Golf
2022 Players Championship Betting Odds, Outright Picks, and Best Bets
Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies. When Jack isn't writing about sports, he's watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He's also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.
Get to know Jack Dougherty betterPublished09 Mar 2022
There’s nothing quite like Players Championship week. The iconic island green on Sunday, danger lurking around every corner on Pete Dye’s signature track, and the feel of a major championship are just a few factors that make the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass one of the best stops on the PGA Tour every year.
We know you’ll be following the action all weekend, so why not try and make a few extra bucks on golf’s fifth major (responsibly, of course)? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our comprehensive Players Championship betting preview, complete with odds, predictions for a winner, and best bets.
2022 Players Championship betting odds
Another week on the PGA Tour, and yet another week with Jon Rahm at the top of the odds board. Rahm, the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Ranking, has been the betting favorite every time he’s teed it up in 2022. But this week, he has a companion.
Justin Thomas, the reigning champion of The Players Championship is tied with Rahm atop the odds board at +1000 to win ($100 bet wins $1,000). Right behind the co-favorites comes the 2019 champion of the event, Rory McIlroy, and Collin Morikawa at +1600 odds. Scottie Scheffler, a winner in two of his last three PGA Tour starts, and World No. 4 Patrick Cantlay follow at +2000.
Here’s the full list of the top favorites on the board for the 2022 Players.
- Jon Rahm +1000
- Justin Thomas +1000
- Rory McIlroy +1600
- Collin Morikawa +1600
- Scottie Scheffler +2000
- Patrick Cantlay +2000
- Viktor Hovland +2200
- Xander Schauffele +2500
- Hideki Matsuyama +2500
- Cameron Smith +3000
- Brooks Koepka +3000
- Adam Scott +3000
- Daniel Berger +3000
- Dustin Johnson +3500
- Matt Fitzpatrick +4000
- Will Zalatoris +4000
- Jordan Spieth +4000
Check out the full list of odds at DraftKings.
Outright picks for golf’s fifth major
Collin Morikawa +1600
There’s a case to be made that Morikawa should be a co-favorite alongside Rahm and Thomas this week. The World No. 2 has been on a tear to start the 2022 season, and he’s finished T7 or better in all five of his starts. In 20 recorded rounds on Tour this season, he’s scored in the 70s just four times.
I’m prioritizing elite ball-striking with my Players Championship bets this year, and that’s just where Morikawa shines. The American ranks first on Tour in ball striking, eighth in strokes gained off the tee, and fourth in strokes gained approaching the green this season. Oh, and he also ranks fourth in strokes gained from putting, which is the part of his game that has failed him in the past.
Morikawa has shown the ability to win premier events on all different types of courses. He’s my favorite target at the top of the board this week.
Hideki Matsuyama +2500
Continuing on the ball-strikers train, let’s shift to Hideki Matsuyama at 25-to-1 odds. The reigning Masters champion also enters The Players in spectacular form with two wins and four top-10s in 10 starts this season.
Matsuyama missed the cut at TPC Sawgrass in 2021, but don’t forget he fired a course-record 63 in 2020 before COVID-19 shut down the entire sports world after Round 1. I’m willing to bet he can recapture that stellar play this year.
Daniel Berger +3000
Daniel Berger should already have a win under his belt in 2022, but a final-round meltdown at the Honda Classic cost him a fifth career victory. Still, Berger has been striking the ball beautifully all season. He ranks fourth on Tour in driving accuracy and fifth in strokes gained from tee to green this season.
TPC Sawgrass is also a golf course littered with bunkers on every hole, and Berger is No. 1 on Tour in sand-save percentage. As long as his putter doesn’t go ice cold as it did two weeks ago, he should be in contention come Sunday afternoon.
Best bets for the 2022 Players
Collin Morikawa top-20 finish -115
I’ve already covered why I like Morikawa so much at this event, but if you don’t have faith in him bringing home the trophy, a top-20 bet would be a much safer play. He hasn’t finished outside the top seven all season, and I don’t see that changing at the biggest event of 2022 so far.
Matt Fitzpatrick top-20 finish +175
Matt Fitzpatrick will never be a well-known name for casual golf fans, but he’s been incredibly consistent all season long. The Englishman ranks second on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained, and he’s finished T12 or better in each of his last four starts.
I don’t trust Fitzpatrick to triumph in this stellar field (he has yet to win on Tour), so I’m staying away from an outright wager. But at +175 to finish inside the top 20, I’ll take a shot.
Chris Kirk top-40 finish +110
T14, T7, T5. Those are Chris Kirk’s results in his last three starts on Tour.
Kirk is playing exceptionally well to kick off the Florida swing, and I think he can continue his strong form into The Players. TPC Sawgrass has been kind to shorter hitters in the past, as precision off the tee and approaching the green translate more to success than distance does.
Good luck with all your action this week!
All stats courtesy of PGA Tour.
Like Sportscasting on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @sportscasting19.
RELATED: Phil Mickelson’s Nightmare Continues as He Watches $2 Million Vanish From His Pocket
