The Players Championship Picks: Best Bets For Golf's Fifth Major

2021 The Players' Betting Predictions

The last two winners of the event - Rory McIlroy and Webb Simpson - are both currently rated among the top 10 in the World Golf Rankings. The Players, as it's also known, it's considered by followers of golf and those within the game to be the sport's unofficial fifth major. 

Based on recent past history, it's logical to base your Players Championship picks around the best of the best on the PGA Tour. The all-time list of winners of this event reads like a who's-who of the legendary golfing elite.

• The last two winners of the Players Championship, Rory McIlroy and Webb Simpson, both rank among the world's top nine golfers
• The Players Championship was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• This year's event is slated for March 11-14 at TPC Sawgrass

The Players Championship is viewed as the first real test of the PGA Tour season. Coming just a few weeks prior to the Masters, the launch of golf's major season. In terms of golf picks, most in the game classify winning the Players to be on the level of a major accomplishment.

All of the world's best players show up for this event, so that means that the Players Championship odds always offer a wonderful wagering opportunity for the golf bettor.

The Players Odds
Jon Rahm	+1000	+1050	+1000	+1000	+1100
Justin Thomas	+1400	+1400	+1500	+1400	+1400
Rory McIlroy	+1700	+1600	+1600	+1600	+1600
Collin Morikawa	+1600	+1600	+1600	+1600	+1700
Patrick Cantlay	+2000	+2100	+2000	+2200	+2000
Victor Hovland	+2000	+2100	+2000	+2000	+2000

Rory McIlory, the most recent winner of this tournament in 2019, is currently rated No. 8 in the World Golf Rankings. Webb Simpson, who earned the 2018 Players Championship title, is right behind McIlroy at No. 9 overall.

Players Championship Betting Trends

When making plans to wager on the Players Championship Vegas odds, certainly there are elements that much always be taken into consideration before a bet is laid. You'll want to know which golfers are currently in form, as well as which players tend to fare well on the par-72 TPC Sawgrass layout.

Definitely, McIlroy falls into the latter category. Along with his 2019 victory, he was also second in 2013, sixth in 2014, and eighth in 2015. Entering the 2020 Players Championship, he was the +650 favorite in the opening betting line of the tourney that was eventually called off due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

However, an interesting trend that's developed in recent years is that the tournament winner generally hasn't played all that well in the event in the year prior to their triumph. Even McIlroy missed the cut in 2018 before bouncing back for his 2019 title.

Jason Day, the 2016 Players Championship winner, also failed to make the cut in 2015. Martin Kaymer, the 2014 champ, was 43rd in 2013. Rickie Fowler went from 77th in 2014 to the title in 2015. Kim Si-woo was tied for 23rd in 2016 before winning in 2017.

Only Simpson, the 2018 winner, cracked the top 20 in the season prior to his triumph. He ended up in a tie for 16th in 2017.

Based on this trend, some names to consider among those who finished well of the pace in 2019 include the world's No. 4 (Xander Schauffele), No. 5 (Tyler Hatton), and No. 7 (Patrick Cantlay) players. All three missed the cut the last time the event was held.

Bet Outside The Box

While top players usually win the Players Championship, favorites generally don't. Remember that fact of life when assessing your golf picks on this tournament. In 2019, McIlroy was the second betting choice at +1400. Day (+1100) also won at short odds in 2016.

Fowler was at a betting line of +5000 when he won in 2015, while both Kaymer and Simpson opened at +8000 in the year of their victories.

At the other end of the spectrum, Kim paid off at opening odds of +40000 in 2017. Clearly, though, that's the exception and not the rule when it comes to the Players Championship. The rule of thumb would appear to be don't be afraid to rub out the chalk, but don't venture too far down the board in search of a winner.

As well, just because the tournament is underway, the betting opportunities don't stop. All of the leading online betting sites offer dozens of live in-play wagering chances each round. These include the leader after every round and the low score recorded each day.

Where To Bet On The Players Championship

There are a number of leading online sports betting sites that will provide bettors the chance to place a wager on The Players Championship. The best bet you can make is to shop around in advance and seek out the right deal before joining one of these sportsbooks. Check out BetUS and MyBookie as examples.

The signup bonus offers that are in place at all of these recommended sites will prove advantageous to the bettor. And since you'll get a good deal wherever you go, why not shop around and find the best fit for your needs?

Do you want a risk-free first bet as a signup bonus? Perhaps you find a no-deposit bonus to be enticing. Or maybe you simply like the feel of cold, hard cash in your account and you want to go for a matching first deposit bonus. Whatever option you choose, you're already a winner.

Remember that new players and returning customers are eligible for better bonuses when they deposit using Bitcoin. As well, take advantage of the betting advice offered at these sites to help newcomers acclimatize to sports betting.

See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you: