This week the PGA Tour heads to the Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., for The Players Championship. Lovingly known by pros and golf nerds alike as the “fifth major,” players don’t just want, most of them need to win in this tournament for their resumes.
The Players is also a gambler’s paradise. The field at The Players is typically one of the strongest all year and thanks to that, a lot of players who are normally going off at 15/1, 20/1 and 25/1 are getting 40/1, 50/1 and even 100/1 money this week.
So without further delay, here are your surefire, can’t-miss prophecies for The Players Championship.
The Players Championship
TPC Sawgrass – Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
May 8 – 11, 2014
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ODDS to Win:
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| Rory McIlroy | 12/1 |
| Adam Scott | 15/1 |
| Matt Kuchar | 15/1 |
| Justin Rose | 20/1 |
| Sergio Garcia | 20/1 |
| Luke Donald | 20/1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 25/1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 25/1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 25/1 |
| Bubba Watson | 30/1 |
| Lee Westwood | 30/1 |
| Jim Furyk | 30/1 |
| Zach Johnson | 30/1 |
| Keegan Bradley | 40/1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 40/1 |
| Charl Schwartzel | 50/1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 50/1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 50/1 |
| Graham DeLaet | 50/1 |
| J.B. Holmes | 50/1 |
| Harris English | 50/1 |
| Jason Dufner | 50/1 |
| Hunter Mahan | 60/1 |
| Graeme McDowell | 40/1 |
| Brandt Snedeker | 50/1 |
| Webb Simpson | 60/1 |
| Ian Poulter | 40/1 |
| Ryan Moore | 60/1 |
| Martin Laird | 60/1 |
| Kevin Na | 80/1 |
| Gary Woodland | 80/1 |
| Patrick Reed | 80/1 |
| Martin Kaymer | 60/1 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 80/1 |
| Steve Stricker | 80/1 |
| Bill Haas | 60/1 |
| Brendon de Jonge | 80/1 |
| Kevin Streelman | 80/1 |
| Matt Every | 80/1 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | 100/1 |
| Jonas Blixt | 100/1 |
| Ryan Palmer | 100/1 |
| Jamie Donaldson | 100/1 |
| Freddie Jacobson | 100/1 |
| Chris Kirk | 100/1 |
| Seung-Yul Noh | 100/1 |
| Francesco Molinari | 80/1 |
| Kevin Stadler | 125/1 |
| Nick Watney | 125/1 |
| Field (all others) | 13/4 |
Rory McIlroy needs to add a Players Championship to his resume. All the greats have them and I think 2014 is the year he gets his. McIlroy is becoming very Tiger Woods-like in the sense that he gears up big time for big-time tournaments, almost always ending up in the hunt on Sunday at majors and marquee events. He’s installed as the favorite this week but is still paying 12/1 thanks to all the big names playing this week.
My next guy has had great success at TPC Sawgrass and is one of the best players in the game to never win a major. Sergio Garcia will be a popular pick this week and I’m not going to be the guy who doesn’t pick him if he can hold his game together on Sunday. He nearly won this event last year until a couple balls in the water at 17 on Sunday sunk his chances. Garcia has won this tournament before and at 20/1 this week, I don’t see why he can’t win it again.
In his last 17 starts on tour, Jonas Blixt has only finished in the top five twice. There was a fourth place at the 2013 PGA Championship and a runner-up at this year’s Masters. My point here being that he may be playing mediocre golf overall, but the dude shows up on the big stage. He made his only start at the Players last year and finished a disappointing 77th, and this week he’s getting 100/1 money. Seriously? You can’t pass that up; (some of) my money this week is definitely going on the Swede.
If there’s a guy out there who probably deserves to win this tournament it’s Jim Furyk. The 2003 U.S. Open champion has played some great golf as of late, finishing second last week at the Wells Fargo and rattling off five consecutive T-20 or better finishes. He’s finished T-25 or better in this event eight times and it’s about time that consistent good play pays off. At 30/1, picking him would pay off well for you, too.
Finally this week, I’ve got to go with Jordan Spieth. How many times do you see it happen? A young guy comes oh-so-close to winning his first major championship, struggles the following start or two, then comes back with a vengeance only Hans Gruber’s brother could imagine. Rory did it in 2011, winning the U.S. Open in a rout after shooting 80 on Sunday at Augusta. While this isn’t a major, a win here would be huge for Spieth for a number of reasons. All you need to know is that he’s getting 25/1 this week and that he probably won’t offer that big a ROI the rest of the year.
Now, I know I’ve given you five names, but I’m going to give you six more. One of the beautiful things about the Players Championship, for degenerate wagerers like you and me, is that the field is so strong that guys who might be 12/1 favorites one week are paying 50/1 this week. Here are six other names worth betting on:
Graeme McDowell – 40/1
Dustin Johnson – 40/1
Brandt Snedeker – 50/1
Jason Dufner – 50/1
Louis Oosthuizen – 80/1
Kevin Stadler – 125/1
Seriously, for the talent level of the guys listed above, it would behoove you to put anything on them. Even if you have to dig out the quarters between your car seats, DO IT! Do not let this gambler’s paradise pass you by.
Until next time, kiddies…
– Golfstradamaus
Past Prophecies: Golfstradamaus Archive
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