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PGA Tour: Charles Schwab Challenge could produce fantastic finish

By Tim Letcher

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Justin Thomas of the United States plays a shot from a bunker on the 18th hole during the third round of the Charles Schwab Challenge on June 13, 2020 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Justin Thomas of the United States plays a shot from a bunker on the 18th hole during the third round of the Charles Schwab Challenge on June 13, 2020 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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The Charles Schwab Challenge, the first event as the PGA Tour resumes, could produce a great finish in Sunday’s final round

The Charles Schwab Challenge figured to have all of the makings of a fantastic finish on the PGA Tour. With the top five players in the Official World Golf Rankings all in the field, this week figured to be very competitive as the tour resumed after a three-month absence due to restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic.

World number one Rory McIlroy was joined by Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson in this week’s field, which also included 16 of the top 20 players in the world. And the venue, Colonial Country Club, is one of the stalwarts on the PGA Tour, having hosted an event every year for nearly 70 years.

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While it may not look exactly as fans had hoped, the Schwab is set for quite a finish on Sunday. After 54 holes of play, Xander Schauffele holds a one-shot lead, currently sitting at 13-under par, but a group of five players are just one shot back with 18 holes remaining.

And that group of five players includes some of the biggest names in the sport

Major champions Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Gary Woodland make up 60 percent of the group. That threesome is joined by Branden Grace and Collin Morikawa, all of who are 12-under par through 54 holes.

There are 14 players within three shots of the lead, any of whom could surge on Sunday and win the tournament. That group includes Patrick Reed, who shot a 7-under par 63 on Saturday to climb to 10-under par for the tournament. First round co-leader Justin Rose shot a 68 on Saturday and is also 10-under par, as is McIlroy, who carded a 1-under par 69 on Saturday.

Not to be overlooked, Harold Varner III, who led after each of the first two rounds, is two shots back at 11-under par as is Daniel Berger. Abraham Ancer and Corey Conners are both at 10-under par.

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There’s also a chance that someone could come from off the pace and contend on Sunday. The group that played early on Saturday had a scoring advantage, with players like Reed (63), Chesson Hadley (64), Cameron Champ (65) and Jason Kokrak (65) going low early in the day. It would take a special round to get within range of the leaders, but it can certainly be done.

After three months without golf, the Schwab is a welcome return to live sports for the world. And with all sporting eyes on this event, a fantastic finish on Sunday could do a lot to boost the profile of golf.

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