The Players Championship 2024: Course and current form stats

• Water a constant threat at Sawgrass

• Matsuyama 28/129.00 can claim second win in five weeks

• Henley 50/151.00 and Hadwin 80/181.00 offer e/w potential

Tournament and Course Notes

• Fifty years ago in Georgia, the first Players Championship was staged at Atlanta Country Club. The tournament moved to its current, purpose-built home (TPC Sawgrass) eight years later and that's where the event has remained;

• The 2020 edition lasted only 18 holes, before organisers pulled the plug as the 'Covid Virus' swept across the globe. And because that year's event was abandoned on Thursday evening, it means that this week's winner will become the tournament's 50th champion;

• However, one unusual fact about this competition is that, as yet, no reigning champion has ever successfully defended their title. The best finish by a defending champion is fifth, while the closest margin behind the winner is four shots;

• Laid out just one mile from the Atlantic Ocean, the Stadium Course is one of golf's most iconic venues. The architect of TPC Sawgrass, Pete Dye, was instructed to design a layout that would not suit any one particular type of golfer;

• Its putting surfaces are slightly smaller than the Tour average, along with narrower than normal fairways. Since changes were made to the course in 2016, water comes into play on 16 holes, although the hazards vary in size considerably;

• Between 1982 and 2006 the Championship was contested during March, before moving to May for 12 straight years. However, it returned to March in 2019 and, to accommodate this new date, and take into account different seasonal weather conditions, organisers decided to overseed greens, tees, fairways and rough;

• Switching back to March meant conditions favoured the bigger hitters, and Rory McIlroy truly obliged. Suddenly there was less run on the fairways, and the ball didn't travel as far through the colder air. However, on the plus side, the softer putting surfaces became much more receptive to approach shots. But one aspect which hasn't changed is the need to remain deadly accurate from tee-to-green.

Latest betting for this week's Players Championship

Good Current Form

Last year's winner Scottie Scheffler 11/26.50, who also won last week at Bay Hill, looks well placed to post the best-ever performance by a defending champion at Sawgrass.

The world No 1 has opened a significant points' gap at the top of the ranking, thanks to a sequence of consistent results.

Thirteen of his last 18 starts have yielded top-six finishes, including nine podiums.

For those seeking an each-way punt, then Russell Henley 50/151.00 and Sahith Theegala 50/151.00 might be worth a shot.

Henley arrives at Sawgrass after finishing tied-fourth at Bay Hill.

He is currently a career-high No 22 in the world, and his last two visits to the Players Championship have yielded top-20 finishes.

World No 19 Theegala continues his rapid rise up the charts and in seven starts this year has posted a trio of T6s. And one of these came at Bay Hill on Sunday.

Making a welcome return to form in recent weeks is former Masters champ Hideki Matsuyama 28/129.00.

Japan's top player won last month at Riviera and was fifth last year at Sawgrass.

He was denied at Sawgrass in 2020, when he led the tournament after 18 holes, following a course record-equalling 63, only for the event to be abandoned on Thursday evening because of the onslaught of Covid.

Get the latest Players Championship odds on the Betfair Sportsbook

Good Course Form

Three pros, who enjoyed strong performances at Sawgrass these past two years, are Adam Hadwin 80/181.00, Max Homa 25/126.00 and Viktor Hovland 20/121.00.

Both Homa and Hovland are teeing-up at the Stadium Course for the fourth time, having improved year-on-year.

The three 'Hs' have had mixed starts to 2024, particularly world No 4 Hovland whose best finish from four starts is tied-19th.

Homa has played better and his tie-for-eighth at Bay Hill on Sunday was his highest finish this year.

Hadwin is an unlikely winner in such a strong field but offers value as an each-way shout.

In seven outings during 2024 the Canadian has posted a brace of T6s.

Latest betting for this year's Masters Tournament

Stroke Averages

Lowest 12 At TPC Sawgrass (2017-23)
Average .... (Rounds)
70.50: Viktor Hovland (10)
70.60: Scottie Scheffler (10)
70.64: Tommy Fleetwood (22)
70.79: Tom Hoge (19)
70.80: Max Homa (10)
70.86: Si Woo Kim (21)
70.87: Justin Thomas (23)
70.91: Keegan Bradley (22)
70.91: Jason Day (22)
71.00: Hideki Matsuyama (16)
71.06: Justin Rose (18)
71.06: Ryan Moore (16)
Min. No. of Rounds = 10
Only those entered this week are included in table

MC* - Missed Additional 54-Hole Cut

Note: List Contains Leading Reserves

Note: 2020 event cancelled after 18 holes due to Covid