In the biggest PGA Tour tournament before The Masters, The $20,000,000 Players Championship is scheduled for this weekend in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida at TPC Sawgrass.
???@JustinThomas34, @McIlroyRory, and @collin_morikawa will highlight our featured groups. pic.twitter.com/bSyVBBxzpu
— THE PLAYERS (@THEPLAYERSChamp) March 6, 2022
This is the biggest tournament of the year on the PGA Tour. It attracts the most notable names vying for the biggest purse in golf.
The $20,000,000 purse is the biggest in golf, with the winner receiving a payout of $3.6 million. For comparison, the US Open has a $12.5 million purse while The Masters offers $11.5 million.
The Players may not be as prestigious as winning a major, but unofficially known as the fifth major, this is certainly a big win for the resume and bank account.
Last week, Scottie Scheffler won the $12,000,000 Arnold Palmer Invitational after his colleagues struggled on the final day at Bay Hill. Scheffler shot even, while T2 Billy Horschel and Viktor Hovland finished with a +3 and +2.
With potential rain and wind in the forecast, our Rules and Agronomy teams discuss the game plan for pin locations on No. 17. pic.twitter.com/g4a6dBNFEV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 8, 2022
The 2022 Players Championship is a big and talented field. The weather is will not cooperate for this tournament, though. Expect spotty rain on Thursday and then possible storms on Friday.
If you’re going to The Players in Florida, prepare for delays. The bad weather isn’t supposed to let on Saturday, either. It isn’t until Sunday that sunny skies prevail. It should make for a wild tournament.
Head below for our 2022 The Players Championship best bets and preview at TPC Sawgree.
Rory McIlory (+1600)
I must like punishment because I’m going back to Rory McIlory after burning me last week. McIlory started hot as he carried the lead into Friday. McIlory was on fire and couldn’t miss, as he left the first round with a 65 on the board.
Just like the week before, one of my golfers regressed and crashed. It was worse the week before at the Honda Classic. Daniel Berger had a comfortable lead going into the final round and choked hard.
McIlroy didn’t wait that long to throw the tournament away. This week it might seem foolish to go back to McIlroy, but the poor weather is setting up well for him. He doesn’t mind wet weather in the least.
As one of the best golfers in rainy conditions, he must be considered to win The Players Championship.
Viktor Hovland (+1600)
Viktor Hovland had a chance last week and is in good form. The young Norweigan is looking at a bright future ahead.
He doesn’t have a major championship, but it could be a matter of time before Hovland wins one.
Last year in 2021, Hovland finished T12 in the US Open and The Open Championship. Hovland put together a good game last week, but didn’t finish well on the final day.
Hovland has finished 1, 1, 30, CUT, 4, 2 in his previous six starts. Before coming close last week, Hovland was 4th in the Genesis Invitational in February.
He is ranked No. 3 behind Collin Morikawa and Jon Rahm. It’s hard to oppose Hovland to win The Players Championship at a great price.
Hovland may not have a major on his mantle yet, but winning The Players would be a big win for the 24-year-old who hopes to win multiple majors in the future.
Collin Morikawa (+1200)
The No. 2 player in the world must also be taken seriously in The Players Championship. Morikawa has been hot this year and has a big chance to win $3.6 million this weekend.
Morikawa finished T2 with Cameron Young two shots off the lead in his most recent outing.
His putting has also been on point in one of the best on tour. Morikawa is the fourth-best player on the PGA Tour with a success rate of 0.927 on the green.
Backing Morikawa will provide you with the most consistent player in the field this weekend. He’s going to be close, with it coming down to whether Morikawa can finish the job on Sunday.
Morikawa should be in good form for a big tournament at The Players. He keeps knocking on the door for his first win in 2022.
