World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and defending champion Jason Day headline this week’s PLAYERS Championship, which arguably features the toughest field in golf. This year is no different as 24 of the top 25 and 55 of the top 60 in the OWGR are on hand to test their skills on one of Pete Dye’s greatest creations, TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course.
The betting field is deep in talent and newly crowned Masters champion, Sergio Garcia, will get a lot of action this week, as will Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler. Garcia and Fowler have won THE PLAYERS while Spieth is searching for his first win at TPC Sawgrass.
Other players that are hot and will be in the mix this week include 22-year old Jon Rahm, who seems to play well every week and posted another top 5 finish at last week’s Wells Fargo.
Veterans Adam Scott and Paul Casey could also make some noise this week. Scott won here in 2008 and Casey is overdue for a win.
TPC Sawgrass Stadium course measures 7,189 yards and plays to a par-72. Known as Pete Dye’s greatest design, the Stadium course doesn’t favor any particular style of game. It doesn’t matter if you hit it long or short, past champions come in all flavors — from the short hitting Fred Funk to the long hitting Tiger Woods — and that’s what makes TPC Sawgrass one of the most unique tracks in the world.
Two significant changes await the players this year. A large rectangular lake has been created between holes 6 and 7 and hole No. 12 has been revamped into a driveable par 4. One thing that remains the same is the iconic 17th hole, measuring 137 yards over water to an island green. ALL off the players are nervous when they get to this hole, especially on Sunday.
TV Coverage: Thursday-Friday, 1-7 p.m. ET – Golf Channel. Saturday-Sunday, 2-7 p.m. – NBC.
THE PLAYERS Championship Golf Odds
Dustin Johnson +700
Rory McIlroy +850
Jordan Spieth +1000
Sergio Garcia +1500
Jason Day +1800
Rickie Fowler +2000
Jon Rahm +2100
Hideki Matsuyama +2200
Justin Rose +2500
Justin Thomas +2750
Brooks Koepka +3050
Adam Scott +3300
Henrik Stenson +3550
Paul Casey +3800
Kevin Kisner +4400
Kevin Chappell +4750
Matt Kuchar +5000
Phil Mickelson +5500
Francesco Molinari +6000
Martin Kaymer +6250
Patrick Reed +6500
Russell Henley +7000
Cameron Smith +7250
Pat Perez +7500
Daniel Berger +7777
Graeme McDowell +8000
Jason Dufner +8300
Tommy Fleetwood +8500
Ryan Moore +9000
Tyrrell Hatton +9400
Alex Noren +9750
Branden Grace +10000
Lee Westwood +10250
Marc Leishman +10500
Patrick Cantlay +11000
Charl Schwartzel +11050
Tony Finau +11500
Brian Harman +12000
Russell Knox +12500
Adam Hadwin +12550
Bubba Watson +13000
Louis Oosthuizen +13330
Matthew Fitzpatrick +13500
Shane Lowry +13750
Wesley Bryan +14000
William McGirt +14500
Zach Johnson +14550
Jhonattan Vegas +15000
Jimmy Walker +15500
Ross Fisher +15555
Charley Hoffman +16000
Kevin Na +16500
Bernd Wiesberger +17000
Billy Horschel +17050
J.B. Holmes +17500
Luke Donald +18000
Bill Haas +18050
Rafa Cabrera-Bello +19000
Smylie Kaufman +20000
Gary Woodland +20000
FIELD – Any Other Player +350
(Odds courtesy of BookMaker.eu)
Our Betting Picks
Sergio Garcia +1500 is the all-time leading money winner at THE PLAYERS and won here in 2008. He’s the best driver of the golf ball in the world and now with his head filled with positive vibes, look out! He’s rested since his epic win at the Masters and in my mind, the player to beat this week.
Justin Thomas +2750 has three wins this year but none since the Sony Open. The former Alabama product has embraced the challenge of TPC Sawgrass with two good finishes in his only two starts at THE PLAYERS. He tied for 25th in 2015 and followed it up with a T3 last year. He’s already fired a couple of 65’s on this track so expect Thomas to be in the mix this week.
Martin Kaymer +6250 is a perfect 8-for-8 at TPC Sawgrass, which included a win in 2014. He hasn’t missed a cut worldwide in almost 15 months, and that’s wildly impressive. The German has the patience and attitude to do well this week and at +6250, he’s a real bargain.
Tyrrell Hatton +9400 is one of the best ball-strikers in the world and is at the top in hitting greens, which is paramount this week. It’s the Englishman’s first trip to THE PLAYERS and that is a concern, but he’s rested and may surprise this week.
Check out the latest PLAYERS Championship golf odds.
