– Last Updated on November 21, 2022 2:41 pm
2017 TPC Players Championship Prediction and Picks
Ready to bet this weeks on the 2017 TPC Players Championship Odds? The unofficial fifth PGA Major, the PLAYERS Championship comes our way this week from the familiar surroundings of TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Arguably the best field of 2017 has assembled to try to take down this year’s edition including all of the top 10 players in the World Golf Rankings – 48 of the top 50!
2017 TPC Players Championship
When: May 11-14, 2017
Where: TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Format: 72 holes – Stroke Play
Purse: $10,500,000
Defending Champion: Jason Day
TV Coverage: Golf Channel, NBC
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
TPC Sawgrass is a relatively short 7,189 yard, par 72 track. Don’t let the lack of serious length fool you however – every aspect of the pros game will be challenged here.
Superior ball strikers will have the edge – accuracy will obviously be more critical than length off the tee. Scrambling and par-4 scoring ability will also be crucial this week.
There are drivable par 4s, water, slick greens and of course there is the always thrilling island green 17th that has made and broken contenders in the past.
So with all of that in mind who should we be keeping an extra-special eye on this week?
Let’s take a look.
2017 TPC Players Championship Favorites:
Dustin Johnson +700
Came out of nowhere last week and finished second in his first start since a back injury kept him out of the Masters. Shockingly DJ has yet to finish inside the top 25 in eight attempts on this track.
He is tops on TOUR strokes gained: tee-to-green, GIR and bogey avoidance and sits second in strokes gained: off-the-tee and third in strokes gained: approach-the-green T2 in proximity – every aspect of his game has been sensational this year.
He has finished in the top 3 six times in eight starts this year. Healthy again there seems that there is no track that can hold this guy back – expect him to be in the mix here for the first time in his career.
Rory McIlroy +1100
Newly married Rory takes aim at a track that obviously suits his eye. He has three top 10s and T12 in last four PLAYERS appearances – pretty impressive.
If you are worried about his current form – don’t! He has finished inside the top 10 in seven straight stroke-play events – he has only played five events this year otherwise his stats would be among the best on TOUR.
[dfads params=’groups=248&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
Results include a T4 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a T7 at the Masters.
As one of the best tee-to-green players on the planet this is Rory’s chance for a breakthrough – he’s rested, he’s motivated and he’s due for a first win in what seems like a generation! Gotta love McIlroy every time he tees it up right now!
Jordan Spieth +1200
Finished T4 in his debut here in 2014 but has inexplicably missed the cut in the last two editions.
He’s been consistent, not spectacular lately – he has finished inside the top 25 in eighth of his last nine stroke-play starts including a T11 at the Masters.
Spieth is first on TOUR in strokes gained approaching the green, second in GIR percentage, T2 in proximity and second in bogey avoidance. On a track that favors accuracy over distance Spieth could shine.
2017 TPC Players Championship Contenders:
Sergio Garcia +1600
Newly minted Masters champion arrives at arguably his favorite event rested.
He now has top 15 finishes in five of seven starts this year and now gets a crack at a course that he is the all-time money leader and a track he won on in 2008 and finished top 10 three of the last four years – including a playoff loss in 2015.
He leads the TOUR in strokes gained: off-the-tee, he is second in adjusted scoring and fifth in bogey avoidance. Current form and stellar track history have Garcia firmly on the radar this week – that’s if the Masters hangover doesn’t hit him too hard.
Jon Rahm +1800
Rahm has become a weekly fixture on leaderboards – a solo fifth last week at the Wells Fargo was just his latest stellar effort – he now has six top 10s in his last eight starts – impressive.
He makes his tournament debut but his stats suggest he will be in for yet another solid week – second in strokes gained: tee-to-green, 15th in bogey avoidance and fourth in scoring average.
Rahm’s patience will be tested especially on this track this week but you have to absolutely love the all-around makeup of this rookie.
Jason Day +2000
2016 champ hasn’t looked himself this year – he has finished outside the top 50 in four of eight starts this year – just one top 10 so far this year – ugh!
He’s picked up a T23 at the Arnold Palmer more recently as well as a T22 at the Masters proving that his game just isn’t where he wants it right now.
That said Day is third on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: around-the-green. Day’s struggles are well-documented but if he is to get back on track it may be here.
Rickie Fowler +2000
Somehow missed the cut here last year after winning it all in 2015. Fowler’s emerging all-around game has been on display all season – six consecutive top 20 finishes, including a win at the Honda Classic and a T3 at the Shell Houston Open.
He leads the TOUR in adjusted scoring, is fourth in strokes gained: approach-the-green, T7 in bogey avoidance and sixth in strokes gained: putting which should definitely help this week.
Check out his history on this track – four missed cuts (2010, 2011, 2013, and 2016) and a 77th-place finish (2014), but also a win (2015) and a runner-up (2012). Who knows what to think here?
Justin Rose +2200
Was last seen missing the cut with partner Henrik Stenson at the Zurich Classic which followed a respectable playoff loss at the Masters. He has now finished inside the top 15 in his last three stroke-play events.
His all-around game is very good right now – seventh on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: off-the-green and 18th in strokes gained: around-the-green.
Rose has made 13 starts here with a T4 in 2014 and a T19 in 2016 being his best but this year he’s as confident as ever. Look out for Rose.
Justin Thomas +2800
Thomas looked unstoppable during the fall/winter portion of the TOUR including wins at October’s CIMB Classic and back-to-back wins in Hawaii at the SBS Tournament of Champions and Sony Open.
He has been decent since as well – a T22 last time out at the Masters is further proof that he has emerged!
[dfads params=’groups=247&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
He sits inside the top 15 on TOUR in strokes gained: off-the-tee and strokes gained: approach-the-green, as well as driving distance, greens in regulation and scoring average. He is also tops in birdie-or-better percentage.
Thomas finished T3 here last year thanks to a tremendous final-round 65 and looks ready to contend here again.
2017 TPC Players Championship Sleepers (+5000 or higher):
Kevin Chappell +5000
Finished second in this event last year and enters this year’s edition in better form that he was last. He recently got a taste of victory on TOUR with his impressive win at San Antonio and he showed that he isn’t shy of the biggest stages with his T7 at the Masters.
Chappell is now consistently on my radar – at +5000 he may be worth a shot.
Martin Kaymer +6000
2014 champ has yet to miss a cut in eight appearances on this track – he has made every cut in the last 14 months as well. He has been decent this year – not quite sure why he is being dismissed by oddsmakers.
Kaymer has two top 4s and five other top 25s worldwide this season and should be a factor on arguably his favorite track.
2017 TPC Players Championship Picks:
The pick this week is a former champion here, the newest Major Champion and the all-time money leader at TPC Sawgrass Sergio Garcia at +1600. His record here is terrific and his confidence level is at an all-time high right now.
The sleeper is another former winner here – Martin Kaymer at +6000 – he has been good this year and gets another crack at arguably his favorite course on the planet.
Golf handicapper DAVE B weighs in each week with his top selections. Including top picks and sleepers!
Check back each week for your PGA golf gambling, handicapping info & free golf picks.