The Players Championship betting preview: Odds, predictions and tips

Golf’s elite has assembled at the PGA Tour’s Florida headquarters for THE PLAYER Championship, an event sometimes referred to as “the fifth major” and which features the infamous (and treacherous) island green on the par-3 17th hole.

THE PLAYERS Championship odds

• Rory McIlroy 8/1
• Jon Rahm 8/1
• Scottie Scheffler 10/1
• Patrick Cantlay 16/1
• Justin Thomas 16/1
• Max Homa 20/1
• Collin Morikawa 22/1
• Xander Schauffele 22/1
• Viktor Hovland 25/1
• Tony Finau 25/1

Best betting offers for THE PLAYERS Championship

THE PLAYERS Championship betting preview

Do you want a Sunday finish packed full of nerve-shredding drama, dashed dreams and golfing disaster?

The PGA Tour wanted just that and asked famous golf architect Pete Dye to purpose-build a layout that would include all of those features and more.

He created the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, at the circuit’s Florida home, and it hosts the annual PLAYERS Championship, an event they insist is second only in importance to the sport’s four major championships.

Winning the event is not easy.

The field is always high quality (although defending champion Cameron Smith does not play having controversially left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf) and the course is demanding.

Winners tend to have full control of their entire game and be confident enough to attack when necessary, but also avoid big numbers on the most difficult holes.

THE PLAYERS Championship betting tips

Patrick Cantlay to win

The three favourites in the betting have had their struggles as Sawgrass in the past.

They’re all good enough to overcome them but Patrick Cantlay could also take advantage and pounce.

In his first two visits to the tournament he sat inside the top 10 through 54 holes and he’s now a much better golfer, a world class operator in fact, and he’s due to land a significant title.

Corey Conners to be first round leader

Since the tournament returned to its March spot in the calendar five of the six first round leaders had an early tee time.

Canada’s Corey Conners needs to set his alarm for a 07.34 start and it’s not the only reason to like his chances of setting the pace because he’s already been third and seventh after 18 holes in his four appearances.

The 31-year-old also thrashed a fine 66 last week at Bay Hill so we know he’s got the form to light up his scorecard with birdies.

Sepp Straka to finish in the top 10

Austria’s Sepp Straka is a golfer on the rise and, indeed, a man in the thoughts of Luke Donald for his European Ryder Cup team in September.

He burst onto the scene with victory in last year’s Honda Classic and he was fifth when defending that trophy two weeks ago.

He was also third on another Pete Dye design (Harbour Town) last year and also lost a playoff at TPC Southwind.

They are all good pointers for this week and he was also ninth in the event 12 months ago. 

Take Sepp Straka to land a top 10 with 888sport offering 13/2.

How to watch THE PLAYERS Championship

• Venue – The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra, Florida
• Date – Thursday 9th March – Sunday 12th March
• Broadcast – Full coverage on Sky Sports Golf: Thursday & Friday 11.30 am – 11.30 pm, Saturday & Sunday 2-11.30 pm. 

​​You can find Matt on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/MattCooperGolf

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