Colonial Country Club, the site of this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge, historically has been known as a ballstrikers’ paradise. It has small greens and narrow fairways, and the Texas wind can push and shove a player’s shot offline.
Last season Kevin Na won after finishing first in the field in strokes gained approach the green with a four-day total of 8.3. Strokes gained approach the green measures how much of an advantage a golfer has over the field on shots hit from the fairway. Na’s total represents more than an eight-shot edge over the average player through 72 holes.
The 2018 winner at Colonial, Justin Rose, also finished first in strokes gained approach that year with a total of 10.2.
Get the point?
Below is a list of the 10 highest-ranked golfers in strokes gained approach the green (the numbers in parenthesis are the average per round) in this week’s field at the Charles Schwab Challenge, along with the irons they use. It will be the first chance they get to use their tools in competition since the PGA Tour was shut down after the opening round of the Players Championship in March.
10. Gary Woodland (16th on PGA Tour), 0.72
IRONS: Wilson Staff Model Utility (4), Staff Model Blades (5-PW), with KBS Tour C-Taper X shafts