PGA Tour's Return At Colonial Draws Stellar Field And Some Real Headscrachers, Too

One minor first world golf mistake of the COVID-19 era was the PGA Tour committing to expanded fields upon returning to action. It was done in the name of playing opportunities—the lifeblood of VP bonuses and pace of play killer.

So in spite of an incredible field gathering featuring an impress 101 PGA Tour winners, the Charles Schwab Challenge also brings a grandfathered in clause giving lifetime exemptions to 20th century winners at Colonial. With super-senior tour eligible names like Frost, Clearwater and Lehman pushing the field to 148, combined with sponsor invites to fellow geezers Langer, McCarron and Stricker, topped off by a gift to a longtime Colonial member's relative, it’s another reminder that fields feature embarrassing add-ons even in a time of pandemic.

Given the recent uproar over Vijay Singh wanting a spot in the Korn Ferry Tour’s return, only to WD, you’d think the Schwab folks might have played it a bit safer with their exemptions. Especially since the field actually includes a shocking number from an age group more vulnerable to the virus. Furthermore, no one will now watch this event with the inclusion of PGA Tour Champions players. No one. Zilch. Nada. Zip. Diddly squat. Squat. Did I mention no one?

For Immediate Release and also note the nice tribute planned for frontline workers:

Field set for PGA TOUR’s return at Charles Schwab Challenge

World’s top-five players to compete as PGA TOUR resumes FedExCup season  

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – The PGA TOUR announced today the field for next week’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, marking the TOUR’s return to competition after a 12-week hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 148-player field includes each of the top-five players in the Official World Golf Ranking, highlighted by defending FedExCup champion and World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, FedExCup leader Sungjae Im, and a total of 101 PGA TOUR winners, led by 44-time winner Phil Mickelson and defending champion Kevin Na.

With 101 winners in the field, the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge becomes the first tournament in the FedExCup era other than THE PLAYERS Championship to showcase 100 or more TOUR winners. Only 47 players in the field will have an opportunity to win their first PGA TOUR title – a feat only Sergio Garcia (2001) has accomplished at Colonial Country Club since 1990.

This is the first time in the OWGR era (1986-present) that all five of the top five players in the OWGR are in the field at the Charles Schwab Challenge. The last time it happened on TOUR was earlier this season at The Genesis Invitational.

Jon Rahm (No. 2) has made three starts at the Charles Schwab Challenge, earning top-five results in 2017 (T2) and 2018 (T5). No. 3 Brooks Koepka also owns a runner-up in his lone start at the event, finishing second in 2018 after shooting a pair of 63s in the second and final rounds. McIlroy and World No. 4 Justin Thomas, who are also both in the top five in the FedExCup standings, are making their tournament debuts.

Both Koepka and World No. 5 Dustin Johnson are currently outside the top 100 in the FedExCup standings after missing significant time at the start of the season due to injuries (Koepka/213, Johnson/111).

FedExCup leader and 2019 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Sungjae Im will make his 15th start of the season. Im, one of nine players in the field currently ranked in the top 10 of the FedExCup standings, won The Honda Classic and finished third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard in the last two events completed before the season was suspended.

Two-time Charles Schwab Challenge champion Phil Mickelson, who won the event in 2000 and 2008, leads the field with 44 career wins on TOUR.

When the PGA TOUR released schedule adjustments for the remainder of the 2019-20 season on April 16, it was announced that the field size for the Charles Schwab Challenge had expanded from 120 to 144. However, winners of the event prior to 2000 who are not otherwise eligible are added to the starting field of 144. There are four such players in the field.

The Charles Schwab Challenge, originally slated for May 18-24 will be the first PGA TOUR tournament played since the season was suspended following THE PLAYERS Championship, which was canceled after the first round. The event will be played in accordance with strict health and safety guidelines and without spectators on-site.

To honor those fighting the pandemic, players’ caddie bibs will feature names of local frontline workers alongside the players’ names. The 148 players in the Charles Schwab Challenge field will represent 148 different frontline workers from across North Texas who have been working tirelessly since the pandemic began – often at the risk of their own personal health and safety – to meet the needs of those most directly impacted in the Fort Worth area.