THE PLAYERS Championship Matchup Picks

Are you ready for one of the best tournaments of the year? THE PLAYERS Championship begins on Thursday with the best golfers in the world taking on TPC Sawgrass and the famous 17^th island green. Justin Thomas is the defending champion and he is one of the top contenders to win this week, but history is against him, as no one has ever defended his title at THE PLAYERS. All of the world’s best players are in the field, although for various reasons, Bryson DeChambeau, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will not be playing. I went 3-1-1 with the matchups last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Let’s look at this week’s PLAYERS matchup picks.

Defending Champion: Justin Thomas

THE PLAYERS Matchups

Jon Rahm -140 vs. Justin Thomas

Jon Rahm -140 vs. Collin Morikawa

Collin Morikawa -120 vs. Viktor Hovland

Justin Thomas -125 vs. Viktor Hovland

Rory McIlroy -120 vs. Scottie Scheffler

Patrick Cantlay -125 vs. Xander Schauffele

Patrick Cantlay -120 vs. Scottie Scheffler

Rory McIlroy -115 vs. Xander Schauffele

Dustin Johnson -115 vs. Shane Lowry

Dustin Johnson -140 vs. Brooks Koepka

Hideki Matsuyama -115 vs. Daniel Berger

Joaquin Niemann -125 vs. Brooks Koepka

Sam Burns -125 vs. Tyrrell Hatton

Cameron Smith -125 vs. Will Zalatoris

Sungjae Im -120 vs. Adam Scott

Cameron Smith -125 vs. Shane Lowry

Matthew Fitzpatrick -115 vs. Billy Horschel

Adam Scott -115 vs. Sam Burns

Sungjae Im -120 vs. Joaquin Niemann

Will Zalatoris -120 vs. Tyrrell Hatton

Louis Oosthuizen -125 vs. Talor Gooch

Corey Conners -155 vs. Jordan Spieth

Abraham Ancer -120 vs. Max Homa

Si Woo Kim -125 vs. Paul Casey

Chris Kirk -125 vs. Marc Leishman

Russell Henley -155 vs. Webb Simpson

Adam Scott -125 vs. Joaquin Niemann

Max Homa -120 vs. Tom Hoge

Chris Kirk -115 vs. Si Woo Kim

Tony Finau -115 vs. Gary Woodland

Alexander Noren -125 vs. Russell Knox

Golf Picks

Patrick Cantlay -120 vs. Scottie Scheffler

I really like what Scheffler has done this season and I will have him in some matchups in other tournaments, but historically I have gone against the previous week’s winner if they are playing the following week. I just can’t see anything other than some type of letdown for Scheffler this week. In this matchup we get to take Cantlay who is one of the top players in the world.

Shane Lowry -115 vs. Dustin Johnson

There is definitely something off right now with DJ. He has a ton of talent and could turn things around at any moment, but right now he is a go-against. Lowry has been in very good form for months and we know he can handle this course, as he finished eighth in this tournament last year.

Corey Conners -155 vs. Jordan Spieth

Conners is excellent in terms of accuracy and he tied for 7^th in this event a year ago. He played well last week with a tie for 11^th at Bay Hill and I expect him to carry that momentum into this week. I have no idea what to expect from Spieth from week to week, as he could just as easily contend as miss the cut. I will take Conners in this matchup.

Paul Casey -105 vs. Si Woo Kim

Count me as one of the people who don’t believe in Si Woo Kim. I know he is a former winner in this event, but I still don’t see how he won. Casey is the ultimate contender in big events and I expect him to be on the leaderboard again this week. I will take Casey in this matchup.

Matthew Fitzpatrick -115 vs. Billy Horschel

I know that Horschel is playing well, but I think Fitzpatrick is the better player and he is overdue for his first PGA Tour win. He was just one shot off the lead last year heading into the weekend before finishing in a tie for 9^th. We could also see a letdown from Horschel after he let a chance to win get away last week. I will take Fitzpatrick in this matchup.

Check out the latest THE PLAYERS Championship odds at SugarHouse Sportsbook.