This week, our professional golf analyst Craig Edwards (@EdwardsTips_) provides his expert preview of The Players Championship (March 12-15), and shares his top betting picks, with odds from the best online sportsbooks.
The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass – Course Notes
Par 72, 7,352 yards
The Players Championship is widely recognised as golf’s unofficial fifth major, particularly at the renowned TPC Sawgrass, where memorable moments over the final holes have captivated audiences for decades. The Pete Dye-designed course features numerous risk-reward scenarios and continues to challenge even the most powerful modern golfers. Strategic positioning from the tee is essential for success, further testing players’ patience as they navigate water hazards on every hole.
Additionally, the stadium course is frequently affected by swirling winds, and with dry conditions in the forecast, the greens may become extremely fast and demanding. Current weather predictions suggest Thursday will be the windiest day, with wind speeds diminishing slightly throughout the tournament.
The fact that elite players such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson secured only narrow victories during their peak years speaks to the course’s difficulty. This complexity contributes to its appeal for betting enthusiasts, as the leading contenders may be less dominant than usual.
Is the Fox Still on The Prowl at The Players?
Last week, Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox started strongly on Thursday but lost momentum over the weekend following increased attention from readers and followers.
Despite a below-average performance, his odds remain appealing. At +20000 with Bovada, Fox presents a compelling opportunity. While many golfers hesitate in critical moments, Fox’s frequency of converting contention into victory ranks among the highest globally.
If the thirty-six-year-old finds himself in contention on Sunday, he is likely to remain competitive.
For modest investments, the +20000 outright market offers significant value, complemented by the top 20 place option, a position Ryan Fox has achieved consistently in recent seasons at TPC Sawgrass, demonstrating his aptitude for this challenging event.
Golf Pick: Ryan Fox Outright Win (+20000)
Golf Pick: Ryan Fox Top 20 (+500) at Bovada
Why Aaron Rai Is the Perfect Profile for The Players
Aaron Rai is flying under the radar for this year’s Players Championship, an event that is well-suited to his game. He has shown signs of promise in previous appearances at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, which demands precision and a strategic approach. His hole-in-one at the famous 17th hole in 2023 stands out, but it was not this feat alone that identified him as a future champion.
Few golfers possess the patience and strategic mindset needed for TPC Sawgrass, where challenges persist throughout all four days. Rai, a thirty-one-year-old from Wolverhampton, England, is an exception.
That 2023 debut could have been an indicator of things to come for Rai, as he was in contention until a final-round score of 75 set him back.
Known for wearing gloves on both hands, Rai demonstrates remarkable composure under pressure. His skill in windy conditions and ability to control ball flight helped him win the Scottish Open in 2020.
We recommend betting on Aaron Rai as Top European for an outright win, and in top 20 markets at BetOnline, which provides a broad range of prop and outright options.
Golf Pick: Aaron Rai Top 20 (+400)
Golf Pick: Aaron Rai Outright Win (+10000)
Golf Pick: Aaron Rai Top European (+2000)
Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass Betting Gameplan
A quick recap of this week’s selections for the Players Championship:
- Ryan Fox: Outright Win (+20000), Top 20 (+500) at Bovada
- Aaron Rai: Top 20 (+400), Outright Win (+10000), Top European (+2000) at BetOnline
Securing the best odds is essential in golf wagering. Since odds can differ among sportsbooks, it is advisable to establish accounts with multiple trusted books. This approach allows for effective comparison shopping for prices on outright bets and placement propositions, often the difference between an okay week and a profitable one.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
