PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – For the first time ever, the PGA TOUR will offer every shot from every player in this week’s PLAYERS Championship on live streaming platforms.
If you want to catch the future of golf gaming, you might want to check it out.
Anyone who bets on the game’s highest level – whether you’re playing outrights or matchups or creating DFS lineups – understands the ensuing sweat when your player(s) is trying to make the cut, or finish top-10, or win the damned thing.
With this new innovation, you’ll be able to sweat this week while actually watching them, instead of waiting for a new number to flash on your leaderboard app.
Here is my top-25 ranking for the event, so you can start that sweat even earlier…
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1. Patrick Cantlay (+2700)
Last year’s winner of the Memorial Tournament is still waiting for his coming-out party in a bigger event and two top-10s in majors last year suggests it’s coming very soon.
2. Jon Rahm (+1300)
Some contend his temper is the only thing between Rahm and the top spot in the world, but the No. 2-ranked player might only need a little more time before he reaches it.
3. Tony Finau (+4400)
Call it hunchy, but I have a suspicion that Finau – whose career trajectory has often mirrored that of Cantlay – is ready to start winning soon. He might be ready to win a big one, too.
4. Bryson DeChambeau (+2200)
With top-fives in each of his last three starts, DeChambeau is clearly trending in the right direction, but the biggest takeaway is that he’s not even playing his best golf yet.
5. Brandt Snedeker (+17000)
Last year’s top-five here included Jim Furyk, Jhonattan Vegas and Eddie Pepperell, so it won’t all be superstars. Oh, and it also included Sneds, who might’ve figured this place out.
6. Rory McIlroy (+650)
Last year, he took a bevy of close calls into this event, then silenced the critics by winning. He’s had a similar run-up this year, but it might not equal the same result.
7. Harris English (+15000)
With finishes of 17th-or-better in his last three starts, English has parlayed his early-season success into more of it in the early part of this year, which shouldn’t wane this week.
8. Sungjae Im (+2700)
Others grow tired of the week-in, week-out grind; they get fatigued after winning. Im is a machine, simply continuing to hit crisp darts at the flagsticks every day.
9. Xander Schauffele (+3000)
Something to watch early this week: X-man has struggled with early-round scoring lately, then turns it on for the weekend rounds. If he gets off to a good start, watch out.
10. Jason Day (+8000)
I get it: Fresh off a WD due to back stiffness last week, Day is a red flag every time he tees it up now. But following the same situation last year, he finished T-8 at this event.
11. Adam Scott (+2700)
I wouldn’t read too much into last week’s MC, especially considering the 2004 winner of this event has 10 top-25s in 18 starts here, including each of the last four years.
12. Justin Thomas (+1400)
Is this too low for the world’s fourth-ranked player? Probably, but it just shows how many options there are. Besides, one top-10 in five starts at this tourney doesn’t help much.
13. Matt Fitzpatrick (+5500)
My pick to win last week’s API, Fitz bookended a pair of 75s with some strong rounds, eventually finishing inside the top-10. I like him to continue trending the right way.
14. Collin Morikawa (+3700)
Among the most mature young players in the past generation, the current PGA Tour made-cut streak leader is already among the game’s most consistent players.
15. Byeong Hun An (+9000)
If he could only putt to the PGA Tour average, An could be an elite-level player. Instead, his flatstick keeps holding him back while he remains one of the best ball-strikers around.
16. Webb Simpson (+2500)
The champion from two years ago, Simpson has quietly turned himself into one of the game’s most consistent players, thanks to a putting style much improved over his anchoring.
17. Hideki Matsuyama (+2700)
At some point, I expect Matsuyama to go on a little run, with a win and a few other top-fives withing a 3-4 tournament span. I’m just not sure he’s quite there yet, though.
18. Tommy Fleetwood (+2700)
From hard-luck loser to weekend-misser, his MC at Bay Hill might’ve been a blessing in disguise, as he was able to rest up for a place he’s been T-7 and T-5 the last two years.
19. Ian Poulter (+17000)
Twice a runner-up finisher at this event, Poulter has posted four consecutive finishes of 32nd-or-better, suggesting he’s playing well enough to make another run here this week.
20. Patrick Reed (+3600)
I’m still not sure if the bigger stomach-turner would’ve been the guy with a green jacket also claiming Arnie’s red cardigan or winning on the site of PGA Tour headquarters.
21. Joel Dahmen (+12000)
22. Max Homa (+18000)
23. Sung Kang (+14000)
I’m grouping these guys together for a reason: You can’t fake it at TPC Sawgrass. You either have your game or you don’t – and these three have each shown they have it right now.
24. Gary Woodland (+4600)
While he doesn’t have a great track record at this event, I do believe the move back to March (he was T-30 last year) should help the bigger hitters – and he certainly qualifies.
25. Ryan Moore (+21000)
His record at this event isn’t anything too special, nor is his recent form, but Moore is the type who doesn’t need much momentum to find success from one week to the next.
