Sobel’s Friday Charles Schwab Matchup Bets: Spieth’s Putting Is Unsustainable

It was a rough first round for many of the Charles Schwab Challenge favorites, as Bryson DeChambeau (72), Rickie Fowler (74), Justin Rose (74), Brandt Snedeker (74), Jon Rahm (75) and Xander Schauffele (76) were a combined 25-over.

But that didn’t mean all bad things for the biggest names. Tony Finau raced out to the early lead with a 64 and Jordan Spieth is just one stroke back.

Let’s take a look at some of the afternoon matchups in the second round.

Kevin Kisner over Jordan Spieth (+120)

If I’m not careful, I’m going to be accused of Spieth-hating pretty soon. (Which is hardly the case; the pro game is better when he’s playing well.)

I liked fading him prior to this tournament and after that solid first round, I’m doubling down.

After gaining a seemingly unsustainable 2.6 strokes per round on the greens at Bethpage, he more than doubled that number, picking up 5.464 on Thursday. At some point, he’s gotta miss, right?

Let's bank on Kiz, the 2017 champion at Colonial, to make a little run.

Bryson DeChambeau over Rickie Fowler (+105)

Let’s see: Neither one of them played great in the first round, but DeChambeau really wasn’t terrible, his solid work offset by two costly double-bogeys.

Fowler obviously has the firepower to go low, but I like Bryson’s chances better, especially at plus-money.

Jason Dufner over Jimmy Walker (+105)

Playing in the same group, these two past PGA champions each posted nice opening scores of 67. But the course should fit Dufner’s game better — and he’s clearly been in better recent form, too.