2019 Players Championship Betting Preview

The PGA’s best head to TPC Sawgrass this weekend where they’ll tackle the infamous “island green” on the 17th hole at the Players Championship.

The co-favorites at Bovada Sportsbook in the Players are Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy, both at +1200. Johnson, the top-ranked player in the world, has never won the Players and hasn’t had a lot of luck in the event, with his best career finish being 12th place. Johnson does have one win already this season, at the WGC-Mexico Championship last month.

McIlroy has also never won the Players but he’s cracked the top 10 three times, including his best finish, a sixth, in 2014. McIlroy doesn’t have a win yet this season but he’s played some terrific golf, finishing in the top six in his last five tournaments, including finishing as the runner-up to Johnson in Mexico.

Thomas third on oddsboard at +1600

Following Johnson and McIlroy on the odds list are Justin Thomas at +1600 and Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler, both at +2000. Thomas has four top-nine finishes this season, including a trio of top-three finishes. Rose won the Farmers Insurance Open in January but has had some trouble in his last two tournaments, missing the cut in one and finishing well back in 63rd in the other. Fowler won the Players in 2015 and won the Waste Management Phoenix Open early last month.

If you’re wondering about the odds on Tiger Woods, he checks in at +2200. Woods missed the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week due to a neck strain, but he’s reportedly going to be teeing it up at the Players. Woods has won the event twice, in 2001 and 2013.

Simpson +5000 as defending champ

The defending champion is Webb Simpson. He’s a major underdog to repeat at +5000. A few other former Players winners in this week’s field include Sergio Garcia at +3300, Jason Day at +4000, Henrik Stenson at +5000, Matt Kuchar at +5500, Phil Mickelson at +6600, Si Woo Kim at +7000 and Martin Kaymer at +17500.

If you’re looking for a value pick this week, take a look at Francesco Molinari at +2200. Molinari rode a red-hot putter to victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week. He has never won the Players, but in three of his last four appearances in the tournament, he’s finished in the top seven.