CaddyBytes

2026 Charles Schwab Challenge Final Round Recap & Highlights

Read the final-round recap and leaderboard update below, then scroll down for the official highlights video.

CaddyBytes 🏆 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge Final Round Recap: Russell Henley closed the Charles Schwab Challenge with a classic Colonial comeback, birdieing the final three holes in regulation and then winning a playoff against Eric Cole with one more birdie on the first extra hole. On a hot, breezy Sunday at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Henley turned a crowded final-round board into his sixth PGA TOUR victory.

The final round opened with blue skies, Texas heat, and a south breeze that made Colonial play tougher than it had earlier in the week. Fairways were harder to find, greens were harder to hold, and every missed tee shot or short-sided approach had a chance to change the tournament.

Henley made the first major move with an eagle at the opening hole to jump to 11-under. A strong second shot left him a great look, and he poured in the putt to immediately put pressure on Cole and the rest of the leaders. He followed with a sharp wedge into the 2nd, but the middle of his round stalled just enough to keep the leaderboard packed.

Cole, who carried the lead into Sunday after his third-round 63, looked settled early. He stretched the lead, made a key stabilizing putt when the round tightened, and kept giving himself chances. But Colonial kept pulling more players into the fight, especially after trouble at the 9th brought the chasers closer.

Ben Griffin, the defending champion, made one of the best charges of the day. He found momentum on the front nine, kept attacking with wedges, made a long birdie at the 16th, and nearly holed a long putt at the 18th. His closing 65 put him in the clubhouse at 11-under and briefly made the leaders feel real pressure.

Gary Woodland also pushed up the board with a hot start and another birdie at the difficult 10th, while Michael Brennan showed off his power and touch with several highlight shots. J.J. Spaun stayed in the mix for much of the afternoon, but he could not keep pace late as the tournament narrowed into a Henley-Cole finish over the closing holes.

Henley’s finish became the story of the championship. After saving par at the 15th and still sitting behind, he rolled in birdies at 16, 17, and 18 to reach 12-under. The birdie at 18 was the biggest swing, tying Cole and forcing a playoff after Cole missed the green with his approach and could not convert the chip to win in regulation.

In the playoff, Cole’s tee shot found trouble but kicked forward into a playable position. Henley answered with a strong drive and then hit a controlled wedge into close range. Cole gave his birdie putt a good run, but it stayed out, leaving Henley with a short putt to win. Henley converted it, completing four straight birdies counting the playoff hole and sealing the Charles Schwab Challenge title at Colonial.

Final leaderboard note: Russell Henley won the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge in a playoff after finishing regulation tied with Eric Cole at 12-under, 268. Henley posted rounds of 66-66-69-67, then made birdie on the first playoff hole to complete the comeback.

Eric Cole finished second at 12-under, 268, with rounds of 67-68-63-70. Cole’s Saturday 63 gave him the 54-hole lead, and he remained in position to win deep into Sunday, but Henley’s birdie-birdie-birdie finish forced extra holes.

Ben Griffin, Mac Meissner, and Alex Smalley tied for third at 11-under, 269. Griffin closed with a 65 to put real pressure on the leaders, Meissner finished with a 69, and Smalley added a final-round 68 to stay inside the top five.

Michael Brennan, Nico Echavarria, J.J. Spaun, and Gary Woodland tied for sixth at 10-under, 270. Brennan and Echavarria each closed with 68, Spaun finished with 70, and Woodland made one of the stronger Sunday climbs with a final-round 67.

Steven Fisk, Ryan Gerard, and Mackenzie Hughes tied for tenth at 9-under, 271. Hideki Matsuyama and Jordan Smith were among the next group at 8-under, 272, rounding out a final leaderboard where Colonial rewarded late patience, precise wedge play, and clutch putting.

The final story was simple: Cole controlled much of the tournament, Griffin and several chasers made Sunday noise, and Henley refused to go away. His closing stretch at Colonial was the difference, turning a late deficit into a playoff win and one of the best finishes of the 2026 PGA TOUR season.

Video courtesy of the PGA TOUR / Golf Channel / YouTube.