2023 Players Championship Betting Preview, Odds, Picks & Predictions: Can Jon Rahm Bounce Back?

The PGA Tour’s new designated events have not disappointed and last Sunday’s finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational was case and point. The leaderboard was stacked top to bottom with the best the Tour has to offer, which led to a wild finish. Kurt Kityama finished best for his first PGA Tour win — his $3.6 million dollar payout nearly doubled his career earnings. 

This week should be more of the same as we continue the Florida swing in Ponte Vedra Beach for golf’s fifth unofficial major, The Players Championship. The field, by Official World Golf Ranking standards, is shaping up to be the deepest and most competitive field we have had all season.

2023 Players Championship

• March 9-12, 2023
• TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
• Purse: $25,000,000
• Defending Champ: Cameron Smith

The Players Championship began in 1974 and is the PGA Tours flagship tournament. The Players has been called an unofficial major likely due to its massive purse and increased exemptions awarded which attracts the best names in golf. The tournament is a 72-hole stroke play, with a cut after 36 holes down to the top 65 players and ties.

The weather could definitely play a factor this week calling for rain on Friday. Windy conditions should be something to keep an eye on and could dry out the course for some extremely tough conditions.

What Course is the Players Championship Held at?

The Players Championship has been played at the iconic Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass since 1982. The course was designed and opened in 1980 by Pete Dye with help from his wife Alice Dye and then PGA Commissioner Deane Beman — it was the TPC course built and was designed specifically to host the Players Championship.

The Stadium Course measures in at 7,256, par 72. Water comes into play on 17 holes and the course has over 80 bunkers so positional play will be at a premium.

Players will not need to have a ton of distance off the tee this week and will benefit more from the approach in. The greens are firm and fast so greens in regulation (GIRs) will be at a premium and scrambling will be a plus. Putting could be the ultimate X factor this week as the greens could speed up through the weekend as winds dry out the course.

How to Watch the Players Championship

• Thursday: 12-6 p.m. ET Golf Channel
• Friday: 12-6 p.m. ET Golf Channel
• Saturday: 1-6 p.m. ET NBC
• Sunday: 1-6 p.m. ET NBC

How to Listen to the Players Championship

• Thursday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Sirius XM
• Friday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Sirius XM
• Saturday: 12-6 p.m. ET Sirius XM
• Sunday: 12-6 p.m. ET Sirius XM

Payouts for the 2023 Players Championship

The total purse of the 2023 Players Championship is $25,000,000 — far and away the largest purse we have had all season, clearing the next closest by $5,000,000.

The winner receives an increased 600 FedEx Cup points, and a minimum of 24 Official World Golf Ranking points — additional Official World Golf Ranking points can be added based on the tournament’s strength of field.

The champion also receives a five-season exemption on the PGA Tour, as well as inclusion to all the majors for the next three years, and the 2024 Sentry Tournament of Champions. 

How Many Golfers are in the 2023 Players Championship?

The field this week will have 144 golfers teeing it up at The Players Championship. With a five-year exemption to the PGA Tour and a three-year exemption to all majors on the line — plus added FedEx Cup points and a massive purse — the field is the most competitive we have seen this season.

A staggering 44 of the top 50 Official World Golf Ranking players and 49 of the top 50 FedExCup Playoffs ranking players are teeing it up this week.

Who has the Best Odds of Winning the 2023 Players Championship?

The current top three favorites to win the 2023 Players Championship are yet again the top three Official World Golf Ranking players with the best odds going to No. 1 and No. 3, Jon Rahm (+900) and Rory McIlroy (+900), respectively, followed by No. 2, Scottie Scheffler (+1100).

Players Championship Past Winner

• 2022 Cameron Smith (-13)
• 2021 Justin Thomas (-14)
• 2020 Canceled due to COVID-19
• 2019 Rory McIlroy (-16)
• 2018 Webb Simpson (-18)

2023 Players Championship Predictions & Picks

Jon Rahm Tournament Winner | +900 at BetMGM

This may seem crazy after the way he finished last week’s tournament, but he started the tournament with a 65. And even with the way he finished, he is still No. 1 in Stroke Gained: Total and top 10 in Strokes Gain: Approach to Green and Putting.

Jon Rahm’s biggest obstacle this week will be between his ears and if his play this season is any indication, he should bounce back this week.

Max Homa Top 5 Finish | +400 at BetMGM

Max Homa has been playing extremely well this season with five top-five finishes in eight starts. He finished T13 last year here and is currently in the top 10 of Strokes Gained: Total, Approach to Green and Putting — all of which will play major factors this week. 

Jason Day Top 10 Finish | +240 at BetMGM

Jason Day has quietly been playing back to the previous form that saw him win The Players Championship in 2016.

This season, in the 11 tournaments he has played, he has finished in the top 10 in four and no worse than T21 in nine. He is currently second in scrambling and sixth in Strokes Gained: Total.