2022 PLAYERS Championship Odds & Preview: Power Rankings for Elite Field Topped By Collin Morikawa

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Maybe the PGA TOUR is trying to tell us something.

In one of this week’s featured groups at THE PLAYERS Championship is Rory McIlroy, who won this event in 2019; Justin Thomas, who is the defending champion; and Collin Morikawa, who hasn’t won at TPC Sawgrass … yet.

That could change soon, though, as the world’s second-ranked player is at the top of my ranking for this tournament.

Here’s my top 25 for the week at TPC Sawgrass, with plenty of big names and a few big surprises.

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Odds below via BetMGM.

1. Collin Morikawa (+1400)

As this season’s leader in both total strokes gained and the all-around category, Morikawa is doing everything well — and a well-rounded game is key to success here.

2. Daniel Berger (+2800)

Fresh off a gut-wrenching defeat at the Honda Classic two weeks ago, it’s tough to envision Berger’s game is not still in solid shape entering this one.

3. Patrick Cantlay (+2000)

With so many of the game’s elite players faring so well lately, let’s not lose sight of Cantlay, who’s posted top-four finishes in five of his last seven starts.

4. Sungjae Im (+4000)

Though he hasn’t been at his best lately, Im has often tended to play his best golf in Florida-based events, and his ball-striking/short-game combo should work here.

5. Sam Burns (+4000)

A recent string of three consecutive MCs might not leave much reason for optimism, but back on his preferred Bermuda greens, Burns should shine once again.

6. Justin Thomas (+1200)

It’s been a year since his win — and it’s felt like he’s been knocking on the door for another victory ever since. It's certainly within reason that he could be the first to successfully defend.

7. Scottie Scheffler (+2200)

Scheffler finished in seventh place last month after his first win, so it seems appropriate that after his second at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this past weekend, another seventh could be in the cards.

8. Jon Rahm (+1200)

By the looks of things, there’s been some recent frustration in Camp Rahm. Even at a course he might not love, his floor should be high enough to find the leaderboard.

9. Matt Fitzpatrick (+3300)

The Englishman is on the record saying he likes playing tough courses — and there are signs this one could get very difficult with some windy conditions on the weekend.

10. Corey Conners (+5000)

He’s always owned the ball-striking chops, but Conners has shown just a few subtle hints that his wedge game around the greens and putting are improved from previous years.

11. Matt Kuchar (+25000)

Don’t like it? That’s alright, I needed a longshot and you probably didn’t like 40-somethings Lee Westwood and Jim Furyk in the previous two editions of this event. Well, they each finished runner-up.

12. Xander Schauffele (+2800)

Not that he can’t finish higher, because he certainly can, but five of Schauffele’s eight results so far this season have been between 12th and 18th.

13. Viktor Hovland (+1800)

This guy tends to show up every single week. Fresh off yet another week of contention at Bay Hill, his elite long-/mid-iron game should be a huge advantage.

14. Cameron Smith (+3300)

The game’s 10th-ranked player in the Official World Golf Rankings, Smith will try to replicate last year’s third-round 65, which is his only sub-70 score in a dozen career rounds at TPC Sawgrass.

15. Brooks Koepka (+4000)

Very few players own the potential range of Koepka. His final-round 63 at Sawgrass in 2018 was the lowest Sunday total in tournament history, but he’s yet to post a top-10 in five tries at THE PLAYERS.

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16. Rory McIlroy (+1800)

Did I say something about potential range? If there’s a bright side to McIlroy’s recent play, it’s that he seems to have eliminated that low floor possibility.

17. Louis Oosthuizen (+5000)

His past results aren’t spectacular, with a runner-up finish five years ago serving as his lone result better than T-19 in 10 starts, but Oosthuizen's game should be built for Sawgrass, in theory.

18. Hideki Matsuyama (+2800)

Two years ago, Matsuyama led this tournament with an opening-round 63 before it was canceled one day later due to the COVID.

19. Alex Noren (+8000)

With top-six finishes in two of his last three starts and top-20s in two of his four career PLAYERS appearances, Noren could be a trendy play this week.

20. Jordan Spieth (+4000)

In theory, this is a course that should suit his game, though Spieth has never quite taken to this one. A T4 in his PLAYERS debut is his only top-40 in seven career starts.

21. Brian Harman (+10000)

It should come as little surprise that Harman owns top-eight finishes in three of his last six PLAYERS starts, which bodes well for a guy who has appeared ready for another title contention soon.

22. Billy Horschel (+4000)

Playing as 54-hole co-leader, his final round at the Arnold Palmer didn’t start according to plan, but he should be commended for still having a chance on the last hole.

23. Abraham Ancer (+6600)

A bit forgotten after just one finish better than 35th in a half-dozen starts so far this year, Ancer has previously fared well on a course that should suit his game.

24. Si Woo Kim (+6600)

The champion as a 21-year-old five years ago, Si Woo is a more complete and consistent player now, as evidenced by 17 made cuts in his past 19 starts.

25. Russell Knox (+15000)

Another consistent player and a Scotsman who tends to play well in windy conditions, which could be heading to TPC Sawgrass this weekend.