When the golfing calendar was reorganised a couple of years ago, two big tournaments saw their dates in the calendar move. The USPGA Championship was moved from its late August date to May, while the unofficial ‘fifth Major’ The Players Championship was moved from its Autumn date in September back to March.
Now, The Players Championship not only completes the famous ‘Florida swing’ on the PGA Tour, but it now neatly provides the top golfers in the world with an opportunity to hone their competitive skills against each other at a key time of the year.
This is a massive tournament involving the world’s top players, which takes place just a few weeks before the first Major of the season, The Masters at Augusta National, gets underway.
If you would like to have a bet on the outcome of The Players Championship this week, after you have read this article of course, then you can find great golf betting on this event and throughout the year at bet365 Sport.
Furthermore, there is also a fantastic Welcome Bonus available for new customers that offers you up to £100 in bet credits once you have signed up and started betting on the site.
Bet365 Sport Open Account Offer
Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
Given its new and important place in the calendar, occurring just a few weeks before the very first Major of the new season at Augusta National, The Masters, the Players Championship event is now much more than just a ‘fifth major’. It is a tournament which will give players the perfect preparation for the next four months of the season, when all four of golf’s Major titles will be contested.
As such, interest in the event in the United States will be very high and you can catch all the latest sports betting information, promotions and betting odds for a wide range of sports betting markets on the exciting new site bestbetusa.com.
A History Of The Players Championship Tournament
The first few years of The Players Championship saw the tournament played at a number of courses across the United States in Georgia, Texas and Florida. However, by 1977 it had moved to the Sawgrass Country Club and then from 1982 onwards, it has been played at its sister course, The Stadium Course.
Since 1974, the total prize money won has increased from $50,000 to a new high of $15,000,000 dollars this year, up from $12.5 million in 2019, with the winner taking home $2.7 million.
The lowest score to win the event was -24, achieved by Greg Norman in 1994. It is a record unlikely to be broken as the next best score is -19, achieved by Jack Nicklaus in 1976.
Who Has Won The Event Previously?
After last year’s event was cancelled, Rory McIlroy is the holder of the trophy having won it in 2019. Other recent winners of the event include Webb Simpson (2018), Kim Si-woo (2017), Jason Day (2016), Rickie Fowler (2015), Martin Kaymer (2014) and Tiger Woods (2013, the second of his two wins at the event).
The most successful golfer in the event’s relatively short history is Jack Nicklaus who won it three times (1974, 1976 and 1978) although none of those wins came on the Stadium Course. Five players have won the event twice, Fred Couples (1984, 1996), Steve Elkington (1991, 1997), Hal Sutton (1983, 2000), Davis Love III (1992, 2003) and the aforementioned Tiger Woods (2001, 2013).
Sandy Lyle was the first non-American player to win the event in 1987 and since then a number of foreign stars have landed the win at Sawgrass including Greg Norman, Steve Elkington (twice), Nick Price, Adam Scott, Craig Perks, Stephen Ames, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Tim Clark and K.J.Choi.
TPC Sawgrass – An Iconic Course
Part of the huge appeal of this event is the incredible Stadium Course. Although its famous island 17th green is the most famous hole on the course, this famous Pete Dye design. Each year it is estimated 100,000 balls are fished out of the water surrounding the green every year, hit by pros and other golfers.
However, the 7,245 yard course has been tweaked over the years and is now one of the finest test of a golfers skills of the season. It features a number of difficult waste bunkers, that are not maintained by the grounds staff, narrow fairways, hard greens and some treacherous rough.
Nine players hold the course record of 63, amongst them Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Jason Day, Brooks Koepka, Webb Simpson and Hideki Matsuyama.
Who Is Competing At The Players Championship This Week?
Two notable names will be absent from the field competing for the $15,000,000 in prize money from Thursday. Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka will both be missing the event due to injuries which is disappointing given their unique skills and appeal to fans.
However, despite their absence the field remains very strong. Amongst the favourites to win this week are Dustin Johnson (12/1 favourite), Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm (All 16/1) and Justin Thomas (18/1).
Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay are all 20/1 shots, with Webb Simpson 22/1, Viktor Hovlund 25/1, Tony Finau 28/1 and Jordan Spieth 30/1.
Other notable names outside that select group of eleven golfers include Tyrell Hatton (35/1), Jason Day and Patrick Reed (both 40/1), Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick and Scottie Scheffler (all 45/1) while Paul Casey is 55/1.
Lee Westwood’s odds have come in to 80/1 after his fine performance at Bay Hill last week saw him finished a close second to Bryson DeChambeau. However, the quality extends right down the field with golfers as talented as Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson rated as 250/1 chances to win the event.
Who Are Our Predictions To Perform Well At Sawgrass This Week?
As always, I think it is wise to take full advantage of the each way market when it comes to golf betting and with bet365 Sport, you can get each way payouts if your selection manages to finish in any of the top eight spots in the tournament.
I think Stenson and Mickelson, at 250/1 each are worth a pound of anyone’s money. Both supremely talented players with immense skill , their form may be off but if they get things right on the day, they have the ability to not just go close but win the event and in terms of value, I think they are outstanding each way bets.
For a shorter priced option, Paul Casey, who was quiet last week but who has been in generally good form for a good while now and who is priced at 55/1, is another excellent shout.
If you must go for a winner, then I think Justin Thomas at 18/1 is a great shout. He hasn’t won this event as yet and hasn’t won since August 2020, but I think he has the game to take on and get the better of this fantastic course.
*All odds shown were correct with bet365 Sport as of 10.30am on Tuesday 9th March 2021.
Tags: bet365 Sport
Worried about your gambling?