Players Championship Betting Tips 2026: Best value picks at TPC Sawgrass

After landing some each-way money with Collin Morikawa at 30/1 in last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, the aim is to go one better at the PGA Tour’s flagship event of the season, The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. 

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler heads the market at odds of 4/1 as he chases a third Players title. But after a surprisingly quiet week at Bay Hill — finishing T24 without breaking 70 — he doesn’t look quite as untouchable as the odds suggest.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy is next in the betting at roughly 12/1. However, his withdrawal from Bay Hill on Saturday due to lower back pain raises obvious doubts heading into one of the toughest tests on the PGA Tour calendar.

With question marks surrounding the two favourites, the door is wide open for value elsewhere in the market.

Here are the three players I believe offer the best value heading into Thursday’s opening round.

The Players Championship 2026 Betting Picks

Collin Morikawa – 25/1

Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa looks very close to returning to his absolute best, and I'm prepared to roll the dice on him once more. 

After ending a lengthy winless run with victory at Pebble Beach earlier this season, he has continued to build momentum with a tie for seventh at the Genesis Invitational and a solo fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week.

Right now, Morikawa’s ball-striking is elite once again. He ranks third on the PGA Tour in strokes gained tee-to-green and eighth in strokes gained total — strong indicators that his overall game is trending in the right direction.

The one area still lagging behind is the putter. Morikawa currently sits 105th in strokes gained putting, something he has openly admitted remains a work in progress. But at a demanding course like TPC Sawgrass, elite ball control is arguably the more important ingredient for success.

This layout punishes loose shots with water hazards and thick rough throughout, making precision from tee to green absolutely vital.

Morikawa’s record at Sawgrass is quietly solid too. He finished T10 here last season and also posted a T13 earlier in his career.

Most importantly, he looks relaxed and confident again — and when Morikawa is smiling on the golf course, he tends to be very dangerous.

At 25/1, he looks a strong each-way proposition and could easily shorten in the market before Thursday.

Right, now for my second pick...

Cameron Young – 35/1

Few players on the PGA Tour look more ready for a big victory than Cameron Young.

Since breaking his maiden with victory at the Wyndham Championship last season, Young has become one of the most consistent performers on tour. He has recorded six top-10 finishes in his last 10 starts, including an impressive tie for third at Bay Hill last week.

That run has lifted him to 15th in the world rankings — although on current form he arguably looks like a top-10 player already.

Statistically, his long game has been excellent. Young ranks sixth in strokes gained off the tee and 16th in strokes gained tee-to-green, highlighting just how well he is striking the ball.

Like Morikawa, the weakest part of his game remains the putter. Young sits 76th in strokes gained putting this season, which has occasionally held him back from converting strong tee-to-green weeks into victories.

His course history at Sawgrass also isn’t particularly strong. In four previous appearances he hasn’t finished better than T51.

However, those results came before his recent leap in consistency and confidence. The version of Cameron Young we’re seeing in 2026 is a far more complete player.

TPC Sawgrass rewards smart course management and high-quality ball striking — two areas where Young currently excels.

If he can produce an average week with the putter, the 35/1 available on the in-form American could prove excellent value.

Many bookmakers are also offering each-way terms down to six places, making him a very appealing play this week.

Now let's check out my last pick...

Russell Henley – 40/1

My final selection for The Players is Russell Henley, who could be flying slightly under the radar heading into the week.

Henley endured a frustrating finish to last season following a disappointing performance at the Ryder Cup, but there are signs his game is beginning to trend upward again.

He started the new campaign with a tie for eighth at The American Express, followed by a T19 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Although he missed the cut at the Genesis Invitational, he bounced back well last week with a tie for 10th at Bay Hill, closing with an impressive final-round 68 — one of the lowest rounds on Sunday.

Statistically, Henley remains in excellent shape. He currently ranks 14th in strokes gained total this season, underlining that his game is far from out of form.

At one stage last year he climbed as high as third in the world rankings, but he has since slipped back to seventh — which may explain why bookmakers are offering generous odds of around 40/1 this week.

Henley is a five-time PGA Tour winner and one of the most precise iron players in the game. That accuracy can be extremely valuable around TPC Sawgrass, where controlling your ball into tight targets is critical.

His record at The Players includes three top-20 finishes, while he placed T30 last year.

It’s not the most eye-catching course history, but at 40/1 he still represents excellent value for a player of his quality — particularly if his game continues to trend upwards.

As always, please gamble responsibly.

Scroll below for the full list of pre-tournament betting odds for the 2026 Players Championship...