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Date: Thursday May 7th-10th
Time: 7:20 AM EDT
TV: Golf Channel / NBC
Course: TPC Sawgrass- Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Purse: $9.5 million (** $1.7 million winners share**)
The 37th Players championship gets underway this week and is one of the most popular tournaments on the Tour. It is generally regarded as an unofficial Major and the Players is one of the most challenging and important tournaments on Tour. In other words, this week is a big deal for all the participants, and a win here is like winning a Major. If your looking for star power then this is your tournament, 47 of the top 50 in the World Golf Rankings will be battling for their share of the $ 9.5 million in prize money. Sergio Garcia is your defending champion and no past winner has ever won back to back in the 36 years of the Players championship. There are 19 first time starters in the field this week and only twice has a first time starter at the Players ever hoisted the trophy.
3 Keys to handicapping Sawgrass:
1. Driving accuracy: You need to hit your greens; the majority of the past winners have finished in the top 10 for the week in that category. Just hitting it straight won’t be enough, this is a risk-reward type course, and accuracy and guts are rewarded.
2. Scrambling: The course is tough enough that no matter how well you drive, you’re not going to hit every green, Chipping on to the greens and avoiding the many obstacles and hazards will be at a premium this week.
3. Putting: The greens are short and fast, and this isn’t the course for you if you’re struggling with the putter.
10 to Watch with Odds to Win:
Tiger Woods (+300): He won the PLAYERS in 2001 and is 11 for 11 in cuts made and has 3 top 10 finishes here. But he doesn’t have a top 10 finish in his last 6 starts at Sawgrass and at such a short price; we will look elsewhere for a little more ‘bang for our buck’ this week.
Phil Mickelson (+1000): Lefty won here in 2007 and has 3 top 10 finishes in 15 starts at the PLAYERS. He has been “lights out” this year, notching 2 wins and 5 top 10 finishes in 9 starts. Anything less then a top 5 finish this week will be a disappointment for the San Diego native. If Mickelson can control his drives this week, he has the potential to scorch the field. Lefty at 10-1 warrants our Top Selection of the Week.
Sean O’Hair (+2500): O’Hair notched his 3rd win of the campaign at Quail Hollow and is playing spectacular in 2009. In addition, he has 9 top 25 finishes and 6 top 10 finishes in 10 starts this year. This will be his 3rd start at Sawgrass with his best finish being an 11th place in 2007. He is ranked 5th in greens in regulation % and ranked #1 in the all-around- ranking category. Expect a deep run out of the confident Texan this week.
Sergio Garcia (+3000): 2009 has been a disaster for Sergio as he started out the year ranked 2nd in the World Golf Rankings, but only has 1 top 25 finish in 6 PGA starts so far. He has played exceptional in the past at Sawgrass winning the PLAYERS last year and finishing 2nd in 2007. He is currently ranked 185th in total driving percentage and 155th in putting percentage; those 2 stats alone will make us look elsewhere this week, even though the Spaniard really plays well here.
Jim Furyk (+3000): He has yet to hit the winners circle in 2009 but has 3 top 10 finishes in 9 starts. This will be his 14th start at Sawgrass and a Players win continues to elude one of the Tours top stars. His best finish was a 3rd place in 2006, but he has made the cut 11 of 13 times and has the mental game needed to conquer Sawgrass. Let’s not forget that this is his home course as he lives in Ponte Vedra Beach. At 30-1 we feel that Furky is the ‘horse for the course’ this week and warrants our Dark Horse selection of the week.
Kenny Perry (+3000): Has he recovered from his colossal Masters choke job? That’s the million dollar question for one of the Tours best all around players. He has yet to hoist the PLAYERS trophy but has a good track record at Sawgrass, with his best finish being a 3rd place in 2004. Perry has the physical game to make a deep run, but the Masters loss could still be haunting the Kentucky Hilltopper.
Henrik Stenson (+4000): In 3 career starts at the PLAYERS one of Europe’s top stars has finished 3rd, 10th, and 23rd. He has the game to compete with anyone on Tour and looks to be Europe’s best hope to win this week. Stenson could make a very deep run this week, and a top 5 finish wouldn’t be a surprise.
Zach Johnson (+5000): This will be his 5th start at the PLAYERS and has 1 top 10 finish to show for it. He is having a decent year with a win at the Sony and 6 top 25 finishes in 11 starts this year. He is ranked 14th in driving accuracy and 12th in greens in regulations, look for the Iowa native to be in the hunt during the weekend.
Davis Love III (+6000): He is a two time winner at the PLAYERS and has notched 6 top 10 finishes over his career at Sawgrass. He has yet to hit the winners circle in 2009 but has 6 top 25 finishes in 11 starts. He is ranked 16th in green in regulations percentage, and it wouldn’t be a shocker to see the veteran to make a run at the leader board on one of his favorite courses.
Brian Gay (+8000): He has been fantastic in 2009 with a win at the Verizon and has 3 top 10 finishes and 6 top 25’s in 11 starts this year. This will be his 8th start at the PLAYERS and he has yet to register a top 25 finish, but his present form and a huge price makes him a contender in our eyes. He is ranked 2nd in driving accuracy and 5th in scrambling, which are the key stats you’re looking for this week. At 80-1 Gay warrants our Sleeper Play of the Week.
Time: 7:20 AM EDT
TV: Golf Channel / NBC
Course: TPC Sawgrass- Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Purse: $9.5 million (** $1.7 million winners share**)
The 37th Players championship gets underway this week and is one of the most popular tournaments on the Tour. It is generally regarded as an unofficial Major and the Players is one of the most challenging and important tournaments on Tour. In other words, this week is a big deal for all the participants, and a win here is like winning a Major. If your looking for star power then this is your tournament, 47 of the top 50 in the World Golf Rankings will be battling for their share of the $ 9.5 million in prize money. Sergio Garcia is your defending champion and no past winner has ever won back to back in the 36 years of the Players championship. There are 19 first time starters in the field this week and only twice has a first time starter at the Players ever hoisted the trophy.
3 Keys to handicapping Sawgrass:
1. Driving accuracy: You need to hit your greens; the majority of the past winners have finished in the top 10 for the week in that category. Just hitting it straight won’t be enough, this is a risk-reward type course, and accuracy and guts are rewarded.
2. Scrambling: The course is tough enough that no matter how well you drive, you’re not going to hit every green, Chipping on to the greens and avoiding the many obstacles and hazards will be at a premium this week.
3. Putting: The greens are short and fast, and this isn’t the course for you if you’re struggling with the putter.
10 to Watch with Odds to Win:
Tiger Woods (+300): He won the PLAYERS in 2001 and is 11 for 11 in cuts made and has 3 top 10 finishes here. But he doesn’t have a top 10 finish in his last 6 starts at Sawgrass and at such a short price; we will look elsewhere for a little more ‘bang for our buck’ this week.
Phil Mickelson (+1000): Lefty won here in 2007 and has 3 top 10 finishes in 15 starts at the PLAYERS. He has been “lights out” this year, notching 2 wins and 5 top 10 finishes in 9 starts. Anything less then a top 5 finish this week will be a disappointment for the San Diego native. If Mickelson can control his drives this week, he has the potential to scorch the field. Lefty at 10-1 warrants our Top Selection of the Week.
Sean O’Hair (+2500): O’Hair notched his 3rd win of the campaign at Quail Hollow and is playing spectacular in 2009. In addition, he has 9 top 25 finishes and 6 top 10 finishes in 10 starts this year. This will be his 3rd start at Sawgrass with his best finish being an 11th place in 2007. He is ranked 5th in greens in regulation % and ranked #1 in the all-around- ranking category. Expect a deep run out of the confident Texan this week.
Sergio Garcia (+3000): 2009 has been a disaster for Sergio as he started out the year ranked 2nd in the World Golf Rankings, but only has 1 top 25 finish in 6 PGA starts so far. He has played exceptional in the past at Sawgrass winning the PLAYERS last year and finishing 2nd in 2007. He is currently ranked 185th in total driving percentage and 155th in putting percentage; those 2 stats alone will make us look elsewhere this week, even though the Spaniard really plays well here.
Jim Furyk (+3000): He has yet to hit the winners circle in 2009 but has 3 top 10 finishes in 9 starts. This will be his 14th start at Sawgrass and a Players win continues to elude one of the Tours top stars. His best finish was a 3rd place in 2006, but he has made the cut 11 of 13 times and has the mental game needed to conquer Sawgrass. Let’s not forget that this is his home course as he lives in Ponte Vedra Beach. At 30-1 we feel that Furky is the ‘horse for the course’ this week and warrants our Dark Horse selection of the week.
Kenny Perry (+3000): Has he recovered from his colossal Masters choke job? That’s the million dollar question for one of the Tours best all around players. He has yet to hoist the PLAYERS trophy but has a good track record at Sawgrass, with his best finish being a 3rd place in 2004. Perry has the physical game to make a deep run, but the Masters loss could still be haunting the Kentucky Hilltopper.
Henrik Stenson (+4000): In 3 career starts at the PLAYERS one of Europe’s top stars has finished 3rd, 10th, and 23rd. He has the game to compete with anyone on Tour and looks to be Europe’s best hope to win this week. Stenson could make a very deep run this week, and a top 5 finish wouldn’t be a surprise.
Zach Johnson (+5000): This will be his 5th start at the PLAYERS and has 1 top 10 finish to show for it. He is having a decent year with a win at the Sony and 6 top 25 finishes in 11 starts this year. He is ranked 14th in driving accuracy and 12th in greens in regulations, look for the Iowa native to be in the hunt during the weekend.
Davis Love III (+6000): He is a two time winner at the PLAYERS and has notched 6 top 10 finishes over his career at Sawgrass. He has yet to hit the winners circle in 2009 but has 6 top 25 finishes in 11 starts. He is ranked 16th in green in regulations percentage, and it wouldn’t be a shocker to see the veteran to make a run at the leader board on one of his favorite courses.
Brian Gay (+8000): He has been fantastic in 2009 with a win at the Verizon and has 3 top 10 finishes and 6 top 25’s in 11 starts this year. This will be his 8th start at the PLAYERS and he has yet to register a top 25 finish, but his present form and a huge price makes him a contender in our eyes. He is ranked 2nd in driving accuracy and 5th in scrambling, which are the key stats you’re looking for this week. At 80-1 Gay warrants our Sleeper Play of the Week.
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