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 a cool $2.25 million to the winner, which is plenty of incentive. The track at TPC Sawgrass might be a little different with the event moved to this week instead of the May tee off time we’ve seen since 2007. How much that affects the field remains to be seen. But with a host of notable performers, someone will tame the track and take home the bounty.
Defending champion Webb Simpson is down the odds board at +6050, giving way to world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, who opened as the betting favorite at BookMaker.eu with odds of +1315. Tiger Woods is sure to attract plenty of attention as he’s ready to peg it up after missing last week’s API with a stiff neck. There are plenty of intriguing matchups featuring the best players in the world with odds listed below.
THE PLAYERS Championship Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
Byeong Hun An -119 vs. Tyrrell Hatton -111
Keegan Bradley -180 vs. Cameron Smith +142
Tony Finau -110 vs. Matt Kuchar -120
Brooks Koepka -109 vs. Francesco Molinari -121
Rickie Fowler -157 vs. Xander Schauffele +125
Dustin Johnson -135 vs. Justin Thomas +105
Matt Wallace -144 vs. Si Woo Kim +114
Justin Rose -126 vs. Brooks Koepka -104
Billy Horschel +150 vs. Tommy Fleetwood -190
Webb Simpson -114 vs. Ian Poulter -116
Rafael Cabrera Bello -125 vs. Marc Leishman -105
Jon Rahm -136 vs. Bryson Dechambeau +106
Patrick Reed -135 vs. Phil Mickelson +105
Gary Woodland -105 vs. Henrik Stenson -125
Jordan Spieth +136 vs. Lucas Glover -175
Matthew Fitzpatrick -135 vs. Louis Oosthuizen +105
Tiger Woods -138 vs. Xander Schauffele +108
Rickie Fowler -125 vs. Tiger Woods -105
Patrick Cantlay -108 vs. Paul Casey -122
Dustin Johnson -112 vs. Rory McIlroy -118
Rory McIlroy -140 vs. Justin Thomas +110
Justin Rose -120 vs. Francesco Molinari -110
Charles Howell III -143 vs. Bubba Watson +113
Sergio Garcia -120 vs. Hideki Matsuyama -110
Need To Know
The biggest concern is the move of the event. Played in the warmer month of May since 2007, we have an earlier start, and that will not only affect the players’ preparation, it will cause changes to the course. The track will likely be a bit softer this time of year and we’ll see more drivers off the tee. That presents a challenge, though, with the many hazards that surround the playing field. TPC Sawgrass has a way of eating golf balls with the abundance of sand and water, most notably on the iconic No. 17 water green. It also has a way of leveling the playing field making course management more important than anything else. The move to March also brings wind into play and the forecast is calling for gusts up to 16 MPH on all four days.
THE PLAYERS Championship Matchup Picks
Xander Schauffele +108 vs. Tiger Woods
The big question here is in regards to the health of Tiger. He probably wouldn’t peg it up if he didn’t feel he could give his best effort, but the dollar signs have a way of telling the mind something while the body is saying something else. Woods is the only player to win this event in both May and March, so he knows a little something about the layout. However, I’m not convinced he’s ready to make a serious challenge for the title while the X-man is. Schauffele has been steady this year and his -14 at Sawgrass last year was impressive, that’s why I’m leaning toward him in this matchup.
Webb Simpson -114 vs. Ian Poulter -116
A return to the course where he had one of his most memorable performances should spark Simpson. He hasn’t been bad, making the cut in 15 consecutive starts, but he hasn’t finished better than T20 over his last three. Visions of last year’s performance are striking. There was the opening round 66 and the course record-tying 63 in the second. He finished the weekend with a 73 and still won by four shots. Few have mastered Sawgrass the way Simpson did last year and while he might not score as low as he did, he should be considered a top-tier pick.
Rory McIlroy -140 vs. Justin Thomas
McIlroy has a bone to pick with his matchup partner and he’s looking to settle the score at Sawgrass. McIlroy has done everything but win a tournament so far this year, and he’s either going to get a victory or go into a slump, that’s just the nature of the game. Rarely do players shoot as well as McIlroy for longer periods of time, so I’m counting on him getting the win first. A T6 last week at Bay Hill was McIlroy’s lowest finish in five 2019 Tour starts. He also has a runner-up finish at WGC Mexico, so a breakthrough is coming.
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Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu. THE PLAYERS Championship is scheduled for March 14-17 and can be seen on Golf Channel and NBC.
