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Sawgrass Betting: It's impossible to discount the big names at the Players' Championship

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In his article last week, TQ backed Anthony Kim to win the Wachovia Championship. The young buck duly obliged, netting our man (and anyone who acted on his advice) a tidy sum. Read on for this week's selections.

Whether you love it or hate it, you cannot deny that the Players Championship is one of those events that get the full attention of the golfing world. Some claim it's the unofficial fifth major whilst others see it as frustrating track that they simply can't get the better of. I don't like the phrase fifth major but it is most certainly one of my favourite events of the entire year.

Sawgrass is the host course and needs scant introduction. At 7,215 yards, it is by no means a beast of a course in terms of length, but it sure does get the players' attention in other ways. It is a course that requires accuracy; the rough can be brutal, and with water in play on a lot of holes you can run up big numbers pretty quick. In recent years it has not been a particularly happy hunting ground for the big hitters on tour and that includes Tiger. The world's number one isn't lining up this week due to injury and something tells me he won't be that perturbed. In most situations if you don't like a particular course you just don't include it in your schedule but there is almost an obligation for the top players to play at Sawgrass, hence some of the horrific records that the top guys have at this place.

In its relatively new slot of early May, Sawgrass should play a little firmer than it used to and as such will place an even greater emphasis on keeping the ball in play. Word coming from the course is that the whole course is fast and firm and you just know it's only going to get faster and firmer throughout the week. With that in mind try and base your picks around the type of players who play tough courses well.

My main pick this week is the 1998 champion Justin Leonard. Normally he is not a player I am too keen on following but I just can't get away from him this week. He has four top ten finishes this season and has made the cut on all twelve of his appearances in 2008. This is a different Justin Leonard to the one that has missed plenty of cuts here in recent years and you should totally dismiss those stats. Leonard plays well on hard, fast tracks and this set-up will suit him down to the ground. Get on at current odds of [70.0] and you will not be disappointed.

With such a strong field to pick from it would be folly to ignore the credentials of the top ranked players. Mickelson is a worthy favourite and, as defending champion, he will be the player to beat. But, of all the leading market fancies I am most drawn to Stewart Cink. He is a very solid ball striker and having recorded six top ten finishes this season it is about time that he stepped into the winner's enclosure. He is a top class alternative to our main pick and at [28.0] represents decent value.

It is a big week in the golfing calendar and as such you will find plenty of extra markets available. One of the most intriguing ones is the Balls in Water at 17 market. I am sure that the players are going to struggle at the infamous island green more than ever this year. Reports suggest the green is hard and you will see players really finding it difficult to keep the ball on the putting surface. I estimate around 75 balls will find the water so the top bracket of 66 Balls or more is a must bet on this interesting market.

Settle down for a weekend of thrills and spills in what is the ultimate battle between players and course. There will be tears spilt and victory jigs danced as the World's elite battle to become the champion of the unofficial fifth major. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.