The PGA Tour has started its Florida swing with the Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens this weekend. Next up is the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t look a bit ahead to the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
Last year’s champion Cameron Smith will not be in the field due to his move to the LIV Golf League, however, 2021 winner Justin Thomas and 2019 champ Rory McIlroy will both make the trip to Jacksonville.
Let’s take a look at the top five betting favorites for the 2023 Players Championship.
Jon Rahm (8/1, +800)
No surprise here as world No. 1 Jon Rahm has won three times in 2023 (Sentry Tournament of Champions, The American Express and Genesis Invitational).
Rahm hasn’t had much success at TPC Sawgrass in his career, totaling just one top-10 finish in five starts (55th in 2022).
Rory McIlroy & Justin Thomas (12/1, +1200)
The recent past champions are next up on the list.
McIlroy hasn’t had his best stuff on the PGA Tour in 2023 finishing T-32 at the WM Phoenix Open and T-29 at the Genesis. Since his win in ’19, McIlroy missed the cut at Sawgrass in 2021 and finished T-33 last year.
Justin Thomas, after two T-25 finishes at the Sentry TOC and Farmers Insurance Open, has grabbed a solo fourth in Phoenix and a T-20 in LA. Thomas also finished T-33 at Sawgrass last season.
Xander Schauffele & Scottie Scheffler (14/1, +1400)
Since withdrawing from the Sentry TOC, Xander Schauffele has finished T-3, T-13, T-10 and T-33 in his last four starts. Schauffele finished second at the Players in 2018 but has since missed the weekend in his last three appearances (2020 was canceled after the first round due to COVID-19).
World No. 2 Scottie Scheffler defended his title at the WM Phoenix Open and tied for 12th at the Genesis. Scheffler missed the cut at Sawgrass in 2021 and finished 55th last year.
Max Homa & Collin Morikawa (20/1, +2000)
Max Homa has played high-level golf all of 2023. After winning in the wrap-around season at the Fortinet Championship, Homa tied for third at the Sentry TOC, won the Farmers, tied for 39th at the WM Phoenix Open and finished runner-up to Rahm at the Genesis. After missing the cut at Sawgrass in 2021, Homa finished 13th last season.
Collin Morikawa grabbed third at the Farmers, missed the cut at the WM Phoenix Open then tied for sixth in LA. Morikawa finished 41st at the Players in 2021 but missed the weekend last year in gusty conditions.
Will Zalatoris & Patrick Cantlay (22/1, +2200)
Since returning from injury, Will Zalatoris has tied for 11th at the Sentry TOC, tied for 36th at the AMEX, missed the weekend at Torrey and grabbed solo fourth at the Genesis. In 2021, Zalatoris finished 21st at Sawgrass and in 2022 grabbed 26th.
Patrick Cantlay recently missed the cut at the WM Phoenix Open and finished third at the Genesis. Cantlay has missed three straight cuts at the Players.
