The 2019 Players Championship: PGA Golf Odds And Predictions
The Players Championship History
If it feels weird that the Players Championship is being held in March, that’s because it was shifted on this season’s schedule from May. The PGA Tour wanted one “anchor” tournament each month of the season starting in March and thus put the Players there and moved the PGA Championship from August to the old Players spot in May. The Players was held in March its first 33 years and was moved to May in 2007.
The Players Championship is the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament – often referred to as “the fifth major” — and thus offers a few more benefits to the winner like world rankings points, a five-year exemption on Tour, etc. This year’s total purse of $12.5 million (US) is the biggest on the Tour, even more than the four majors.
TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course has been the host since 1982, and it’s a par 72 measuring around 7,200 yards. By far the most famous hole is the island green par-3 17th. A total of 54 balls were hit in the water at that hole a year ago. There is some belief the entire course will play a bit different with the shift on the calendar. Florida weather is a lot different in March than in May.
The Players Championship Odds Favourites
Tiger Woods isn’t the favourite at +2200, but he’s still the biggest draw in the sport by far and he’s expected to play (as of this writing) after pulling out of last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational with a neck strain. Woods has until his tee time on Thursday to potentially pull out if his neck isn’t improved. Woods has won this tournament twice, both in March (2001) and May (2013).
Dustin Johnson looks for his first Players Championship victory and is +1200 co-favourite with Rory McIlroy. DJ has two wins in his past four starts this year but hasn’t really contended at TPC Sawgrass. McIlroy also has yet to win the Players (three Top 10s) but hasn’t finished outside the Top 6 in five Tour starts this year.
Justin Thomas is +1600 with world No. 1 Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler both +2000. Only Fowler has won this tournament among that trio, doing so in 2015. Defending champion Webb Simpson is +5000 – amazingly, no player has ever repeated in this tournament.
Canadian Golfer Betting Odds
Adam Hadwin is +12500, Nick Taylor +35000 and Corey Conners +40000. It’s Hadwin’s fourth time playing and his best finish was 30th in 2017. Conners makes his debut and he’s having a rough stretch on Tour with four missed cuts in a row. It’s Taylor’s fourth trip and his best result is 73rd.
There has been a Canadian champion of this tournament: Stephen Ames won in 2006 at 14-under 274 by six shots over runner-up Retief Goosen. No one has won the event by that much since.
The Players Championship Predictions
We recommend last week’s winner, Francesco Molinari, and 2008 champion Sergio Garcia for Top 10s, but the winning choice is England’s Tommy Fleetwood at +2800. He comes off a T3 last week in Orlando and was seventh at the Players last year.
