While it’s not officially a major, 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 top 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. Not a surprise that OWGR No. 1 Dustin Johnson opened as the betting favorite with several hotshots right behind him on the odds board. We didn’t have a winner last year since the plug was pulled after the first round due to the growing coronavirus pandemic leaving defending champ Rory McIlroy as the second favorite. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Odds to Win THE PLAYERS Championship at BookMaker.eu
Dustin Johnson +900
Rory McIlroy +1000
Jon Rahm +1200
Bryson DeChambeau +1600
Justin Thomas +1800
Xander Schauffele +1800
Patrick Cantlay +2200
Collin Morikawa +2500
Viktor Hovland +2500
Webb Simpson +2500
Tony Finau +2500
Jordan Spieth +2800
Daniel Berger +3300
Hideki Matsuyama +3300
Patrick Reed +3300
Tyrrell Hatton +3300
Scottie Scheffler +3500
Sungjae Im +4000
Paul Casey +4500
Adam Scott +5000
Francesco Molinari +5000
Jason Day +5000
Joaquin Niemann +5000
Louis Oosthuizen +5000
Matthew Fitzpatrick +5000
Cameron Smith +5500
Tommy Fleetwood +5500
Billy Horschel +6000
Jason Kokrak +6000
Max Homa +6000
Justin Rose +7000
Abraham Ancer +7000
Harris English +8000
Kevin Kisner +8000
Kevin Na +8000
Lee Westwood +8000
Sam Burns +8000
Sergio Garcia +8000
Marc Leishman +8000
Tony Finau +2500
Finau hovers around the second-tier of favorites at most tournaments and until he gets that elusive victory he’ll probably stay there. There have been some near-misses with playoff losses at the Genesis a few weeks ago and at the Phoenix Open in 2020. As long as Finau doesn’t get down on himself I can’t do it either. He had a pair of runner-up showings among his four top-5s in five starts before taking 14th at the WGC Workday and he’s been as consistent as any player on Tour for some time. I’m still saying that next win will come sooner rather than later.
Patrick Reed +3300
This is a risky pick considering Reed’s course form. He hasn’t finished better than 22nd at Sawgrass and he’s missed the cut twice in six starts. He also missed the cut at the API, his second MC in his last four starts, which puts him further down the odds board. But, in those other two recent starts Reed has a win at the Farmers and a T9 at the WGC Workday. His game hasn’t completely abandoned him and the payout is nice for a return to form.
Xander Schauffele +1800
Is this the time to jump on Schauffele or stay away? He had his streak of 16 straight top-25s come to an end at the WGC. Is that the start of a decline or merely a bump in the road? The X-man has been too good for too long and I don’t think his game is going off the rails. I’ll back him for a return to prominence on a course that yielded him a runner-up finish in 2018.
Adam Scott +5000
The price and his play at Sawgrass drew me to Scott. His game fits the layout nicely and he’s proven that with his results. Scott has played the weekend in 15 of his 18 career starts here with a win in 2004 and nine additional top-20s. Recent form hasn’t been inspiring, but Scott has played all four rounds in every event making him a good candidate in the alternate markets as well. A T10 at the Farmers is his best showing this season, but playing a course that he clearly likes could help him breakthrough.
Jordan Spieth +2800
Spieth has gotten the attention of a lot of people with his recent play. And it’s good to see him have success after years of frustration. He hasn’t quite put it all together with a closing 75 at the API costing him a chance at his first victory since 2017. He did record his third top-5 and fourth top-15 in four starts, though. Baby steps, I guess, but I have a strong feeling he’s about to breakthrough and the price is enticing.
Course: TPC Sawgrass – 7,189 yards, Par 72
Tournament host since 1982, TPC Sawgrass isn’t a long course at just under 7,200 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 with a chance at the big payday. 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 up 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 here is to avoid big numbers, which can escalate very quickly.
TV Coverage: Golf Channel, NBC
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