It is all eyes on Sawgrass in Florida this week for the Players. This is the one that players like to call the fifth major because of the weight of prestige that it carries. Actually, it carries a higher price purse than any of the four majors.
You can expect another thrilling four days of action from Sawgrass and it Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy who are starting as the joint 12/1 favourites* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on March 12th, 2019 at 4:12 p.m.).
The event is getting moved back to March after having been contested in May for the previous 12 years. It features the iconic 17th hole, which is an island green.
Players Golf 2019 Winner Odds*
Dustin Johnson 12/1
Rory Mcilroy 12/1
Justin Thomas 16/1
Justin Rose 20/1
Rickie Fowler 20/1
Brooks Koepka 22/1
Francesco Molinari 22/1
Tiger Woods 25/1
Jon Rahm 28/1
Tommy Fleetwood 28/1
Xander Schauffele 28/1
Bryson DeChambeau 30/1
Sergio Garcia 33/1
Adam Scott 35/1
Hideki Matsuyama 40/1
Jason Day 40/1
Patrick Cantlay 45/1
Paul Casey 45/1
50/1 bar
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on March 12th, 2019 at 7:15 p.m.)
Webb Simpson is the reigning champion who took a four-stroke win over Xander Schauffele, Charl Schwartzel and Jimmy Walker last year. With little form to suggest that he is going to go out and make a title defence this season, Simpson is out at a big 50/1 odds quote to defend* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on March 12th, 2019 at 4:12 p.m.).
Johnson and McIlroy
At the top of the market are Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy. McIlroy has shown a really steady hand so far this season with a top six finish posted in each of his five starts this season. He had a really disappointing day on Sunday at Bay Hill last time out but still finished inside the top six. He has three top-ten finishes at the Players in the last six attempts. He missed the cut last time.
Johnson doesn’t have the record at the Players to really inspire punters all that much. He has never finished in the top ten from ten previous attempts at the tournament. He was 17th last season. He does have a bit of current form to carry him forward into this one after a win at the WGC Mexico Championship.
Other leading contenders
Justin Thomas may tick a lot of boxes for punters going into the Players 2019. He has certainly posted some great form this season and is currently sitting fourth in the world. He has taken three top-four finishes this season including a third at the Phoenix Open and a second place finish at the Genesis Open. He failed to get himself going on his Honda Classic title defence last time out though which was very strange.
Francesco Molinari took a win at Bay Hill in the Arnold Palmer last time out. He missed the cut here last year but was on a run of three straight top ten finishes at the Players prior to that. He is a player that goes superbly well in streaks and after his success at Bay Hill in which he had to chase down the lead, should mean that he turns up in high confidence for another assault on the Players and is handily priced as a 22/1 each way option* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on March 12th, 2019 at 4:12 p.m.)
Tiger Woods had to pull out of the Honda Classic with a neck problem, so it’s unlikely that the two-time Players champion is going to turn up in top shape. Rickie Fowler is a former winner of the Players having taken the title in 2015. He’s not a bad fit and goes to Sawgrass after a joint runners-up place at the Honda. Fowler took a win at the Phoenix Open this season and he is at 20/1 to get back in the winner’s circle* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on March 12th, 2019 at 4:12 p.m.)
Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm are the types of players with immense talent, enough to just tear the course to shreds in a quick burst. Koepka hasn’t made the top ten from his four previous attempts at Sawgrass, but with his great performance at PGA National this year and the fact that he tied the course record at Sawgrass last year, it shows what he is capable off. Rahm has had a good season with four top tens in his last five.
Longer Odds Options
Ian Poulter, who put in a great challenge last year checks some boxes. He is over forty and veterans with experience behind them at Sawgrass to tend to go well. He is down the odds at 50/1 along with defending champion Webb Simpson* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on March 12th, 2019 at 4:12 p.m.).
Marc Leishman looks a great fit at 55/1 odds* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on March 12th, 2019 at 4:12 p.m.). The Australian has the game with the irons, something so important at Sawgrass, to get into contention. Accuracy to the hole is going to be vital at the course and Leishman can bring it.
Lucas Glover could show up well too. He has current form going for him with a run of three straight top ten finishes this season, and his putter seems to be working well for him at the moment. Just once in his last nine PGA Tour tournaments has Glover finished outside of the top twenty. His best previous effort is a third-place finish at Sawgrass and is at 11/2 to get himself a top ten finish on the weekend* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on March 12th, 2019 at 4:12 p.m.).
Prediction
Each of the last three winners of the Players Championship have gone wire to wire to land the victory. Fifteen of the last twenty winners of the Players have been first-round leaders. Only seven of the last 17 editions of the Players have been won by an American.
The favourites can easily be taken on in this one and that leads us down the list to the two superb options of Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm. They both look a fantastic fit for the tournament and at great enough prices to match each way.
