While it’s not officially in the category, THE PLAYERS Championship has often been referred to as the PGA Tour’s fifth major. The prize money ranks among the best on Tour and the prestige with winning the event is up there with the marquee tournaments of the season. A hefty purse tends to bring out the sport’s biggest names and 48 of the world’s top 50 players are slated to peg it up at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach this week as the Tour continues its swing through the Sunshine State. Jon Rahm, the world’s No. 1 ranked player, is listed as a tri-favorite along with No. 2 Collin Morikawa and defending champion Justin Thomas. I guess someone had to be at the top of the list and you can take your pick with the best players on Tour assembled. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Odds to Win THE PLAYERS Championship
Jon Rahm +1201
Justin Thomas +1201
Collin Morikawa +1201
Viktor Hovland +1801
Patrick Cantlay +1801
Rory McIlroy +1801
Scottie Scheffler +2001
Daniel Berger +2500
Hideki Matsuyama +2502
Xander Schauffele +2502
Cameron Smith +3003
Dustin Johnson +3003
Brooks Koepka +3404
Matthew Fitzpatrick +3504
Sungjae Im +3504
Shane Lowry +4000
Billy Horschel +4500
Jordan Spieth +4500
Will Zalatoris +4500
Sam Burns +4500
Corey Conners +4500
Joaquin Niemann +5000
Tyrrell Hatton +5000
Adam Scott +5500
Talor Gooch +5500
Louis Oosthuizen +5500
Paul Casey +6000
Abraham Ancer +6000
Si Woo Kim +6150
Chris Kirk +6150
Tony Finau +6300
Russell Henley +6500
Gary Woodland +6500
Jason Day +6500
Odds Analysis
Patrick Cantlay +1801
While I typically avoid the top of the odds board in my hunt for better value picks in Tour events, it’s just hard to ignore the number of talented golfers hanging out on top. Cantlay’s played well this season with three top-5s among his four top-10s in five starts. Last time out was his worst with a T33 in the Genesis and his last two visits here resulted in MCs. But Sawgrass is a beast for the best golfers and sometimes the players bite back. I’m betting on Cantlay doing that this week.
Matthew Fitzpatrick +3504
Another consistently good performer all season, Fitzpatrick is offered at a good price considering what he’s accomplished. And his comfort level on Tour is something to look at. Fitz has enjoyed all kinds of success on the European Tour and recently had a runner-up at the DP World Tour Championship. He followed that with three straight top-10s on the PGA side. He earned a T9 here last year after being one shot off the pace at the midway point. His accuracy off the tee and sixth-best scoring average on Tour have me leaning his direction.
Louis Oosthuizen +5500
Nothing about Oosthuizen says back me in this event. But I still can’t get over what he did last season and he’s rested since playing only two tournaments in 2022. He was T14 in Phoenix and he rebounded from an opening 75 to finish T30 at the Honda Classic. He’s been silent and his price appears to have plenty of value for a guy who grabbed three podium finishes in the final three major championships last season.
Xander Schauffele +2502
Backing the X-man is a risky pick since he’s missed the cut in his last two starts here. But like I said earlier, TPC Sawgrass is a test even for the best. It’s hard to say Schauffele hasn’t been on his game with three top-15s, including a T3 a few weeks ago in Phoenix. He’s been so good over the last two years that his play this season has largely been overlooked despite going 6 for 6 with only one finish outside the top-30. His skill set can master any course and you know the X-man is looking to get back at Sawgrass making him a strong pick.
Jordan Spieth +4500
I looked at a number of other players to fill my list in this section. Last week’s winner Scottie Scheffler was in the convo as was Rory McIlroy. I eventually settled on Spieth despite his recent struggles at Sawgrass. Getting some pep back in his game last year elevated Spieth in the OWGR and has him brimming with confidence. A few bad rounds in his last two starts hurt his finish, but Spieth does have a solo second at Pebble Beach and he feels he can conquer Sawgrass like he did a few years ago when he grabbed a top-5.
Course: TPC Sawgrass – 7,256 yards, Par 72
Tournament host since 1982, TPC Sawgrass isn’t long at just over 7,250 yards, but with an abundance of water hazards and strategically-placed bunkers nestled throughout the property, big numbers are hiding around every corner. Sawgrass has a way of evening the playing field making course management more important than anything else. If you can avoid the water and sand you’re in a better position to play through the weekend. Most players take a conservative approach given the number of obstacles, and that’s the smart thing to do. Par 5s at No. 2 and No. 16 offer chances to make up strokes, as long as you don’t lose them on the iconic 17th by dropping a tee shot in the drink. The key is to avoid big numbers, which can escalate very quickly.
TV Coverage: Golf Channel, NBC
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