Golf Tips: Best bets for the Players Championship

• Get our writers' best bets for the Players Championship

• Steve Rawlings previews and provides weekend in-play blog

• Check out Steve's outsiders to back at 100/1101.00 and bigger

• Dave Tindall has e/w and first round leader tips

• Andy Swales brings course info and form players

Players Championship tips and predictions

The Punter's Preview: Schauffele chanced at Sawgrass at 33/1

Steve Rawlings: With the world number one, Scottie Scheffler, seemingly out of form, especially on the greens, and Rory McIlroy not a certain runner after he withdrew last week, this looks like a chance for someone outside the world's top two.

The world number 10, Xander Schauffele, who was up to number two in the world at the end of 2024, finished a disappointing 24^th in the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week but he'd finished seventh in his penultimate start, in the Genesis Invitational at Riviera. and he looks a juicy price at odds in excess of 30.0.

The two-time major winner finished second at Sawgrass on debut in 2018 and second again two years ago behind Scheffler so we know he can play the venue.

Suffering with a rib injury, Schauffele went through a bit of a slump after his two major victories in 2024, but he won again in Japan in October, at the Baycurrent Classic, and it may not be long before he wins again on the PGA Tour.

Each-Way Picks: Back cool character Aberg at 22/1

Dave Tindall: When we talk about a player rounding into form, it's often based just on their finishing position. But if we look at Aberg's numbers he's improved in every single Strokes Gained category during that run from Pebble to Riviera to Bay Hill. Approach: 41-24-3. Off The Tee: 52-28-5. Putting: 33-29-23. You get the idea.

Overall, he's registered positive numbers in every SG department in both his last two events and also note that he was 2nd for Driving Accuracy at Bay Hill. That's another big tick for this week. Current form trumps course form here in my book but I'll certainly lean into good play at Sawgrass as supporting evidence.

Aberg has that via an eighth place on debut in 2024 when he shot three laps of 67 and a 73. Last year's missed cut is of no concern. Everyone has them. The Ryder Cup star also played in the Junior Players at Sawgrass several years back and said that had helped him.

A cool character - and you need that on this demanding course where setbacks occur - back Aberg at 22/1 in the 8 Place market.

Find Me a 100 Winner: Rai rates a fair bet at 129/1

Steve Rawlings: Aaron Rai won the Abu Dhabi Championship on the DP World Tour as recently as November and, although he's only won once previously on the PGA Tour, his victory came in the event that appears to correlate best with this one.

Form at Sedgefield Country Club, the home of the Wyndham Championship, holds up brilliantly at Sawgrass so the fact that Rai won there in 2024 and that he finished fifth when defending in August bodes well.

This is his fourth outing at Sawgrass and to date, he has a solid set of form figures reading 19-35-14. Although he eventually finished only tied for 19^th after a 75 on Sunday when playing here for the first time in 2023, he sat fourth with 18 to play so he's shown he can play here.

First-Round Leader Tips: Back Berger to bounce back at 80/1

Dave Tindall: Last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational runner-up Daniel Berger must be wondering how he let it slip away. And yet let's recall 2022 when Berger had a five-shot lead going into the final round of another Florida event, the Cognizant Classic, and closed with a 74 to finish fourth.

How did he respond? By coming out a week later and shooting 67 in the first round at Sawgrass. That put him third after 18 holes.

So, in very similar circumstances, let's go for the repeat. Berger has made the top 20 in his last three Players Championship starts and he's been in the top seven after round one here three times.

In the last two weeks he's been the FRL at Bay Hill and third after the opening lap at the Cognizant. Back Berger, who tees off at 07:52 from the 10th, for another fast start. He's 50s (1/4 Odds, 5 Places).

Course and current form stats

Andy Swales' Course Form Pick:

Two years ago the world No 1 became the first golfer in the history of the Players Championship to successfully defend his title. And going into this week's tournament he is the only pro teeing-up who, since the start of the decade, is averaging under 70 for 10 or more rounds played. Scheffler won his opening event of 2026, since when his finishing positions have got steadily worse. However, when your worst finish from five events in 24th, you don't really have too much to worry about.

Now start your Augusta preparations with a US Masters 2026 betting preview