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\u2019ll have to do better for bettors this week if he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a field that includes the top four golfers in the world, who is the best bet to win? Let\u2019s take a closer look at this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EVENT: THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2019: RORY MCILROY This is one of the most famous courses on the PGA Tour but it\u2019s 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\u2019s not super hard but it can trip players up. Even so, it\u2019s still just the 23rd-toughest course in scoring last season and it was all the way down at 29 the year before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This Pete Dye-designed course is going to have a lot of small greens that play really fast. That means you\u2019ll want to keep an eye on players who do well with Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One player that looks like he\u2019ll 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\u2019ll write last year\u2019s showing off as an aberration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re looking for a player that does well on both Par 4 and Par 5 and he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n –Each of the last nine winners at THE PLAYERS Championship had finished 22nd or better on their previous start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n –Americans won the first 13 editions of this event but have won just seven of the last 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n –15 of the first-round leaders have eventually gone on to win this event whereas only 20 third-round leaders have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n –Since 2011, only one winner (Webb Simpson in 2018) has finished in the Top 10 in driving accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n –Each of the last eight winners gained an average of 4.90 strokes over the field in approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the latest golf betting odds and props, follow BetOnline.ag on Twitter<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CATEGORY: PGA
DATE: MARCH 12TH-15TH, 2020
LOCATION: TPC SAWGRASS \u2013 PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nPAST FIVE WINNERS<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2018: WEBB SIMPSON
2017: KIM SI-WOO
2016: JASON DAY
2015: RICKIE FOWLER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE COURSE<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A GOOD PROP TO BET: CANTLAY FOR TOP 5<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
FIVE TRENDS WORTH NOTING FOR THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n