2024 Charles Schwab Challenge: Will Nasty Weather Play Spoilsport at Colonial?

This week is scheduled to see the highly anticipated Charles Schwab Challenge on the PGA Tour schedule. In addition to having a fantastic $9.1 million purse, the thrilling event features a lineup of players that includes World#1 Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, and Max Homa. The stage is set for an exciting week of golf, as the fans will be waiting to see who will win the highly coveted Scottish royal tartan plaid jacket. Till now, several PGA Tour events have been hindered by the weather. Conditions like darkness and rain have caused delays, suspensions, and even round cancellations. Will the gameplay at Colonial come under the wrath of weather Gods? Sadly, it might!

Starting on Wednesday, a weather pattern is predicted to develop, greatly increasing the probability of rain. Both Wednesday and Thursday are expected to see severe storms, with thunderstorm clusters beginning in the afternoon and lasting into the evening. The probability of afternoon thunderstorms on these days stands at 60%, with potential rainfall amounts ranging from 0.5 to 1 inch. Temperatures will be slightly cooler compared to Tuesday, with highs around 85°F on Wednesday and 84°F on Thursday.

As the week goes on, Friday will be hot and muggy. It is expected that temperatures might range from the mid-70s to the 90s. There’s still a 30% risk of stray thunderstorms forming late on Friday, even with a generally sunny outlook. It is anticipated that these storms will be less strong and produce about 0.1 inches of rain.

The heat, along with the humidity, can cause players to dehydrate, and the storms on Thursday and Friday can make the greens softer and fairways wetter, impacting shot strategies and club choices. This, combined with the possibility of play being suspended because of the weather, can cause the players to lose their momentum, adding to the difficulties. As the weekend will approach, things could remain the same for the third round, with conditions changing on Sunday.

Will the weekend fare any better?

Saturday is going to be similar to Friday, with the temperature getting warmer and the chance of thunderstorms also decreasing. Players need to look out for the heat as well as residual moisture on the greens from the days before. There are also chances of light rain and thunder in the evening; however, it being enough to hinder play is unlikely.

With highs in the upper 90s, the final day of the Charles Schwab Challenge is expected to have the warmest weather of the week. The weather on Sunday is expected to be hot, muggy, and mostly sunny, making it challenging for the players to compete for the title. Sunday is predicted to be dry, so playtime should be unhindered.

As always, golfers and spectators should keep up with the most recent weather information and be prepared to adjust to any changes in the weather. The Charles Schwab Challenge looks to be an interesting event, and weather-related issues can be controlled to ensure a successful competition with proper planning and monitoring. This week looks to be an amazing week of golf!