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Six Players Share Lead After Weather-Delayed First Round at Charles Schwab Challenge

The packed leaderboard at Colonial increases opportunities for lower-ranked contenders in a field missing several top stars.

Overview

  • Play was stopped for dangerous weather on Thursday and resumed about two hours later, producing a six-way tie at 6-under with Lee Hodges, Ryan Gerard, Andrew Putnam, Tom Kim, J. J. Spaun and Matt McCarty.
  • A large group of players sits within a shot or two of the leaders, with Alex Smalley one stroke back after a bogey-free 65 and roughly 31 players inside two shots of the lead, creating an unusually congested leaderboard.
  • Ludvig Åberg entered the week as a betting favorite and recorded a 4-under 66 while testing a new Scotty Cameron Phantom 3 putter, a change that sportsbooks and analysts say could affect his chances this week.
  • Stephan Jaeger withdrew during his second round on Friday with a reported back injury after nine holes, the PGA Tour confirmed in a social-media announcement.
  • Colonial is celebrating its 80th year, the event carries a $9.9 million purse with $1.782 million to the winner, and the absence of stars like Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler has widened the path for surprise contenders and shaped betting markets.