Story perspectives

Model Flags Ben Griffin Poor Pick, Bhatia Surprise Contender

5/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

Model predicts Ben Griffin (+2200) will be a poor pick for the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas.
Model rates Akshay Bhatia (+3300) as a surprise contender because of top-25 finishes and elite putting.
Justin Thomas (+2600) heads to Colonial after three straight top-25 finishes.
The model assigns 25% weight to strokes-gained approach and 15% to tee-to-green, and highlights fantasy picks Alex Smalley (+3600), Matt McCarty (+6600) and Tom Kim (+7800).

History

Historical Context

Tiger Woods’ 12-stroke victory at the 1997 Masters reshaped golf’s appeal, prompting the PGA Tour to invest $10 million in the ShotLink tracking system in 2001. ShotLink’s stroke-by-stroke data now powers ESPN analytics and the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge models that rank Ben Griffin, Akshay Bhatia and Justin Thomas, cementing data-driven betting’s role in player valuation.

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Story summary

Model predicts Ben Griffin (+2200) will be a poor pick for the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas.
Model rates Akshay Bhatia (+3300) as a surprise contender because of top-25 finishes and elite putting.
Justin Thomas (+2600) heads to Colonial after three straight top-25 finishes.
The model assigns 25% weight to strokes-gained approach and 15% to tee-to-green, and highlights fantasy picks Alex Smalley (+3600), Matt McCarty (+6600) and Tom Kim (+7800).

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