The PLAYERS is here, and the PGA Tour’s best assemble at TPC Sawgrass for one of the biggest purses in the game. It’s time to lock in some outright picks for who tames the Stadium Course and lifts the trophy on Sunday night.
The Fifth Major Is Here
The Florida swing rolls on for the PGA Tour’s best! Still, you can’t help but think how close we are to the green and azalea that come along with The Masters at Augusta National. We’re just under a month away from the first major and the unofficial fifth major. The first big test is The Players, which is a good barometer for the best golfers on the planet as they get their games “major championship ready.”
Last March, it was Scottie Scheffler who romped the field and coasted to a five-shot victory at TPC Sawgrass. Funny enough, he now enters this year’s playing of The PLAYERS. He’s coming off of another five shots at Bay Hill this past weekend. Scottie found his putter for the time being, which makes him the best player in the world and the prohibitive favorite to win this week.
The Deets
Where to watch: The Golf Channel and NBC have us covered, and there will be no shortage of tee shots on 17. Here’s to some carnage from the world’s best at one of the best finishes in golf.
Why to watch: It’s the fifth major, and the PGA Tour is due for a banger of a star-studded duel at an iconic track. Lock in!
Purse: $25 million
Winner’s Share: $4.5 million
The Players: Sawgrass Splashes
That’s the sound players are looking to avoid this week as the world-famous Island Green at Hole #17 looms at the PLAYERS. This Pete and Alice Dye design is built for a stadium-like atmosphere and lots of drama on the finishing holes. It’s a moderately distant 7300-ish yard, depending on tee boxes. Most importantly, players have to pucker their way through the brutal finish. It starts with the par-five 16th, the famous island green 17th, and the treacherous par-four 18th holes. Did I mention the abundance of water in play to ruin a scorecard? The masochist in me will look forward to counting water balls at 17 all weekend long.
Quite obviously, it is Scheffler’s tournament to win or lose. He’s both the defending champion and the best player in the world with Sunday’s convincing win. Currently, his 5/1 odds to win are quite low, which echoes just how hot his game is. He’s followed in the books by 2019 The Players champion Rory McIlroy at 12/1. After Rory, there’s a slew of players in the 22/1 odds range including Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland, and Xander Schauffele. So who gets it done and takes down the biggest purse in golf so far this year?
The PLAYERS: What To Consider
- Who’s hot and trending: Recent high finishes, top-10 streaks, and consistent play are never a bad thing.
- Horses for courses: Players love certain courses, and course familiarity and experience are invaluable in the field of the world’s best at the PLAYERS.
- What the numbers tell you this week: I’m far from analytical, there’s always a tournament darling or two scattered across the golf talk stratosphere that are great statistical fits to play well.
- Intangibles: This allows for a theater of the mind; it’s that mysterious optimism surrounding a player that feels “due” to break through.
Outright Picks To Win THE PLAYERS
Viktor Hovland – 22/1 – Tied third here last year.
Shane Lowry – 40/1 – Imagine if an Irishman wins on St. Patty’s Day?!
Sahith Theegala – 50/1 – Top 10 last week.
Tom Hoge – 80/1 – Also T3 last year and at great value.
Keegan Bradley – 100/1 – Maybe “Full Swing” airing refuels his game during the PLAYERS?
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Alex Lauzon is a podcast host, live broadcaster, analyst and golf-betting extraordinaire for the Course of Life brand. Actively creating content across social media and video platforms on golf, sports betting and pop culture.
