Often referred to as the fifth Major, THE PLAYERS Championship attracts the world’s best golfers thanks in part to its enormous prize pool and cool $2.7 million to the winner, which also adds plenty of incentive. All but two of the top 50 players in the world are slated to peg it up at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach this week with a chance to claim the most lucrative payout in professional golf. It was at this event a year ago when the golfing and sporting world came to a halt over the growing concern of the coronavirus. Thus we didn’t crown a winner and Rory McIlroy got another 12 months of defending champ duty. Dustin Johnson is the betting favorite followed closely by Jon Rahm and McIlroy. The top players in the world will make for some interesting matchups this week. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of matchup betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
THE PLAYERS Championship Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
Xander Schauffele -124 vs. Justin Thomas -106
Patrick Cantlay -124 vs. Collin Morikawa -106
Webb Simpson -112 vs. Viktor Hovland -118
Jordan Spieth +126 vs. Tony Finau -158
Tyrrell Hatton -122 vs. Hideki Matsuyama -108
Patrick Reed -118 vs. Scottie Scheffler -112
Tommy Fleetwood -138 vs. Adam Scott +108
Matthew Fitzpatrick -205 vs. Francesco Molinari +161
Joaquin Niemann -147 vs. Christiaan Bezuidenhout +117
Max Homa +101 vs. Jason Kokrak -131
Viktor Hovland -131 vs. Patrick Reed +101
Xander Schauffele -133 vs. Collin Morikawa +103
Justin Thomas -114 vs. Patrick Cantlay -116
Webb Simpson -195 vs. Jordan Spieth +154
Bryson Dechambeau +121 vs. Jon Rahm -151
Jon Rahm -137 vs. Rory McIlroy +107
Jon Rahm -128 vs. Dustin Johnson -102
Max Homa -105 vs. Russell Henley -125
Sergio Garcia -158 vs. Max Homa +126
Viktor Hovland -191 vs. Jordan Spieth +151
Adam Scott +115 vs. Will Zalatoris -145
Patrick Cantlay -136 vs. Tony Finau +106
Collin Morikawa -174 vs. Jordan Spieth +138
Collin Morikawa +102 vs. Viktor Hovland -132
Bryson Dechambeau -126 vs. Justin Thomas -104
Dustin Johnson -119 vs. Xander Schauffele -111
Rory McIlroy -132 vs. Justin Thomas +102
Viktor Hovland -140 vs. Tony Finau +110
Hideki Matsuyama -108 vs. Daniel Berger -122
Jon Rahm -150 vs. Justin Thomas +120
Rory McIlroy -127 vs. Xander Schauffele -103
Need to Know
TPC Sawgrass has hosted every year since 1982 so there aren’t a lot of surprises. With the exception of the iconic island green on No. 17, it’s a stock track that measures short by Tour standards at less than 7,200 yards. Moving the event to March from May two years ago brought out more drivers and the field seemed to have an easier time. But by no means is this an easy course. Numerous water hazards and strategically placed bunkers situated throughout the property have big numbers hiding around every corner. Sawgrass has a way of evening the playing field making course management more important than anything else. It is Florida and wind can play a role like we’ve seen at other events.
THE PLAYERS Championship Matchup Picks
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +117 vs. Joaquin Niemann
Since the tournament has had some international flavor the past few years why not stick with that theme. Two studs on the European Tour go head-to-head in this matchup and I still can’t get what Bezuidenhout did at the end of last season out of my head. Winning back to back tournaments in his native South Africa was impressive and he’s kept up the solid play making him a value pick on my list of plus odds players. Bezuidenhout hasn’t matched that level of success this season on the ET but he’s been solid and flashed a respectable T32 at the WGC Workday, so he’s still got it.
Max Homa +101 vs. Jason Kokrak
Homa has been sneaky good over the last few months making him an inviting pick on this matchup. He has a win at the Genesis and two other top-10s in his last four starts. The other outing was a disappointing T22 at the WGC. I’m kidding of course, but it sure feels like it the way he’s been playing. Homa was set to make his debut at Sawgrass last year instead the tourney was shuttered. I know he’s looking forward to going at it this week.
Jordan Spieth +138 vs. Collin Morikawa
I may be getting too far ahead of myself here, but I think it’s time to hop on the Spieth train. He’s loaded with confidence after notching three top-5s among four top-15s in his last four starts. And he has a bone to pick with Arnie’s Place. Back in his heyday Spieth captured a T4 in his tournament debut but missed the cut in four of his last five appearances. He knows the layout and what it takes to have success. And now that he’s playing well Sawgrass is in trouble.
Adam Scott +115 vs. Will Zalatoris
Zalatoris is quickly becoming the Tour’s poster boy, so naturally I’ll go against him in this matchup. There is something to be said about knowing a course and having success on it. That’s what separates Scott from his matchup partner. Scott has a few years on Will and he also has a win and 18 starts at Sawgrass. He’s cleared the cut in 15 of those trips with nine additional top-20s on his resume. And sticking with all plus-odds picks in my matchups I like Scott to continue his run of solid play at this venue.
Tony Finau +106 vs. Patrick Cantlay
As long as Finau doesn’t undress himself for the lack of wins he’s going to continue to plug along as a top contender. It just amazes me that as good as he’s been he hasn’t claimed a victory since 2016. He’s been scorching in 2021 with three runner-up finishes and a fourth worldwide. A good sign is that he didn’t crumble after his playoff loss at the Genesis coming back the next week to post a 14th and the WGC Workday. I still say he’s going to win sooner rather later and this is as good a time as any.
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