Players Championship Betting Guide: Top Picks, Props and Odds

As the always entertaining tournament begins Thursday, the two best golfers on the PGA Tour have combined to win the last three tournaments at TPC Sawgrass. The Players Championship is typically a fun watch, and it feels even bigger when Scottie Scheffler (2023-24) and Rory McIlroy (2025) figure in golfers’ success on the course.

McIlroy was also the 2019 champion and beat JJ Spaun in a three-hole playoff last year to become the eighth player to have multiple wins on the Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The finish came on Monday after four hours of rain delayed the festival on Sunday. Scheffler finished tied for 20th last year after winning the title the previous two years.

Of course, one of the highlights of the tournament is the 137-yard par-3 17th hole, where the green juts out unprotected into the water. Every year, someone’s round fails by missing the green and landing in the water. In 2007, 50 balls fell into the water in the first round alone, and 93 balls fell into the water during the tournament.

Can Aberg replicate its performance in 2024?

McIlroy’s back could determine whether he joins the legendary Jack Nicklas as a three-time winner of the event. He had to withdraw before the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week and, as of Tuesday night, had not made the more than four-hour trek north from his home in Jupiter, Florida. It’s very concerning that McIlroy (+1400 to win) is receiving treatment like this before the start.

Scheffler (+425) had been in the top 15 for nearly a year until he tied for 24th at Bay Hill last week. That will give him a lot of motivation this week. But the world’s best golfer is about to suffer a minor puncture, so don’t expect him to be in the winner’s circle.

Ludvig Aberg (+2700) tied for third at Bay Hill and may be poised for a big win. He missed the cut at Sawgrass last year, but has shot 67 three times in 2024 to finish eighth. He has two career wins and this week looks to be his chance to take third place.

Ludvig Aberg wins the tournament, +2700 (DraftKings)

Bhatia has a hot club after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Akshay Bhatia (+730 for wins, +730 for top five) is expected to be in contention after winning last week’s playoffs at Bay Hill. Unless his preparations are derailed by a win, he’s a favorite with three top-six finishes in his last four events. Last year, he also tied for 3rd place in this competition.

Siwoo Kim (+2400, +430) was the 2017 champion, so he definitely has the ability to make a deep run. In 2024, it was firmly tied for 6th place, but last year it took a step back and tied for 38th place. Yuna Kim tied for second at Torrey Pines and tied for third at Phoenix earlier this year.

Collin Morikawa (+2050, +385) is still in the game as he won at Pebble Beach, tied for 7th at Pacific Palisades and finished 5th at Bay Hill in his last three events. Last year, he tied for 10th place on the Stadium Course.

Akshay Bhatia rounded out the top five. +730(DraftKings)

Hovland prepared for the Sawgrass transition.

Spaun (+7000 for a win, +4900 for a top 10) put up quite a fight last year before losing in the playoffs. That performance came just months before the epic US Open performance for which he will forever be known. He’s still working to regain his form, having missed three cuts in five events this year.

Viktor Hovland (+3700, +310) started at 80 last year, missed the cut, and is tied for 62nd in 2024. However, he had two sub-70 rounds in both of his previous tournaments, tying for 9th in 2022 and tying for 3rd 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 tied the course record last year with a second-round 62, but ended up tied for 33rd. This year could be a long one.

Viktor Hovland cracks top 10, +310 (DraftKings)