The Charles Schwab Challenge 2025 kicked off at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, and folks, it did not disappoint. The greens were slick, the fairways were demanding, and somewhere, someone probably whispered angrily at their putter. Ah, golf.
Day one belonged to PGA Tour rookie John Pak, who strutted onto the course and played like he invented the game. Pak fired an ice-cold bogey-free 7-under 63, casually tossing in an eagle on the opening hole because, why not? Oh, and he sprinkled in five birdies on top of that. The result? A three-shot lead heading into Day Two and probably one very jealous leaderboard. Pak’s round was less “rookie nerves” and more “I’ve been planning this since kindergarten.”
And what about the rest of the field? Nine players are currently tied at 4-under, just daring Pak to blink. Among them are J.J. Spaun, looking sneaky solid, and England’s Matt Wallace, who probably left a few highlights on the table but remains a legit threat. Meanwhile, Tommy Fleetwood and Brian Harman are just four shots back, lurking like seasoned pros who know weekends are for making moves.
But here’s the part you’ve been waiting for. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler teed it up fresh off his PGA Championship win. Confidence? Check. Talent? Double check. The guy practically owns real estate in the top three at this event, with podium finishes the past three years. He roared out of the gates with an eagle on the first hole (flex) and a birdie on the second (double flex). Just when you thought this round was going to turn into a human highlight reel… golf did the golf thing. Scheffler played the final 16 holes at one-over, ending with a frustrating-but-still-respectable 2-under 68. Translation? He’s five shots back but in no way out of this thing. If you’re one of his competitors, good luck sleeping soundly tonight.
Scheffler’s betting favorite status remains firmly intact, and for good reason. His game at Colonial is like your go-to order at a diner – consistent and just plain good. And given his recent major title momentum, the man isn’t going to stroll into the weekend looking to finish second.
What’s next? More drama, more birdies, and probably a couple of four-letter words muttered into the Texas breeze. Pak’s debut performance has everyone buzzing, but with heavy hitters like Scheffler, Fleetwood, and Harman still in striking distance, things could get wild. Day Two promises bigger swings, louder roars, and maybe, just maybe, someone figuring out how to conquer those treacherous greens.
Stay tuned. If Day One was any indication, we’re in for a show.
