Charles Schwab Challenge 2024 scores, takeaways: Tony Finau, Brian Harman slump after Round 1
The new-look Colonial Country Club made up the old score in the first round of the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge. Playing more solidly and faster on the day, Colonial played an average of just about 1 over, with players Going out in the morning session gets the easiest conditions.
Charley Hoffman sits atop the handicap rankings thanks to a 5-under 65 with several heavy hitters close behind him, including Tony Finau. After a strong performance last week at Valhalla, where his putting proved uncooperative, Finau relied on the same club en route to a 4-under 66 on Thursday.
“I think right out of the gate I made a 60-foot birdie putt and I think it helped me improve,” Finau said. “The golf course is a little bit different than it has been in years past, and I think it’s a little bit unfamiliar with how it bounces and how it plays, but with a 4-under round, I think it’s really a a good start.”
Joining Finau in that number were Brian Harman, Davis Riley, Martin Laird and SH Kim, who were all cut short by Hoffman late in the afternoon as the wind picked up. The loser of the playoff earlier this season in Phoenix will have a chance to make a quick comeback to push its lead even further Friday morning when scoring should be easier.
Not only was there a large immediate chasing force, but nearly half the field was still within 5 minutes of the lead. Collin Morikawa – fresh off another run at a major championship – is just two behind at 2 under, along with Sepp Straka and JT Poston. Min Woo Lee, Tom Kim, Harris English and Billy Horschel are at 1 under.
Meanwhile, world No. 1 tennis player Scottie Scheffler will have to make a lot of effort if he wants to return to this tournament. Trailing by 2 points early in his round, the Texan appeared to be doing his usual thing and carded the under-par round to sit somewhere on the first or second page of the leaderboard class. Instead, a few missed shots before the turn and a poor tee shot on the par-3 13th hole that resulted in three bogeys – his first since Round 1 of the 2023 Tour Championship – caused the local man was on the back foot with the opener 2-over 72.
Leaders
1. Charley Hoffman (-5)
T2. Tony Finau, Brian Harman, Davis Riley, Martin Laird, SH Kim (-4)
It’s been a somewhat quiet season so far for the Champion Golfer of the Year, but he’s made a splash on shorter courses like Colonial. Harman did damage at TPC Sawgrass and Harbor Town Golf Links, and he wanted to add Colonial to that list after opening with a 4-under 66. Despite hitting just eight fairways, the fiery lefty shot 15 green according to regulations and is among them. the stroke count leaders reached the approach.
Harman said: “I really love the old track, I did a lot of laps around this place, it’s the track I always go around. “I feel like I have a little bit of knowledge, especially about younger people trying to play Colonial the first few times. But, yeah, we’re all on the same page now, but I felt that was the nature of the course.” remain the same. You have to hit some really demanding tee shots, and if you can hit those shots, you’ll get some shorter clubs into the hole. So I don’t feel like the main theme of the place has changed completely. much.”
Other candidates
T7. Robby Shelton, Hayden Buckley, Pierceson Coody, Callum Tarren, CT Pan (-3)
T12. Collin Morikawa, JT Poston, Zach Johnson, Brendon Todd, Sepp Straka, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Matt Kuchar, Keegan Bradley, Grayson Murray (-2)
Since entering the Masters, Morikawa has been running downhill. He was in the final group for the final round at his second straight major championship last week in Louisville, and he continued his good form this week with a first-round 68 . The two-time major champion’s iron play, which is a big step forward with his short game, is something that needs to be noticed. Hitting a total of three birdies on Thursday, Morikawa birdied twice from the green and continued to achieve a level of competence in this area of the game that he had never seen before.
The stars begin to level
Entering this week, Scheffler, Jordan Spieth and Max Homa are among the names at the top of the odds board. After just 18 holes, they found themselves near the expected cutoff line and were in danger of missing out entirely on the weekend. After playing more than 40 rounds without reaching an over score, Scheffler has now recorded two overs in his last three rounds since last week’s PGA Championship.
Spieth has been up and down throughout the season, and it seemed like a return to the usually comfortable Colonial could bring a sense of stability to his first round 71 (which was just average). Homa was the worst of the group, struggling to an 8-over 78 on Thursday with a round that featured everything from near misses to penalty kicks. The good news is that the margin of victory in this tournament last year was under eight, but the bad news is that they have some work to do.
Odds and picks updated on the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Tony Finau: 7-1
- Scottie Scheffler: 8-1
- Brian Harman: 8-1
- Collin Morikawa: 8-1
- Sepp Straka: 22-1
- Charley Hoffman: 22-1
- Keegan Bradley: 25-1
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout: 25-1
- SH Kim: 28-1
The afternoon is about a stroke more difficult than the morning, which means someone in the group of late players on Thursday will have a great chance to make their mark on this tournament come Friday morning. Scheffler is in this group, but it is his playing partner, 40-1 Horschel, who piques our interest.
A winner this season on the PGA Tour, Horschel was solid all the way with an opening 69 and will do even better tomorrow if the iron play takes a step in the right direction. If you’re looking for a little more upside, Spieth at 65-1 could be an interesting play (depending on your definition), especially with the way he drives the ball.
