Players Championship Betting Guide: Top Picks, Props, and Odds

The best two golfers on the PGA Tour have combined to win the last three tournaments at TPC Sawgrass as the always-fun tournament begins Thursday. The Players Championship usually is an entertaining watch and it feels even bigger with Scottie Scheffler (2023-24) and Rory McIlroy (2025) rating as golfers who thrive on the course.

McIlroy also was the 2019 champion and last year he outdueled J.J. Spaun in a three-hole playoff to become just the eighth player with multiple wins on the Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The finish occurred on Monday after a four-hour rain delay on Sunday pushed back the festivities. Scheffler won the previous two years before finishing in a tie for 20th last year.

Of course, one of the highlights of the tournament is the 137-yard, par-3 No. 17 with the green protruding out unprotected into the water. Each year, somebody’s round is thrown off by missing the green and landing in the water. In 2007, 50 balls were hit into the water in the first round alone and 93 splashed down for the tournament.

Can Aberg duplicate his 2024 performance?

McIlroy’s back might dictate whether he’s in the mix to join legendary Jack Nicklas as a three-time winner of the event. He had to withdraw prior to the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week and he still hadn’t made the four-plus-hour trek north from his Jupiter, Fla., home as of Tuesday night. McIlroy (+1400 to win) receiving treatments this close to the start is very concerning.

Scheffler (+425) went nearly an entire year without worse than a top-15 finish until tying for 24th at Bay Hill last week. That should give him plenty of motivation this week. But the top golfer in the world is due for a mini-funk so don’t expect him in the winner’s circle.

Ludvig Aberg (+2700) tied for third at Bay Hill and might be primed for a big win. He missed at the cut at Sawgrass last year but finished eighth in 2024 when he carded 67 three times. He has two career victories and this week looks like an opportunity for him to bag No. 3.

Ludvig Aberg to win the tournament, +2700 (DraftKings)

Bhatia has the hot clubs after Arnold Palmer Invitational win

Akshay Bhatia (+4200 to win, +730 top five) figures to be in contention after winning in a playoff at Bay Hill last week. As long as the preparation distractions that come with winning don’t derail him, he’s a hot golfer with three top-six placements in his last four events. He also tied for third at this tournament last year.

Si Woo Kim (+2400, +430) was the 2017 champion so he’s certainly capable of making a deep run. He solidly tied for sixth in 2024 but took a step backward last year and tied for 38th. Kim tied for second at Torrey Pines and tied for third at Phoenix earlier this year.

Collin Morikawa (+2050, +385) won at Pebble Beach, tied for seven at Pacific Palisades and placed fifth at Bay Hill in his last three events so he’s on his game. He tied for 10th on the Stadium Course last year.

Akshay Bhatia to finish in the top five, +730 (DraftKings)

Hovland primed for a Sawgrass turnaroud

Spaun (+7000 to win, +4900 top 10) put up quite a fight last year before losing in the playoff. That performance came months before the epic U.S. Open performance that he will forever be known for. He’s missed three cuts in five events this year so he’s still attempting to recapture his form.

Viktor Hovland (+3700, +310) started off with an 80 last year while missing the cut and finished tied for 62nd in 2024. But he had two below-70 round in both of the previous tourneys, tying for ninth in 2022 and tying for third in 2023. He tied for 13th at Bay Hill.

Justin Thomas (+9000, +650) returned from back surgery last week and shot 79-79 to miss the cut at Bay Hill. He won at TPC Sawgrass in 2021 and he tied the course record with a second-round 62 last year but he ended up tying for 33rd place. It might be a long shot this year.

Viktor Hovland to finish in the top 10, +310 (DraftKings)