With the 2023 Players Championship speedy coming near, the important thing query everybody’s asking is similar around the golfing global: Who are you choosing to win at TPC Sawgrass coming off the PGA Tour’s most up to date stretch in moderately a while? With an incredible field that includes 44 of the highest 50 golfers on the planet, we’re in for an epic trip starting with Thursday’s first spherical.
No subject how you need to categorize The Players, it is a big-time match. Just glance at the aforementioned field. Players storylines are ample, and the famous person energy is not any comic story. Justin Thomas can be searching for his 2nd win within the final 3 occasions, whilst global No. 1 Jon Rahm is having a look to get proper after a tricky trip at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are making an attempt to proceed their sizzling play, whilst Viktor Hovland seeks to damage thru with an important victory on a big-time degree.
Plus, with the 2023 Masters speedy coming near, all the field is both in the hunt for momentum forward of the yr’s first primary or a possibility to play their manner into golfing’s maximum prestigious event.
So what goes to occur this week in Florida? Let’s have a look at a complete set of predictions and alternatives from our CBS Sports mavens. Check out a complete set of 2023 Players Championship odds by the use of Caesars Sportsbook.
2023 Players Championship professional alternatives, predictions
Kyle Porter, senior golfing author
Winner — Scottie Scheffler (10-1): I’m now not certain we have now liked Scheffler’s present tear. He has been by way of a ways the most efficient ball-striker on the planet up to now in 2023 and extra correct off the tee than his footwork would recommend. That accuracy is useful this week as he makes amends for his past due bogey at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and grabs the second one monstrous victory of his already-great season.
Sleeper — Keith Mitchell (55-1): Mitchell is using the hell out of the ball and performed super at Riviera in February. It will rely whether or not his iron play is up for the problem, however he is a a laugh wager at 55-1. If you’ll be able to contend at Riv, you’ll be able to unquestionably achieve this at TPC Sawgrass. If you need to dive even deeper, Jhonattan Vegas at 180-1 must get a glance. He’s been an ideal ball-striker this yr and completed T3 right here in 2019.
Top 10 lock — Viktor Hovland: I really like the best way Hovland is enjoying. He completed T9 right here a yr in the past and mentioned he not too long ago solved a few of his ball-striking woes, which netted him a top-10 end at Bay Hill. I do not imagine he is going to win this week, however I do envision him enjoying smartly for the second one directly yr and being within the combine on Sunday.
Star who unquestionably may not win — Jon Rahm: Let’s get loopy and say Rahm. I’m partially enjoying the odds — is Rahm in reality going to win 4 instances within the first 70 days of the yr?! — however I do suppose his wayward motive force catches up with him slightly at TPC Sawgrass and he cedes his throne going into the Masters to final yr’s inexperienced jacket winner.
Surprise prediction — This can be an all-time Players: Why would that be a wonder? Well, we are coming off a Kurt Kitayama win week, which (no offense to Kitayama) was once now not probably the most compelling finishing to a big target audience. Also, The Players isn’t essentially recognized — at least in fresh reminiscence — for its star-studded leaderboards. I believe that adjustments this yr. The board will appear to be the OWGR height 10 come Saturday afternoon and handiest get well from there. So many huge names are enjoying such super golfing at this time and the whole thing this yr, it kind of feels, has led us to this.
Lowest spherical: 65 (-7)
Winning rating: 275 (-13)
Winner’s Sunday rating: 68 (-4)
Patrick McDonald, golfing author
Winner — Viktor Hovland (25-1): The younger Norwegian sunk his probabilities to declare the API with a water ball at the par-5 sixteenth however appears considering coming into the winner’s circle quickly. Hovland completed T9 at this championship a season in the past gaining more or less 14 strokes thru his ball putting, and a identical output is not out of the area of chances. The short-game issues are actual, however his ball-striking metrics are too tantalizing to move up.
Sleeper — Keith Mitchell (55-1): Over the final 3 months, Mitchell ranks first in strokes won off the tee and 8th in strokes won tee to inexperienced. He is slowly commanding appreciate within the betting markets, however this nonetheless feels too reasonable for a top-25 skill. He sat one stroke off the lead after 18 in final yr’s championship sooner than in the end completing T13 and unusually does a few of his easiest paintings on shorter golfing classes like TPC Sawgrass.
Top 10 lock — Will Zalatoris: The indicators of a Zalatoris leap forward are there. He has pushed the ball brilliantly in his final two outings, and shortly sufficient, the iron play will come round. In his two appearances at TPC Sawgrass, he has nabbed a solo twenty first and a T26 end. If he putts smartly, he may win.
Star who unquestionably may not win — Jon Rahm: He will cross down as some of the easiest drivers of the golfing ball to ever play, however at this time, that is not the case. The bother at Bay Hill uncovered his relative struggles with the large stick, and the check may not get a lot more uncomplicated this week at TPC Sawgrass. The global No. 1 has rode a red-hot putter right through his historic stretch and standard knowledge suggests it must start cooling quickly.
Surprise prediction — Five of the highest 15 gamers within the OWGR omit the minimize: Weird issues occur at TPC Sawgrass. The volatility is actual and we haven’t any selection however to embody it. With this in thoughts, do not be surprised if various huge names fail to see the weekend. Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth and Collin Morikawa have less-than-stellar histories right here, and global No. 15 Sam Burns appears extra like the sector No. 100 at the instant. Between those six and one or two extra surprises, there is a situation the place 5 of the most efficient gamers on the planet are despatched packing early.
Lowest spherical: 64 (-8)
Winning rating: 273 (-15)
Winner’s Sunday rating: 68 (-4)
Joshua Mullenix, manufacturer
Winner — Jason Day (25-1): It’s time for the Aussie to go back to the winner’s circle. He’s after all wholesome once more, and the effects again it up. Day already has six top-11 finishes this season, together with a present stretch of 4 directly height 10s. Last week, he completed in a tie for tenth, and it did not really feel like he performed that smartly. The putter offers him the sort of prime ground even if he does not have the most efficient of ball putting weeks, and I believe he will regroup and strike it like he was once main up to the API. In the most efficient shape since spring of 2019, J-Day will get his 2nd Players Championship.
Sleeper — Keegan Bradley (40-1): Lean and imply, Keegan is enjoying some top of the range golfing at this time. He were given a win at the Zozo Championship again in October and 3 extra height 20s to his title, together with a 2nd at the Farmers Insurance Open and a T10 final week. He’s coming off his easiest ball-striking week of the season, and the putter was once a lot better than it was once in his ignored minimize at the Genesis Invitational. He completed 5th right here final yr and has recorded 4 top-29 finishes in his final 4 begins at Sawgrass.
Top 10 lock — Viktor Hovland: Last yr, Hovland contended at the API and parlayed it right into a height 10 at The Players. It must’ve been a greater end as he stumbled down the stretch. The struggles along with his swing are smartly documented by way of the person himself, however the ball putting classes recommend he is getting an increasing number of at ease. He completed 2nd in strokes won off the tee and 4th in strokes won manner at Bay Hill. If the trajectory continues upwards, he must be within the combine on Sunday.
Star who unquestionably may not win — Jon Rahm: I’ve by no means observed a participant cross from apparently unstoppable to misplaced in two days the best way Rahm did final week. It’s all within the problems with the driving force. He placed on an manner hospital at Riviera, however the motive force was once sneaky mediocre. Then, he misplaced strokes off the tee at Bay Hill — one thing he hadn’t completed since final yr’s Tour Championship — and completed lifeless final in strokes won off the tee amongst those that made the minimize. This is broadly thought to be some of the easiest drivers of the golfing ball on the planet, and he totally misplaced it final week. Sawgrass is not the most efficient position to attempt to in finding it.
Surprise prediction — Tom Kim nets a top-10 end: This in spite of 3 finishes out of doors the highest 34 in every of his his final 3 begins. Kim’s primary factor is duration off the tee. He’s so forged far and wide else, and overwhelming duration is much less of an element at Sawgrass. The fairways this week don’t seem to be very large and keeping off huge numbers at the again 9 is the secret when it comes to contending at The Players. Kim is fourth on Tour in each bogey avoidance and accuracy off the tee. Not a nasty aggregate for the budding famous person.
Lowest spherical: 65 (-7)
Winning rating: 273 (-15)
Winner’s Sunday rating: 68 (-4)
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