The Players Championship betting guide

This week's event has a deep and competitive field with 48 of the top 50 golfers in the world rankings participating. In case you were wondering why it is the deepest field we have seen in a long time, a $5 million increase in total prize money was bound to get the players' attention, right?

Justin Thomas is the defending champion of the event and, at the current price, is a nice value again. It has been a while since we have seen Jon Rahm share the top spot in the odds list or be listed at a price of over +1000, so that is very tempting too. 

Bryson DeChambeau is still hurt and was forced to withdraw from the event. That always takes a little entertainment value away, but this should be a really good week of golf on a course that seems to not be suited for any one particular type of player. You need a good all-around game to win. 

Tournament info

Date:  Mar 10–13, 2022
Course: Players Stadium Course
Purse: $20 million
TV:  Golf Channel, NBC

Top odds

• Justin Thomas +1400
• Collin Morikawa +1400
• Jon Rahm +1400
• Rory McIlroy +1800
• Viktor Hovland +2000
• Scottie Scheffler +2500
• Patrick Cantlay +2500
• Xander Schauffele +2800
• Hideki Matsuyama +3000
• Dustin Johnson +3000
• Daniel Berger +3000

Bets to consider

Collin Morikawa to win +1400

Picking from the top of the odds board is hardly rocket science, but that doesn't mean it can't be profitable. Plus, these odds vary a lot from book to book, so you might get +1600 or +1800. Either way, Morikawa is a stud and even though he was not great at this event last year; his best round was his last, a 66. That is very promising going forward. 

Si Woo Kim top 10 (+600)

If you read this space often you know I am a fan of players that have had success on a course before. Kim won here back in 2017, his biggest win on the Tour. His results this season have been just OK, a couple of 11ths, but that is why we are getting the payout for a good but not winning performance.

Rory McIlroy +1800

He is one of a few players in the field who has won this event before (2019). He also has consistency on his side. Four times he has finished in the top 10 at the Players. Another good bet just off that top odds list. 

Matt Fitzpatrick Top 20 (+175)

He has been one of the most consistent golfers on the tour this season. In his last five events, he has not finished worse than 12th. He was ninth at this event last year too, so it is far from a stretch to expect a repeat performance this week, even if he doesn't challenge for the win. 

Hideki Matsuyama +3000

Matsuyama has two wins already this season. He is a great sleeper this week given he did not even make the cut in 2021 at this event. That probably has him off a lot of radars, but if you dig deep, you see he was leading this event before COVID scuttled it in 2020. That has to count for something.