The 49th edition of The PLAYERS Championship tees off on Friday (AEDT) from one of golf’s most iconic courses, TPC Sawgrass.
Often dubbed the fifth major, a world-class field will descend upon the home of the Island Green, all chasing a share of $25 million.
Ask any player, and they’ll tell you TPC Sawgrass is considered one of the toughest courses on the calendar, one our very own Cam Smith conquered last year on his way to a famous victory at St Andrews later in the year.
Not surprisingly, world No. 1 Jon Rahm sits atop the market, followed closely by Rory McIlroy, who hopes to become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2013 to win the PLAYERS twice.
It’s easily one of the most anticipated events of the year, and we’ve got you covered with our best bets, value picks, and roughies in our 2023 PLAYERS Championship Preview below!
The PLAYERS Championship Best Bet
Will Zalatoris – $26.00
TPC Sawgrass is the most difficult course on the PGA Tour, so it doesn’t take much to work out which stats matter the most this week.
Like any Pete Dye-designed course, TPC Sawgrass compiles numerous water hazards and unforgiving greens, making players with a consistent fairway to green game the safest options.
Strokes Gained: Approach is a key metric I’m paying close attention to this week, one that favours Will Zalatoris. The 26-year-old ranks Top 10 in the category, while he also has some experience with the quirks of the course after finishing Top 30 in the last two editions.
Overall, it’s been a quiet year for a promising youngster that so many of us have been expecting to peak at any moment. Last week’s performance at Arnie’s Place left a bit to be desired, but Zalatoris’ outright fourth at The Genesis the week prior showcased just how talented he is.
Whether his back is still aggravating him remains to be seen, but with consistent accuracy from tee to green, this might be the week he defies the odds and breaks through.
The PLAYERS Championship Best Value
Tom Kim – $34.00
Casual golf fans might not be familiar with Kim, but he’s quietly been making his presence felt over the last six months by winning the Wyndham Championship and the Shriner’s.
The 20-year-old is making his TPC Sawgrass debut this week, and while that’s a daunting prospect, he does look a nice fit based on his outstanding accuracy and approach numbers.
Kim ranks fourth overall in driving accuracy, while he’s also rated 10th in scrambling – a stat that measures how a player recovers after missing the green in regulation.
If he can find some form with the flat stick, the South Korean is one of the better value plays this week.
Rickie Fowler – $51.00
Experience is key when it comes to this event, which brings Rickie Fowler into calculations at a big price.
The Tour veteran has teed it up 12 times at TPC Sawgrass, most notably finishing runner-up in 2012 before claiming the Tiffany & Co trophy in 2015.
It’s obviously been a long time in between drinks for the American, but he does rank quite highly in two key statistical categories this week: Ball Striking and Strokes Gained: Approach the Green.
With three Top 20 finishes over his last four events, Fowler’s recent form also suggests the winless drought might be over soon.
The PLAYERS Championship Best Roughies
Sahith Theegala – $56.00
Theegala was on my bet slip a couple of weeks ago at Riviera where he went on to finish T6 following two outstanding final rounds.
The 25-year-old was around the mark last week sharing in a tie for 14th at Arnie’s Place, his sixth Top 20 finish of the year.
As far as course comparisons go, TPC Sawgrass plays quite similarly to TPC River Highlands, the site of the Traveler’s Championship. Theegala was a shared runner-up last year with JT Poston, so there’s a bit to like about his chances this week at a huge price.
Nick Taylor – $176
The Canadian has made the cut in four of his five appearances at Sawgrass with a T16 being his best result back in 2019.
He still owns just the two career wins, but I think this is a generous price for a guy that just finished runner-up at the Phoenix Open last month.
If Cam Smith taught us anything last year, it’s that players who can bounce-back from bogeys with birdies tend to fare well. Taylor ranks 30th in birdie-bogey percentage, making him worthy of a small wager this week.
