The PLAYERS Championship Odds Shows McIlroy Favored, Rahm Right Behind

For a second straight week on the PGA Tour, Rory McIlroy is the favorite to win the event. He was favored last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational but it was Tyrell Hatton that took home the top spot. McIlroy was not far behind, finishing in a tie for fifth, but he’ll have to do better for bettors this week if he’s going to cash. Jon Rahm is right behind McIlroy while Justin Thomas joins the other two as the only golfers on the board inside of 20/1.

In a field that includes the top four golfers in the world, who is the best bet to win? Let’s take a closer look at this event.

EVENT DETAILS

EVENT: THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
CATEGORY: PGA
DATE: MARCH 12TH-15TH, 2020
LOCATION: TPC SAWGRASS – PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA

The 2019 edition of this event was won by Rory McIlroy, who finished with a score of -16 to win his first ever PLAYERS Championship. He actually had a surprise challenger last year as Jim Furyk was the runner up. McIlroy hung with the leaders in each round but it was Keegan Bradley who led at -7 after the first round, Tommy Fleetwood and McIlroy who shared the lead at -12 after two rounds, Jon Rahm who was in front at -15 after the third round before McIlroy edged everyone in the final round to earn the win.

PAST FIVE WINNERS

2019: RORY MCILROY
2018: WEBB SIMPSON
2017: KIM SI-WOO
2016: JASON DAY
2015: RICKIE FOWLER

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE COURSE

This is one of the most famous courses on the PGA Tour but it’s not the most difficult. There are 88 bunkers and 17 water hazards, but it recorded the ninth-most bogeys last year along with the fourth-most double-bogeys. It’s not super hard but it can trip players up. Even so, it’s still just the 23rd-toughest course in scoring last season and it was all the way down at 29 the year before.

This Pete Dye-designed course is going to have a lot of small greens that play really fast. That means you’ll want to keep an eye on players who do well with Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green.

A GOOD PROP TO BET: CANTLAY FOR TOP 5

One player that looks like he’ll be a good bet this week is Patrick Cantlay. While he did miss the cut here in 2019, he does rank fifth in approach play over his last six tournaments. We’ll write last year’s showing off as an aberration.

We’re looking for a player that does well on both Par 4 and Par 5 and he’s efficient at both. He is top five in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green over his last 36 rounds on Pete Dye courses. Take a shot with him to place among the Top 5 finishers at this event.

FIVE TRENDS WORTH NOTING FOR THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

–Each of the last nine winners at THE PLAYERS Championship had finished 22nd or better on their previous start.

–Americans won the first 13 editions of this event but have won just seven of the last 18.

–15 of the first-round leaders have eventually gone on to win this event whereas only 20 third-round leaders have.

–Since 2011, only one winner (Webb Simpson in 2018) has finished in the Top 10 in driving accuracy.

–Each of the last eight winners gained an average of 4.90 strokes over the field in approach.

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