Picks, Odds at the 2022 Players Championship: Expert Predictions, Winning Favorites from the Betting Field at TPC Sawgrass
With the 2022 Players Championship fast approaching, the main question everyone asks is the same across the golf world: Who do you pick to win TPC Sawgrass in the biggest event of the year so far? . With an amazing course featuring 47 of the top 50 golfers in the world, we’re in for an epic ride starting with the first round on Thursday.
Regardless of how you want to categorize Players, this is a big deal. Just look at the aforementioned field. The player’s plot is very rich, and the power of stars is no joke. Justin Thomas will be looking for consecutive wins at the event, while Jon Rahm is looking to keep his world No. There are also plenty of golfers who are still trying to make their stride as the 2022 Masters are fast approaching.
So what will happen this week in Florida? Check out the full range of predictions and picks from our CBS Sports experts. Check all 2022 Player Championship Odds through Caesars Sportsbook.
Expert picks and predictions for the 2022 Players’ Championship
Kyle Porter, senior writer on golf
Winner – Justin Thomas (14-1): I know nobody goes back to TPC Sawgrass, but I don’t care how this multi-decade history really affects JT in 2022. He’s playing pretty well (fifth in tackles in 20). last round) and have not finished outside the top 20 so far this season (four of which have made it to the top 10).
The Sleeper – Adam Scott (50-1): Quietly playing quite well with three top 10 in five starts. His history here is as good as anyone in the field, and his numbers are too long at 50-1. In his last 5 starts at TPC Sawgrass, Scott has placed in the top 12 four times. His career hit is 1.99, fifth best in the field behind Si Woo Kim, Hideki Matsuyama, JT and Sergio Garcia. Oh, and somehow he became one of the best hitters in the world.
Top 10 courses – Brooks Koepka: Koepka has the 11th best stroke in history at TPC Sawgrass of anyone in the field and has exceeded his expectations on the course by more than half a stroke per round, according to Data Golf. His numbers are really long this week despite the fact that he is on a near-term win at Phoenix and broke into the top 20 at the Honda Classic a few weeks ago. He should be in for such a big time event, and although there are better choices for who will actually end up in the top 10, there aren’t any better numbers on the winners. four times larger than this event.
The star definitely won’t win – Dustin Johnson: I don’t feel it with the DJ right now. He was taken by late hit and had no top 20 finish on the PGA Tour. Other than that, he’s pretty mediocre (to him) at this course, possibly because the distance isn’t as prominently rewarded here as it is on most other PGA Tour courses. I would be surprised if he wins this week.
Surprise Prediction – Two of the top five players in the world missed their chance: That group includes Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay and Scottie Scheffler, remember. There’s a lot of variation at TPC Sawgrass and it creates volatility year after year (case in point: Rory McIlroy became MC-Win-MC on his last three stints here). There will be some big names packing their bags on Friday night, and I think a few of them will be among the best in the world.
Lowest lap: 64 (-8)
Winning score: 277 (-11)
Winner’s Sunday Score: 70 (-4)
Kyle Boone, writer
Winner – Viktor Hovland (20-1): Hovland missed a two-stroke a year ago after suffering a two-stroke penalty in the opening round for not getting the ball back into place on the 15th green. Since then, he’s become a one of the sport’s brightest young stars with five top five finishes and two PGA Tour wins in that span. He entered the final week of T4 and T2 at The Genesis and Arnold Palmer Invitational respectively. The combination of his ironball game and the distance from the tee will give him a chance to take home his third win of the season.
Sleeper – Talor Gooch (50-1): There are few sleepers in this area with the same potential as Gooch. He only started his third time in the event and one of those starts (in 2019) ended unsuccessfully, but he finished T5 in a loaded field a year ago and enjoying a career year this season. It’s pretty easy to picture him putting on another strong performance this week ahead of the T7 game at Arnold Palmer that could easily have been better without a devastating final round.
Top 10 Course – Collin Morikawa: Morikawa’s iron play is legendary but his short game – especially his putt – has always been a big unknown to him. If he does well, then pay attention. And he was really late. He’s fourth on the Tour this season in terms of strokes achieved and ranks similarly in terms of strokes achieved with his approach. If the pitcher is still hot, he has a real shot to win it, and we’ve seen the biggest two-time champion take chances in the big slots.
The star definitely won’t win – Dustin Johnson: The former world No. 1 has not underperformed in his last three rounds and he will have a brief week at Genesis that he has not been able to get through. Also, The Players – aside from ending T5 in 2019 – weren’t kind to the DJ at all. He finished T48 a year ago and has yet to break into the top 10 there (apart from 2019) in his other 11 career starts.
Surprise Prediction – The winner will be more than one shot ahead on the last day: A year ago, Thomas went through 3 strokes before overtaking Lee Westwood to take home the championship trophy. In 2019 (the 2020 event was cancelled), McIlroy took the lead with a stroke in the fierce finals, in which he, Jim Furyk, Eddie Pepperrell and Jhonattan Vegas all rose to the top of the table. on the last day. My surprise prediction was that, in a course conducive to dropping lows, the winner must come back in the final round.
Lowest round: 64 (-8)
Winning score: 273 (-15)
Winner’s Sunday Score: 67 (-5)
Jacob Hallex, producer
Winner – Collin Morikawa (14-1): Things look like they could get wet this week in Ponte Vedra, and that means we’re playing lifting, clearing and booking for every ball that ends up on the fairway. Let’s look down the board and find the correct driver and the best iron player. Morikawa ticked both of those boxes. Last time we met Morikawa, he was in charge of the weekend at the Genesis Invitational. I love that he also skipped Bay Hill last week, as he will be rested for TPC Sawgrass.
The Sleeper – Brooks Koepka (35-1): This is going to be a tough pick, but I can’t help but choose Brooks on this one. The guy thrives when conditions are tough, and he nearly won the Phoenix Open just a few weeks ago. It’s been a principled game for me to support a player with a lot of power to win at the expense of such a long run. I’ll take the Brooksie flyer to win the Ponte Vedra.
Top 10 Courses – Will Zalatoris (+375): Last year’s Masters darling is getting back into shape this time of year. Willy Z finished 21st on his debut in the Players Championship in 2021. Now that he’s about to lose to Luke List in the recent playoffs at the Insurance Farmers’ Open, I hope the clinic hits the ball. will continue.
The star definitely won’t win – Jon Rahm: Things seem to be trending in the wrong direction for Rahmbo, especially on and around the pitch where Rahm has lost points on his past three events and lost around the green area in 6 out of 7 events measured this season. I’m not running out to bet Rahm for one miss, just saying I don’t like his outlook for the week.
Surprise prediction – Patrick Cantlay missed the cut: The history of the field is just zero for the 2021 FedEx Cup Champions. I may or may not be biased as a miss here last year ruined my once and fore hopes and the prestigious ticket I got on Patty Ice… but I digress. I’ll happily remove Cantlay in matches and throw a bit at him to miss a chance at +275.
Lowest lap: 64 (-8)
Winning score: 269 (-19)
Winner’s Sunday Score: 68 (-4)
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