2026 Charles Schwab Challenge: Top DraftKings Showdown Plays & Live Bets Ahead of Round 2
The 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge is officially underway, with round 1 not quite officially in the books. Dangerous weather in the Dallas area forced a suspension of play with about a quarter of the field needing to return for an early tee time Friday morning to wrap up their opening rounds. Birdies have been out there in unusually calm conditions, and at present, four players hold a share of the lead at 6 under par: Andrew Putnam, Ryan Gerard, Tom Kim, and Erik van Rooyen.
Looking ahead, we have new data at our disposal to adjust our approach in DFS formats before Round 2 gets underway on Friday. Conditions have been perfect thus far, and an overnight storm may help soften up Colonial CC to play just as scorable in Round 2. Ahead, we’ll look to identify the players who have shown they are most due for a Round 2 breakout.
Take a look at some of the best pillar players for Charles Schwab Challenge DFS contests and live betting opportunities.
DraftKings Showdown Golf Strategy
DraftKings Golf Showdown Golf is a one-round Daily Fantasy format in which players aim to construct the best-scoring one-round lineup while staying within the allotted salary cap. To identify value in Golf Showdown, it’s typically best to focus on buy-low opportunities on players who’ve shown uncharacteristically poor putting in the prior round. There is also an opportunity to find leverage by identifying favorable weather splits and players who are more likely to card birdies-or-better.
Round 2 Charles Schwab Challenge Showdown Pillar Plays
The birdies have not stopped in this second leg of the Dallas Swing. The 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge has played slightly easier than we’re used to seeing on this classic, positional venue, sitting just under 7,300 yards. Shorter, accurate drivers like Andrew Putnam, Tom Kim, and Ryan Gerard have set the pace this week, and a simple formula of hot irons and a hot putter may be all it boils down to for Charles Schwab Challenge contenders.
Identifying value players who check each of these boxes can provide valuable bonus points in the DraftKings Showdown format. The three players below will be foundational plays in my Round 2 Showdown lineups for these reasons.
Alex Smalley ($9,700)
No one would blame Smalley for showing a little regression after his showstopping T2 finish at the PGA Championship last time we saw him. Instead, he’s kept the pedal down with a 5 under par opening round and currently sits T5 going into Friday.
Smalley’s strong play at Aronimink did not come from nowhere; he’d finished top-20 in each of his last five starts leading in. What was surprising, however, was his resolve under pressure, as the 0-time PGA Tour winner proved the major stage was not too big for him. Smalley remains in great ball striking form (4th in SG: Ball Striking, 4th in SG: T2G) and has proven to be one of the top putters on Tour this season. He still needs to prove he can close on Sunday, but that won’t be a concern on Friday.
Brian Harman ($7,900)
At a tournament that has crowned many other short-hitting putting specialists like Kevin Kisner, Kevin Na, and Zach Johnson, it seems appropriate for Harman to have his breakthrough moment here, too. Harman has a great affinity for Texas golf, winning last year’s Valero Texas Open and stacking a total of four top-15 finishes at the Charles Schwab Challenge over his career.
He seems well on his way to another following his opening round of 5 under par. Harman ranks top-10 in terms of both SG: T2G and SG: SG: Ball Striking, but has actually been held back by his putter (53rd SG: Putting). Putting is Harman’s calling card, and having gained on the greens in four of his last five starts, that is an area of his game I expect to improve as the week goes on. If it does, Harman’s form is in a great place to charge up this leaderboard heading into the weekend.
Ricky Castillo ($7,200)
It’s been a rocky road for Ricky of late, but so is the case for any young first-time PGA Tour player who’s earned promotion into the Signature Events. Castillo has just one missed cut this season, but has failed to crack the top-40 in seven starts since winning the Puerto Rico Open. Considering five of those starts have come in Signatures, a Charles Schwab Challenge start against lesser competition may be just what he needed.
Castillo is T5 through the first round after a 5-under par showing on Thursday. He ranked No. 1 in the field in SG: Approach and SG: Ball Striking, highly encouraging for what’s to come the rest of the way. If Castillo can start to heat up on the greens, he stands as one of the best values on the board for his price in DraftKings Showdown.
Live Bets To Consider Entering Round 2
Leader After Round 2: Ludvig Äberg
Best Available odds:
Äberg is currently just 2 under par, but will walk back to the 15th green with just a 2-footer for birdie to clean up. If Äberg can find one more birdie on his final three holes in calm and soft conditions, he’ll be just 2 strokes off the lead before he begins his second round.
Äberg remains the favorite to win this tournament outright at +1000 live overnight odds, so there is consensus belief that he will make a charge starting tomorrow. The odds are long, but an early tee time will play to his benefit, and a Friday 64 or 63 is well within reach for the best player in this field.
Top 20 Finisher: Mark Hubbard
Best Available odds:
I was a big fan of Mark Hubbard leading into this week, and he’s looked sharp to start this tournament, even if only through 13 holes. He currently sits T28, just one stroke off the top-20 pace at 3 under par.
Hubbard has been riding some hot form recently, with finishes of T31 and 2nd over his last two starts. He ranks top-10 in the field in SG: APP over that stretch. In a limited sample size, Hubbard has been about field-average in all four categories to kick off his round at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Colonial CC is a great fit for Hubbard’s game, and if his irons remain hot, he stands out as the best live value in this market at his current position.
Best of luck with your Charles Schwab Challenge DFS lineups and bets!
Photo Credit: AP/LM Otero
