Storylines for Charles Schwab Challenge: Ludvig Aberg set up to end winless streak

Smalley will return to the course this week for the first time since letting a golden opportunity slip through his fingers at the PGA Championship. The American entered the final round at Aronimink Golf Club with a two-shot lead, but an even-par 70 dropped him back to a tie for second. 

Smalley has finished T7 or better in three of his past four starts, and he has jumped to 15th in the FedEx Cup standings. The 29-year-old continues to knock at the door of his first PGA Tour win. This is a great chance for Smalley to lift his first trophy in a weaker field. 

Akshay Bhatia in need of a bounce-back week

Bhatia looked to be on the fast track to stardom after he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and notched five straight top-16 finishes earlier this season, but his game has gone downhill since. The talented 24-year-old has missed the cut in three of his past six starts, including a disappointing performance at the PGA Championship in which he finished 5-over par.

Bhatia has lost strokes on approach in three straight starts and lost strokes from off the tee in four of his past five. In three career starts at Colonial, he has finished 56th, cut and T22. Bhatia could use a get-right week, but this might not be the best spot for it. 

Can Max Homa save his season?

Homa put up his best performance of the season at the Masters when he finished T9, but he's been abysmal since. The fan favorite has finished T69, T38, T52 and cut in his past four starts while losing strokes on approach in all four tournaments. He's 74th in the FedEx Cup standings and in danger of losing his PGA Tour card at the end of the year. 

If Homa doesn't snap out of his current funk soon, it will be tough for him to make the FedEx Cup playoffs and secure his card for 2027. A strong week at Colonial would go a long way.