The Players Championship tips
Justin Thomas to Win
Keegan Bradley 1st Round Leader
Viktor Hovland 1st Round Leader
We had three winners from our four Arnold Palmer Invitational picks so let’s keep our good run rolling.
We’re looking ahead to this week’s Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass course, a notorious stadium course with all the drama of the 17th hole, the island par 3. The Players is not technically a Major but try telling that to the man who collects the $4.5m up for grabs to the winner this week.
Justin Thomas to Win
My selection this week is Justin Thomas. He was the winner here back in 2021 when finishing -14, that was a serious four days of golf so we know that he plays well at TPC Sawgrass. He’s a big time player but he has been out of sorts recently.
His stats are not good in terms of accuracy from the tee, approach play and putting in particular. Despite that he is averaging rounds of just below 70 so that’ll give you an idea of the quality of player that Justin Thomas is.
He’s also, incredibly, won just twice on the PGA Tour since 2020 but the two wins were here in 2021 and obviously he won a Major last year, the PGA Championship. I expect him to hit form this week. It’s a huge year on the golfing front and, for me, he’s been in second gear in recent weeks. Justin Thomas is my outright winner selection.
Keegan Bradley 1st Round Leader
I’ve got a couple of selections to keep an eye on for the 1st Round Leader at the Players Championship this week. The first is Keegan Bradley. He finished in fifth place in this event last year and since then his form has gone through the roof.
He was a recent winner at the Zozo Championship and he’s had multiple top 10 finishes. Last year he carded a couple rounds of 68 here and that, potentially, could be good enough for 1st Round Leader. His stats are right up there in terms of accuracy off the tee, approach play and putting. He’s an in form player and Keegan Bradley is a potential 1st Round Leader.
Viktor Hovland 1st Round Leader
The other I like is Viktor Hovland. He finished 9th here last year so he has good form on the course. His ball striking is up there with the best in the world but his short game around the greens sometimes lets him down and also his putting is a cold stat in recent times.
But, generally speaking, Viktor Hovland is one of the best in the world with the putter so I expect that to come into play this week. His ball striking will be crucial around a course like this so Viktor Hovland is another interesting one to be 1st Round Leader.
Golf Tips
Justin Thomas to Win
Keegan Bradley 1st Round Leader
Viktor Hovland 1st Round Leader
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
READ MORE
- For all the best Golf News and Golf Betting Tips, head over to Paddy Power News
- PGA Golf Tips: Hovland’s the man in our 22/1 shout for the Players Championship
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
