final round so far. 

Byeong Hun An produced a hole-in-one at the par-three 11th. Since there are few people on the course to react to such a shot, it took a moment for An to realize the ball dropped in the hole. 

Byeong Hun An with the hole-in-one! He just didn't realize it at first 😂

Watch the final round of the #PGAChamp on ESPN ➡️ https://t.co/nK1PHZ8rFj pic.twitter.com/8BObNlj7ps

— ESPN (@espn) August 9, 2020

The eagle at No. 11 added to four birdies on the front nine out of the South Korean, who is one of the highest positioned players on the leaderboard currently on course. 

Tiger Woods' pairing with Tom Hoge has produced a good share of fireworks as well. The duo carded six birdies on the front nine. 

Woods dropped back to even par with a bogey at No. 8, but he is playing fairly well and is in the mix for a top-40 finish.

Although there are plenty of low scores on course, some players are still experiencing difficulties. 

Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson have dropped multiple strokes and are on their way to finishing near the bottom of the leaderboard. 

             

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from PGATour.com.

The first golfers out on course for the third round of the 2020 PGA Championship are trying to replicate the morning success Jason Day and Haotong Li had during the first 36 holes. 

Phil Mickelson, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are among the competitors with early tee times after they barely survived the cut at one-over. 

Li, Day and the other Wanamaker Trophy contenders will not tee off at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco until after 5 p.m. ET. 

Li and Tommy Fleetwood are in the final pairing, while Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Daniel Berger and Day are among the notable names in the groups scheduled to start ahead of them.

             

PGA Championship Leaderboard

Haotong Li (-8)

Tommy Fleetwood (-6)

Jason Day (-6) 

Daniel Berger (-6)

Brooks Koepka (-6)

Justin Rose (-6)

Mike Lorenzo-Vera (-6)

Cameron Champ (-5)

Paul Casey (-5)

Brendon Todd (-5)

Full leaderboard can be found on PGATour.com

        

The early wave of golfers on course need rounds similar to Li's second-round 65, Fleetwood's Friday 64 or Day's opening-round 65 just to get back into contention. 

The pairing of Spieth and Thomas has the potential to produce the best round of the first few hours at TPC Harding Park. 

Spieth shot two under Friday, and his only bogey occurred on the 18th hole. Thomas had a more up-and-down second round, but he did start with two birdies in his first seven holes. 

If the two previous major winners take advantage of the course early, they may finish with the low scores of the round and give themselves a fighting chance Sunday. 

Patrick Cantlay is another name to consider to make a surge, as he used a two-under, bogey-free round Friday to make the cut. 

The 28-year-old American earned two top-10 major finishes in 2019, and he benefited from a pair of rounds in the 60s to secure a tie for ninth at The Masters. 

Plenty of eyes will also be on Mickelson and Tiger Woods, who had much different rounds Friday. Mickelson went one under to make the cut, while Woods dropped down to even par. 

However, there is a chance any strong golf played in the early pairings will not make an impact at all on the leaderboard. 

Three major champions are part of the tie for second, and there are six residing in the top 25. 

If Day, Koepka, Berger and others play as well as they did for the first two rounds, the gap could grow between the serious contenders and those stuck at the back end of the standings.

           

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from PGATour.com

Haotong Li heads into the weekend at the 2020 PGA Championship with a two-stroke advantage over six competitors.

The 36-hole pace-setter sat atop the leaderboard for the majority of Friday's round, as he posted a five-under 65 out of one of the early morning groups.

For most of the afternoon, his lead was challenged by Mike Lorenzo-Vera, but he dropped a shot on the 18th hole to settle into a tie with Jason Day, Brooks Koepka and others at six under.

Li will be paired Saturday with Tommy Fleetwood, who also took advantage of the early-morning conditions at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco to move up the leaderboard.

The pairings in front of Li and Fleetwood feature a slew of previous major champions, including two-time defending champion Koepka, Day, Justin Rose and Dustin Johnson.

A few previous major winners will also start the round, as Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Louis Oosthuizen barely made the cut at one over.

                

Saturday Notable Tee Times

11:40 a.m. ET: Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas

12:30 p.m. ET: Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter

1 p.m. ET: Tiger Woods, Keith Mitchell

2:30 p.m. ET: Rory McIlroy, Victor Perez

3:40 p.m. ET: Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau

5 p.m. ET: Dustin Johnson, Bernd Wiesberger

5:10 p.m. ET: Lanto Griffin, Xander Schauffele

5:20 p.m. ET: Paul Casey, Brendon Todd

5:30 p.m. ET: Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Cameron Champ

5:40 p.m. ET: Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose

5:50 p.m. ET: Jason Day, Daniel Berger

6 p.m. ET: Haotong Li, Tommy Fleetwood

Full list of tee times can be found on PGATour.com.

              

Predictions

Previous Major Winner Leads Going into Sunday

Three previous major winners are sitting two strokes back of Li, ready to pounce on Moving Day.

Two of them have hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy on three occasions in the past five years.

Jason Day, who won the 2015 PGA Championship, enters the weekend off a solid second round in which he only had two blemishes. Outside of his bogey at No. 9 and double bogey on the par-four 12th, Day had good command of the course.

Koepka carried a steady hand as well, with 12 pars, four birdies and a pair of bogeys Friday afternoon. The four-time major winner has proved to be one of the best major championship golfers in the past three years, and he knows what it takes to defend his title.

Justin Rose is the third member of the group of prior major champions at six under, and he has been nothing but consistent through 36 holes. The Englishman cruised up the leaderboard with a trio of birdies on the back nine, including back-to-back birdies at No. 14 and No. 15.

The trio should put pressure on Li from the start, and given how solid each of them has looked so far, it would not be surprising to see at least one of them on top heading into Sunday.

                   

Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas Take Advantage of Morning Conditions

The early morning conditions at TPC Harding Park have been conducive to low scoring.

On Thursday, Day rattled off a five-under 65 to work his way into the lead, and Li also carded a 65 from an early threesome Friday.

If the winds do not pick up until the afternoon again, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas could be poised for charges up the leaderboard.

Although Spieth barely made the cut after a bogey on the 18th hole Friday, he improved on his first-round score by shooting a two-under 68. The confidence gained from a round with 14 pars and three birdies could help the 27-year-old card a low score early with little attention on him.

The same goes for Thomas, who dropped back to one over during a rough final 10 holes Friday. He deserves credit for battling back from two bogeys and a double bogey to make the cut with a birdie at No. 16, and he could ride the momentum gained from that putt to move back into position to strike Sunday.

Although the course has played tough for most golfers, there were 17 scores of 66 or better during the first two days of the tournament. If Spieth and Thomas approach Saturday morning with the right mindset, they could challenge for the lowest score of the round.

                

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from PGATour.com.

Three of the top 12 golfers in the world enter the weekend with a good opportunity to capture the RBC Heritage title. 

Webb Simpson used back-to-back rounds of 65 to take the lead into the weekend at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka are on Simpson's heels after they both posted two rounds of 67 or better. 

Corey Conners, Ryan Palmer and Abraham Ancer are among the other competitors close to the lead that could pull off a less-than-likely win.

Saturday's third round starts with a handful of notable golfers in early pairings, including Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Bubba Watson.

Simpson and DeChambeau, who played the first two rounds in a threesome with Davis Love III, will be the final pair off the first tee. 

            

RBC Heritage Saturday Information

TV Coverage: Golf Channel (1-3 p.m. ET); CBS (3-6 p.m. ET)

Live Stream: CBSSports.com and CBS Sports app. PGA Tour Live for featured group coverage. 

         

Odds

Odds via Oddschecker

Bryson DeChambeau (7-2)

Webb Simpson (4-1)

Brooks Koepka (12-1)

Corey Conners (14-1)

Matthew Fitzpatrick (14-1)

Dustin Johnson (22-1)

Abraham Ancer (25-1)

Ryan Palmer (28-1)

Ian Poulter (28-1)

       

Tee Times

1:30 p.m. ET: Brooks Koepka, Ian Poulter

1:40 p.m. ET: Jhonattan Vegas, Matthew NeSmith

1:50 p.m. ET: Matthew Fitzpatrick, Abraham Ancer

2 p.m. ET: Corey Connors, Ryan Palmer

2:10 p.m. ET: Webb Simpson, Bryson DeChambeau

Full list of Saturday tee times can be found on PGATour.com

           

Preview

Simpson and DeChambeau might participate in the final group for the last two days of the tournament.

Simpson has six top-20 finishes at the RBC Heritage, and he fired off two rounds in the 60s to finish fifth in 2018. 

The leader could extend his advantage on the front nine, where he has nine birdies and an eagle.

DeChambeau also thrived on the front nine Friday. He holed six birdies en route to a 64 that was the second-best score in the second round.

The 26-year-old has a pair of top-five placings at Harbour Town, and he is coming off a tie for third at the Charles Schwab Challenge. 

Given their ability to drop low scores in Hilton Head, the members of Saturday's last pairing have to be considered the favorites to win the tournament. 

Even though Conners sits in a tie for second, he could be viewed as an under-the-radar pick to take the title. 

For the second straight week, the Canadian rattled off back-to-back rounds in the 60s, and his performance did not drop off much in the final two rounds at Colonial Country Club last weekend. 

Brooks Koepka typically does not fly beneath the spotlight, but he may need to post a round in the low 60s to be talked about in the same breath as the leaders. 

Since the PGA Tour's resumption of play, Koepka has six straight rounds in the 60s, but his totals were not low enough to contend at Colonial. 

If he drops a 63 or 64 Saturday, Koepka could vault to the top and disrupt a potential final-round pairing of Simpson and DeChambeau.

Dustin Johnson, Tyrrell Hatton and Tony Finau are among the bigger names who could make a push up the leaderboard from the afternoon groupings as well. 

McIlroy, Watson and Jordan Spieth are not in contention entering Saturday, but they could take advantage of low scoring in the morning to put pressure on the leaders. 

Simpson and first-round leader Ian Poulter rose to the top through successful morning rounds. 

If you are looking for a sleeper betting pick, keep an eye on Matthew NeSmith. He resides in a tie for sixth and has not recorded a round above 70 in the last two weeks. 

            

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from PGATour.com

For the first time in three days, a new leader has emerged at the Charles Schwab Challenge 2020.

Xander Schauffele (-13) now leads the pack after Harold Varner III held on to first place following each of the first two rounds. Varner (-11) dropped six spots Saturday after shooting an even-par 70.

In eight previous rounds @CSChallengeFW, Xander Schauffele had just one round under par -- a 67 in Rd. 2 a year ago.

His three rounds this week? 65-66-66 to take the lead at 13 under.

— Mike McAllister (@thegolfeditor) June 13, 2020

The day's biggest movers were Patrick Reed (-10), who jumped up 26 spots into a tie for ninth, and Chesson Hadley (-8), who is tied for 16th and climbed 31 spots after shooting a round of 64 to find himself in a prime position for Sunday's action. 

Here's a look at the top of the leaderboard after Round 3:

1. Xander Schauffele (-13)

T2. Gary Woodland (-12)

T2. Justin Thomas (-12)

T2. Branden Grace (-12)

T2. Collin Morikawa (-12)

T2. Jordan Spieth (-12)

T7. Daniel Berger (-11)

T7. Harold Varner III (-11)

T9. Patrick Reed (-10)

T9. Abraham Ancer (-10)

T9. Corey Conners (-10)

T9. Justin Rose (-10)

T9. Rory McIlroy (-10)

T9. Bryson DeChambeau (-10)

Full leaderboard available at PGATour.com

      

Recap

The Horrible Horseshoe has played to a combined 158 OVER par thru 36 holes this week. 😱

The toughest 3-5 hole stretch on TOUR (non-majors) since 2003 is living up to its name. pic.twitter.com/plchsWH9mx

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 13, 2020

At one point Saturday, the leaderboard featured a five-way tie for first place between Spieth, Thomas, Woodland, Schauffele and Grace.

Spieth was locked in from the start, notching birdies on two of his first four holes, finishing with four overall with just two bogeys. More than anything else, it was his putting game that kept pushing him up the leaderboard. 

From WAY downtown.@JordanSpieth's putter is heating up. 🔥#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/DwJ87I53wb

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 13, 2020

Dialed in. 🎯@JordanSpieth takes the solo lead @CSChallengeFW.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/iUMC3dehfr

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 13, 2020

If not for his bogey on No. 15, Spieth could've made it through the back nine without dropping a shot and remain tied for first place. Instead he'll enter Sunday one stroke back as he searches for his first tour victory since the The Open in 2017. 

Instead it was Schauffele who broke the deadlock, sinking a birdie on No. 18 for his second straight round of 66. Even when he was saving par, Schauffele's game was executed in near-perfect fashion. 

Climbing the leaderboard. ⬆️@XSchauffele goes birdie-birdie and follows up with a great par save. He’s one shot back at -12.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/JXWHyTHEZC

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 13, 2020

Xander Schauffele with the usual chip-in for par ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

He's just one shot back at -12. pic.twitter.com/7qfESNZqoF

— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) June 13, 2020

McIlroy will be another big name to keep an eye on Sunday. After shooting a 63 on Saturday, the Northern Irishman wobbled a bit with a 69 in Round 3, but he is just three strokes off the lead. A win would be No. 19 on tour for McIlroy. 

Birdie on No. 1 for @McIlroyRory.

He moves to 1 shot back of the lead early in Round 3 @CSChallengeFW.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/bg3IqaLU3f

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 13, 2020

Varner may not be done yet, either. Saturday was his worst round of the week, and he still managed to break even on the day. If he's able to regain his midweek form, the Ohio native may find himself back in first when it matters most Sunday. 

The Charles Schwab Challenge is the first PGA Tour event to be played in three months. 

The suspension caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is longer than the breaks most golfers take in between seasons. 

Since players are eager to compete again, the top five players in the Official World Golf Ranking are entered in the event at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Kevin Na is the reigning champion of the event, and he will be joined in the field by previous winners Zach Johnson, Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth among others. 

                

Charles Schwab Challenge Information

Dates: June 11-14

TV Schedule: Thursday and Friday (Golf Channel, 4-7 p.m. ET); Saturday and Sunday (CBS, 3 p.m. ET)

          

Odds

Rory McIlroy (+800; bet $100 to win $800)

Jon Rahm (+900)

Justin Thomas (+1,500)

Brooks Koepka (+2,000)

Webb Simpson (+2,200)

Bryson DeChambeau (+2,200)

Xander Schauffele (+2,500)

Dustin Johnson (+2,500)

Sungjae Im (+3,000)

Patrick Reed (+3,000)

Rickie Fowler (+3,000)

Tony Finau (+3,000)

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook

         

Tee Times

All tee times for the first two rounds can be found at PGATour.com. 

          

Predictions

Familiarity With Course Helps Players

Due to the extended break, there are few factors we can use to predict the tournament winner. 

The one statistic that will be reliable is previous history at Colonial, which favors the likes of Na, Tony Finau and course member Ryan Palmer. 

Finau has shot three rounds in the 60s on two occasions at Colonial, and he recorded a combined score of 17-under in four appearances. 

Na has a longer history at the venue after posting a trio of top-10 finishes in his last four entries at the venue.

Palmer is making his 17th tournament start at his home course and has a quartet of top-six placings since 2012. In three of those four appearances, he carded four rounds in the 60s, which makes him the best dark-horse candidate to win and a good addition to daily fantasy lineups.

As for the top players in the field, Jordan Spieth has to be considered with long odds at +4,000. He won the event in 2016 and placed second in 2015 and 2017. In those three events, he carded a single round above 70.

Rose, Johnson, Kevin Kisner and Chris Kirk are all previous winners and worth a good look for some betting lines and fantasy rosters. 

                

Rory McIlroy Struggles in 1st Appearance at Colonial

All of Rory McIlroy's momentum was halted by the suspension of the season in March. 

Before the break, the Northern Irishman produced six top-five placings and a victory, but it may be hard for him to replicate those results at Colonial.

This will be McIlroy's first-ever appearance at the venue and a rare tour stop in Texas. In the previous two seasons, he bypassed all of the stroke-play events in the state and finished in ties for ninth and 36th at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play held in Austin. 

The unfamiliarity with the course and the long layoff may spell trouble for the 31-year-old, who is listed as the odds-on favorite to win the event. If he struggles, it could open the door for one of the other top players, or a golfer with course familiarity, to take first place. 

For McIlroy and others, any struggles at Colonial should not be a cause for concern about their respective seasons as a whole since there are still two months until the first major tournament.

                 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from PGATour.com

CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said Monday the PGA Tour will allow a few players to get mic'd up during the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge, which tees off Thursday.

The Charles Schwab Challenge is the Tour's first event since the Players Championship was canceled after the opening round because of the coronavirus pandemic in mid-March. McManus explained that microphones will be voluntary.

"We've been talking to the Tour about it for years," he told reporters. "I think there's probably a greater appreciation for wanting to contemporize golf coverage a little bit, and I think the players are beginning to realize that they can play a real role in that and making the product a little more interesting for the viewer at home."

McManus added the CBS broadcast is going to showcase the worldwide protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd while in Minneapolis Police custody May 25 during the opening segment.

"I just think there would be a recognition on the part of our announcers that golf and sports coverage is not a matter of life and death, but it's a little perspective," he said. "Let's have some enjoyment out there. Let's appreciate the athletic competition, but let's also remember that there's a lot of other things going on in this country that we don't need to necessarily recognize except in the opening but we have to keep in the back of our minds."

Meanwhile, other changes to the broadcast include announcer Jim Nantz working alone in the broadcast tower by the 18th hole, with analyst Nick Faldo working in Florida, and an overall crew about half the size of a typical PGA Tour event.

"It's going to be different," Nantz told reporters. "I'm not going to have Nick sitting next to me. I won't have anybody [in the booth]. Normally it would be six or seven people. We're all going to adjust. It's one of the great challenges I've seen in my 35-year career."

Players having microphones on them throughout the round played a key role in the success of Capital One's "The Match: Champions for Charity" golf exhibition last month, which saw Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning defeat Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady.

"I think that can make a big difference," Nantz said. "It's a wonderful opportunity for the game. They have a chance to go before a sports-starved nation and create a wider audience. But we need the players' help."

The Charles Schwab Challenge, which will take place at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, is set to feature a star-studded field led by Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Mickelson, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.

Jordan Spieth was not officially keeping score at the Maridoe Samaritan Fund Invitational at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas, so he certainly wasn't going to miss the chance to say he notched a hole-in-one.

As Brentley Romine of Golf Channel explained, Spieth hit the plastic social-distancing spacer placed inside the cup with his tee shot on the par-three 17th hole, which caused his ball to fly off it and into the water.

"I'm going to count it," Spieth said, even though his opponents scored it as a double-bogey. "It was one of those ones where it would most likely have stayed in. ... I've been shut out for a while, so hopefully this is a good omen."

Jordan Spieth putting spacer back in place after hitting it on the fly with his tee ball. “May as well count it, why not?” pic.twitter.com/blL1oeqIkv

— Brentley Romine (@BrentleyGC) April 30, 2020

He also said he would buy drinks for everyone in celebration but only "in a six-feet-apart way."

The three-day tournament ran from Tuesday through Thursday and featured players such as former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. The $250 entry fee for each player went to the club's caddies.

"We're a caddie-only club, and our caddies have not been working because of COVID-19," Alison Morrison, managing member at Maridoe Golf Club, said leading up to the event, per Bob Harig of ESPN. "We thought, why don't we have a little bit of a match, so to speak, sharpen our blades, put on a 54-hole, social distancing event. Leave the pins. No rakes in bunkers. Let's play for them, basically. And within a day, I had 24 members who said yes."

Scottie Scheffler won the tournament, while Romo finished in 39th place.