The golf schedule is in disarray after an unexpected 13-week break due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the season gets back in gear on Thursday with the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth. The Florida Swing was cut short, with the Players Championship canceled after the first round. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is the favorite at +750, according to the latest 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge odds from William Hill, as Colonial Country Club hosts one of the top fields since last year's FedEx Cup playoffs. Which players should you target with your 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge Fantasy golf rankings?
The schedule changes mean many of the world's top golfers will play at Colonial for the first time in years, while McIlroy and world No. 4 Justin Thomas are playing this event for the first time in their careers. Who are the favorites who deserve to be among your 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge Fantasy golf picks? And which Fantasy golf sleepers will give you the upper hand? Before finalizing any lineups, check out the latest Fantasy golf rankings from data scientist Rick Gehman.
With his expansive database of golf statistics, course data and betting odds, Gehman creates advanced models and back-tests them constantly. These models produced 10 outright winners in the past year, including 50-1 Chez Reavie at the Travelers and 40-1 Patrick Reed at the Northern Trust among eight PGA Tour winners, plus a $10,000 DraftKings win at the Masters.
At the WGC-Mexico Championship last month, four of Gehman's top six golfers finished tied for sixth or better. Then at the Honda Classic, Gehman was higher than many on Sungjae Im, ranking him eighth, and the 21-year-old South Korean earned his first PGA Tour victory. Gehman's No. 2 golfer, Tommy Fleetwood, finished third.
Now Gehman, co-host of "The First Cut" podcast on CBS Sports, has revealed his top 30 players for the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge over at SportsLine so you can crush your Fantasy golf leagues.
2020 Charles Schwab Challenge Fantasy golf picks
For the Charles Schwab Challenge 2020, Gehman believes a victory at the Honda Classic was just the tip of the iceberg for South Korean Sungjae Im. The 22-year-old has been a workhorse, playing in 14 events this season, and he was third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in his Honda follow-up. Im leads the FedEx Cup standings and is in the top 10 on Tour in scoring average (69.6) and birdie average (4.39). He is 16th in overall putting average and ranks 12th in total strokes gained.
On the other hand, Gehman isn't too keen on the prospects of big hitter Dustin Johnson at Colonial this week. The 35-year-old has played in only four events this season and looked rusty while making one birdie in the TaylorMade Driving Relief charity event last month. He is 106th in strokes gained putting and 98th in driving accuracy, hitting 62.6 of fairways and missing by an average of 28 feet (124th).
How to set your 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge Fantasy golf rankings
Gehman also is high on a player who's coming off multiple disastrous performances and hasn't won in 18 months. This overlooked pro just made a monumental change, has a strong track record at Colonial, and is poised for a huge bounce-back performance. Gehman is sharing who it is, and his top 30 golfers in order, right here.
Who wins the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge? Who are the top golfers to target? And which overlooked player can help you win your league? Visit SportsLine now to get Rick Gehman's Fantasy golf power rankings for the Charles Schwab Challenge, all from the data scientist who nailed WGC-Mexico.
