The Players Championship Tips

Scottie Scheffler commands attention as the most complete ball-striker in this field, with elite tee-to-green reliability that repeatedly places him in contention on demanding layouts. His control from tee through approach consistently separates him from rivals, allowing him to avoid the large mistakes this course punishes. When the putter cooperates even moderately, his profile becomes extremely difficult to beat over four rounds.

After a quiet spell, Morikawa has returned to form in magnificent style, winning at Pebble Beach followed by two top-ten finishes. He is hitting the ball with authority again and could be prominent this week.

Ludvig Åberg is my opening bet here this week. He was back in fine form last week and threatened at the top of the leaderboard. He has form here in the past, and his game is in a good place right now.

Si Woo Kim has had a great start to this year and there is no one as consistent right now. He has won here in the past and has also added a couple more top tens. His game is in a good place right now, and he can threaten this week.

Fleetwood has two top-eight finishes on the PGA Tour so far this year. Only a poor third round of 75 took him out of top-six contention here last year.

I've backed Matsuyama for nearly every tournament he's played so far this year, so I'll be doing so again. He has a great chance, and top 7 is well within his grasp.

Henley is ranked as one of the top fantasy points leaders for this week. He has played well of late and offers good value here.

Xander Schauffele brings one of the most dependable, all-around skill sets in professional golf. It is built on controlled driving, disciplined iron play, and exceptional tournament management. He rarely drifts far from contention because mistakes are minimized and scoring opportunities are taken efficiently. That consistency makes him particularly reliable for a strong finishing position in elite fields.

Young came in a tie for 3rd place last week. He has been swinging the club very well. Some great value for him to be top 7.

Had a bad tournament last week, ending a run of many consecutive under-par tournaments. I will look to bounce back here with a better performance.

Akshay Bhatia has had three top-ten finishes in his last four starts. He finished in a tie for third here last year, only two strokes off a playoff.

Played very well last week and should have really won, leading from the first round to the last hole of the final round but lost in a playoff. May depend on how he can bounce back mentally, as his game was there.

Knapp has been in great form this year, with four consecutive top-eight finishes and only one round this year over 71.

Scottish world number eight player Robert MacIntyre seemed quite at ease with the par-72 at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. He finished in a tie for 9th place overall with bookend 69s in the first and final rounds. He has made the cut in all five of his tournaments, with three top-25 finishes and a best result of 4th in the Sony Open in Hawaii. Odds of 40/1 each way for a top-seven placing look good.

Rose is a quality player who has already won this year on tour and won an event last year. He had a bad week but will look to bounce back here.

Shane Lowry stands out as a compelling value selection thanks to exceptional shot-making control and a long history of thriving when precision approach play becomes essential. His ability to manage difficult conditions and shape irons into tight targets gives him an underrated path to contention. When his short game sharpens during the week, he regularly transforms strong ball-striking into top-leaderboard finishes.

Tom Hoge has a fine recent record at the Players Championship, with top three finishes in both 2023 and 2025.

I am going to double down here with Young to finish in the top 7 overall and the top 5 in the U.S. He finished 3rd last weekend.

Sahith Theegala might be one that can go well in this market. He was tied sixth at Bay Hill and has played well so far in 2026 after a poor run last year. He has a top ten here in the past and could trouble everyone this week.