Steve Palmer's free predictions and golf betting tips for the Players Championship at Sawgrass

When to bet on the Players Championship

By 11.40am on Thursday

Where can I watch the Players Championship

Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 11.30am on Thursday

Steve Palmer's Players Championship predictions

Scottie Scheffler
6pts each-way 5-1 Paddy Power

Ludvig Aberg
3pts each-way 16-1 Hills

Sepp Straka
2pts each-way 40-1 Paddy Power

Karl Vilips
1pt each-way 200-1 Hills

Recommended

4/5

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Steve Palmer's Players Championship preview

Collin Morikawa has been well supported for Players Championship glory since he finished runner-up in the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday, but the Californian is probably in a fragile mental state after such a dramatic near-miss at Bay Hill.

Morikawa has gone more than 500 days without a victory and Russell Henley's chip-in at the 16th hole at Bay Hill extended that drought. Morikawa's game appears in great condition, but nerves seem likely to hit him more than most should a winning chance present itself again on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy put some new clubs in his bag last week and was terrible by his standards off the tee. He has gone back to his old clubs for Sawgrass, but Bay Hill was an unsettling experience for the Northern Irishman, while Xander Schauffele is still working his way back from a rib injury and is difficult to trust in just his second start of the year.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Scottie Scheffler 5-1

Since sustaining a Christmas Day injury which required hand surgery, Scottie Scheffler has been slowly but surely knocking rust off his game, and he seems set to peak for his Players title defence.

Scheffler did not return to action until January 30 and he has struggled to put all departments of his game together in his four tournaments. Some loose driving one week has been followed by errant approaches the next, and poor chipping has also been a feature as he eased his way into 2025.

Last week at Bay Hill, though, Scheffler produced the sort of ball-striking which saw him dominate last year. His driving, in particular, was magnificent. Solid driving has been the foundation of his Sawgrass success over the last two years and he can complete a hat-trick of Players titles this week.

Scheffler carded a 68 on his Players debut in 2020, lying in seventh place before Covid meant the event was abandoned. He was still a Tour maiden when missing the cut by a shot in 2021, then 55th place in 2022 was a decent effort from the wrong side of a huge draw bias.

Scheffler won by five shots in 2023, despite finishing 48th in the putting statistics, then last year he retained his title despite labouring badly with a neck injury through rounds two and three. A spectacular closing 64 after his neck pain eased on Sunday got the job done.

Scheffler was keen to dismiss poor putting on baked-out greens at Bay Hill – and punters should do likewise. Despite a luckless week on the dancefloors, he finished 11th, underlining how excellent he was from tee to green. Quality ball-striking is the key to Sawgrass success and the favourite appears ready to oblige.

Next best bet

Ludvig Aberg 16-1

The main threat to Scheffler may come from Ludvig Aberg, who has carded only one bad round this year when he has been fully fit. Health problems have blighted his 2025, but he won the Genesis Invitational last month, then closed with seven birdies in a Sunday 68 at Bay Hill.

Sawgrass is a home game for Aberg, who moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in November, and he can better the eighth place he managed on his Players debut 12 months ago. The Swede closed with back-to-back 67s last year and looks primed to perform on his return.

Other selections

Sepp Straka 40-1
Karl Vilips 200-1

FedEx Cup leader Sepp Straka, whose maiden Tour title came in Florida in 2022, won The AmEx in January to become a three-time Tour champion, then was seventh at Pebble Beach despite illness over the weekend. A closing 66 meant 15th place in Phoenix, then he was 11th in the Cognizant and fifth at Bay Hill.

Nobody outscored Straka over the final three rounds at Bay Hill – a course where he has struggled in the past. He was 22nd on his Sawgrass debut in 2020 before the cancellation, ninth from the wrong side of the draw in 2022, then 16th last year despite finishing 58th in the putting stats.

Karl Vilips started his Korn Ferry Tour career last year with form figures of 13-15-2-1, needing only four events to become a champion, and he needed only four events as a PGA Tour member to make his breakthrough in the higher grade. Sunday's Puerto Rico Open triumph can be followed by a bold Players debut.

Vilips played six times in the Junior Players Championship at Sawgrass, never finishing outside the top ten, and he moved to Jacksonville in November. Sawgrass is his practice base and this rising star can put that local knowledge to good use.

Recommended

4/5

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18+. New customers only. Min 1st deposit £10. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Bet £/€1 single on Salah to have 1+ shots on target for 8 x £/5 Free Bets (valid 4 days). Stake & winnings returned at original odds as cash on settlement. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.

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Read more ...

'He is clearly in possession of his A-game' - Steve Palmer has two selections for LIV Golf Singapore 

WATCH NOW: The Sweet Spot | Players Championship & LIV Singapore Preview 

Course guide for the Players Championship

• Course Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
• Prize money $25m ($4.5m to the winner)
• Length 7,352 yards
• Par 72 – four par-fives; ten par-fours; four par-threes
• Field 144 The cut Top 65 and ties qualify for round three
• Highest-ranked players in field (world ranking in brackets) Scottie Scheffler (1), Rory McIlroy (2), Xander Schauffele (3), Collin Morikawa (4), Ludvig Aberg (5)
• Course records - 72 holes 264 Greg Norman (2004) 18 holes 62 Tom Hoge (2023)
• Course winners taking part Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar, Rickie Fowler, Jason Day, Si Woo Kim, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler (twice)
• When to bet By 11.40am on Thursday
• When to watch Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 11.30am on Thursday
• Time difference Florida is four hours behind the UK and Ireland
• Last week – Arnold Palmer Invitational 1 R Henley (40-1), 2 C Morikawa (18-1), 3 C Conners (66-1), 4 M Kim (70-1), T5 K Bradley (45-1), S Straka (60-1), 7 S Lowry (45-1), T8 B H An (125-1), J Rose (250-1), J Day (70-1)
• Course type Parkland
• Course overview Pete Dye design, which has hosted since 1982. The island-green 17th is one of the most famous holes in golf. The switch in 2019 from a May date to a March one meant for lusher conditions, so the ball does not roll to the same extent. Longer clubs are required on approach, but the small, contoured greens are more receptive. The 2020 event was cancelled after one round due to Covid
• Story of last year Scottie Scheffler successfully defended his title, overcoming a neck injury during the middle of the tournament, closing with a 64 to pip a trio of players by a shot
• Weather forecast Sunny, warm and calm for the first two days, but moderate breezes for the weekend
• Type of player suited to the challenge Plodders traditionally succeeded at this venue in May, but the switch to March effectively lengthened the track and played into the hands of big-hitters
• Key attribute Power

Steve Palmer's Players Championship key stat

The last 13 Sawgrass champions finished in the top 35 in their preceding tournament

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For those looking for even more extensive golf coverage don't miss Palmer's extra pointers every Wednesday in the Racing Post newspaper.

As well as his tips and insight you will also get expert spotlight comments for all players in our extensive PGA Tour and DP Tour price comparison grids which include course and recent form, plus Palmer's unique attribute icons to help identify the type of players likely to be suited to conditions each week.