The Players Championship takes place at the TPC Sawgrass Course at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida this week. We take a look at the Tournament from a betting angle.
The Players Championship is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world, known for its challenging course and deep field of top players. The tournament is played annually at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
The TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course is a par-72 course that measures 7,189 yards in length. It features narrow fairways, numerous water hazards, and challenging greens with subtle breaks that make putting a true test of skill. One of the most iconic holes in all of golf, the par-3 17th, is a short but treacherous island green that often proves to be the tournament's deciding factor.
To win The Players Championship, a player needs to be able to hit accurate tee shots to find the narrow fairways and navigate the course's numerous hazards. They also need to have a strong short game, particularly on the greens, as putting can be extremely difficult at TPC Sawgrass. Mental toughness and the ability to handle pressure are also key, as the tournament often comes down to the final few holes.
PAST WINNERS
2022 – Cameron Smith -13
2021 – Justin Thomas -14
2020 – Cancelled after first round due to COVID-19
2019 – Rory Mcilroy -16
2018 – Webb Simpson -18
No player has every defended the Players Championship Title and that is certainly going to be the case again this week as Cam Smith last year’s winner is now playing on the LIV Tour. The in form Jon Rahm heads the betting together with Rory McIlroy at 17/2 and you can get 10/1 and better the balance at the time of writing.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Jon Rahm 17/2
Rory Mcilroy 17/2
Scottie Scheffler 10/1
Justin Thomas 20/1
Patrick Cantlay 20/1
Max Homa 22/1
25/1 and better the balance, all prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
I am going to pick four players to take on the bookmakers this week and current form is going to be very much a driver in my selections
SELECTIONS
Viktor Hovland each way at 28/1
Hovland has been playing some consistent golf and last time out finished with a Top 10. He has had three Top 20’s in his last 4 starts. Sawgrass is a course which really gives all the top players a chance and while he missed the cut in 2021, Hovland showed he was getting the hang of the course with a Top 10 finish last season.
Tyrrell Hatton each way at 40/1
Hatton broke a run of three consecutive missed cuts here last year when he finished 17th. That in itself is not eye-catching, but it is his recent form which is impressive and he has had three Top 10’s in his last 5 starts and finished 4th last time out. With his game in that sort of nick and given his improvement on the course last year he looks a lively runner at odds of 40/1.
Si Woo Kim each way at 66/1
Kim is in reasonable form having finished in the Top 40 last week and he has had four Top 25’s including a first place in his last 7 starts. He withdrew from this event last year, but had finished Top 10 the year before and he was a winner here in 2017. There is no doubt that he has got an affinity for this golf course and if he can just kick his form up a notch or two he could be right there contending for another title.
Justin Thomas each way at 20/1
It is back to near the top of the betting boards for my next selection and what strikes me as interesting is just how inconsistent the top players have been on this course and only Rory Mcilroy, a winner in 2019, never finished outside of the Top 12 from 2012 to 2016, but even he has been struggling the last couple of years.
Justin Thomas won this event in 2021 and he also had a 3rd place finish to his credit in 2016. He is playing solid enough golf, 5 successive Top 25 finishes including a 4th place 3 starts back.
This is a weekend where I am looking to take on the very top of the betting boards and Thomas ticks both the course form and current form boxes.
