The famous hole in golf is the centre of attention this week as the stars of the world descend on Sawgrass for The Players Championship, the biggest regular PGA Tour event of the season. This tournament is steeped in history and memories and I’m sure there are plenty more to be made this week.
Recent Winners
2016 – Jason Day
2015 – Rickie Fowler
2014 – Martin Kaymer
2013 – Tiger Woods
2012 – Matt Kuchar
2011 – KJ Choi
2010 – Tim Clark
2009 – Henrik Stenson
2008 – Sergio Garcia
2007 – Phil Mickelson
The Course
TPC Sawgrass is the venue again this week but it isn’t the course we have come to know and love in the past. That is because a series of major renovations have taken place since last year. All the greens have been relayed which is expected to make them run faster while the lake between the sixth and seventh holes is bigger and the 12th is now a drivable risk and reward par four.
There appears to be a much higher premium on accuracy this week but whoever wins the tournament will have scrambled and putted well. That is natural around what is now a par 72, 7,189 yard challenge.
All eyes as ever will be on the 17th hole, one of the shortest holes in world golf but one of the scariest with the green surrounded by water.
The Field
The entry list for this tournament changed a few years ago to ensure it had a major like field and as such the only member of the top 25 in the world rankings who isn’t here is Thomas Pieters.
World number one Dustin Johnson is joined by defending champion Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and the Masters champion Sergio Garcia in what is sure to be a fantastic week of golf with the best players taking on a stunning test of their game.
Market Leaders
Dustin Johnson was a runner up on his return to the PGA Tour last week and he is the 15/2 favourite to land the title this week. You could easily argue that this isn’t really the course for him or rather that his dominant attributes don’t play to this course but form is a huge thing and he has it.
Rory McIlroy tees it up for the first time as a married man. He is 12/1 to win the title but quite how much focus he has had on his golf over the last few weeks remains to be seen. He has a good record here though so if he has been keeping his eye in he certainly can’t be ruled out.
Jordan Spieth arrives here as the third favourite to win the golf tournament at 14/1 but he has missed the last two cuts around here which is somewhat off-putting it has to be said. Masters champion and former winner around here Sergio Garcia is 18/1. I’d be all over that if this wasn’t his first tournament since winning at Augusta.
Another former champion here Rickie Fowler is 22/1 along with the rising star Jon Rahm and the defending champion Jason Day. Day looks to be out of form at the minute so he is easily dismissed while inexperience could count Rahm out. Fowler has to be respected however. It is 25/1 bar.
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Main Bets
Most of my attention is going to be on this tournament so I’m going to allow myself an extra bet to normal in what is near enough a major in all bar name. We have some good place terms this week so another punt is merited.
My first main bet is on the man Sergio Garcia pipped to the Masters title in Justin Rose. Rose has a decent record on Pete Dye layouts and his strategic brain should be a perfect fit for here. We saw at Augusta how well he is hitting the ball and he putts so much better on faster greens too. Everything is in place for Rose to have a big week here.
Kevin Kisner is something of a bermuda greens specialist and as a former runner up here I have to be on him. Not only does he putt brilliantly on bermuda greens but he plays really well on Pete Dye courses in the main. He was runner up on one in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago alongside Scott Brown and that should hopefully have tuned him up for a big week here.
My final main bet is a man who has won here before and on many other Pete Dye designs and that is Matt Kuchar. He has a fantastic all-round game with the strengths being his accurate driving and his putting on fast greens. We saw that at Augusta and I’m expecting to see that here too. He is far too big at 66/1.
Outsiders
I’ll go with three outsiders. I have a shortlist as long as my arm this week but I’m going to target a couple of other markets before the week begins so I’ll target them in those.
Russell Henley is a brilliant putter and having won the Shell Houston Open this season he should be full of confidence coming here. As one of the best putters in the world we know he’ll be up for the test this week and his tee to green game is clearly in good order too. He tends to go well on the strategic tracks so he has every chance here.
Adam Hadwin is another who has won on the Tour this year and sitting in the top 10 in the all-around ranking he has to be concerned a danger in this tournament this week. A lack of experience isn’t ideal but he’s hitting the ball well and scoring nicely and so he can’t be ruled out at a three figure price.
Charley Hoffman has a half decent record on Pete Dye tracks and he is another who I think putts well on quicker greens. We saw that at Augusta earlier this year. We’ve also seen at times how well he can play in the wind especially in Texas so that bodes well. He is sneaky long so he won’t need to hit driver too often around here which will help his accuracy. He’s worth a dabble at a big price.
Tips
Back J.Rose to win The Players Championship (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 31.00 with Betfred (1/4 1-6)
Back M.Kuchar to win The Players Championship (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 67.00 with Betfred (1/4 1-6)
Back them here:
Back K.Kisner to win The Players Championship (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 56.00 with Betbright (1/4 1-6)
Back him here:
Back A.Hadwin to win The Players Championship (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Bet365 (1/4 1-6)
Back him here:
Back R.Henley to win The Players Championship (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)
Back him here:
Back C.Hoffman to win The Players Championship (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-7)
Back him here:
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