The Players Championship is often called golf’s fifth major. While that isn’t the tournament’s actual designation, that title fits this week’s event at TPC Sawgrass for sports bettors.
“Action has been great for the PLAYERS Championship, and so far, we are seeing lots of interest,” BetMGM Senior Sports Trader Matt Wall said. "The Players Championship is absolutely our busiest tournament outside of the majors.”
With a famed island green at No. 17, a loaded 144-player field, and a $25 million purse, The Players is a great lead into golf’s prime betting season with the Masters scheduled a month from now.
“We’re anticipating a handle second only to the major tournaments,” said Anthony Salleroli, Caesars Sportsbook’s Lead Golf Oddsmaker.
Betting on history?
Back-to-back defending champion Scottie Scheffler looks to make history with a third consecutive victory as the tournament’s outright winning favorite at +500. He’s getting 16.4% of the handle at BetMGM, the highest in the field, and 18.6% at ESPN BET.
However, Ludvig Aberg (+1,600) has a leading 8.9% of bets at BetMGM and is the operator’s biggest liability. Aberg, who’s playing home course this week, is also popular at DraftKings, where he’s received 14% of the handle and 9% of the tickets, most of any player in the outright winner market.
Collin Morikawa at +1,200 is a hot bet this week while Sepp Straka has 7.2% of the money to win The Players. His ESPN BET odds went from +6,000 when the market opened to +3,300.
“It's no surprise that Scottie Scheffler is the clear favorite this week as he goes for his third consecutive win in this tournament,” Wall said. “Ludvig Aberg and Sepp Straka currently sit as our worst results as the public continues to bet these two Europeans.”
Not so popular
While Scheffler, Aberg, Morikawa, and Straka are quite popular this week among bettors, TPC Sawgrass’ 2019 winner Rory McIlroy doesn't have the same backing. He’s not in the top 10 in handle at DraftKings and is sixth at BetMGM. More of the outright-winner money goes to Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, Wyndham Clark, and Nick Taylor than McIlroy at DraftKings.
“Rory sees his price drifting since the opener of +900, now out to +1,500,” bet365 trading leader Aron Wattleworth said. “Last week’s club change and change back, in the same tourney, usually doesn’t sit well with those who commentate on the pro game, and may be the likely reason for the current drift on his price.”
Get wet or stay dry?
The most famous 137-yard shot in golf is also expected to draw betting action. No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass claimed nearly 50 balls per tournament over the last 20 years, and sportsbooks offer specific markets in some jurisdictions on the knee-buckling shot for this reason.
“We’re excited to showcase the infamous 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass with markets on closest to the pin, a player to hit one in the water, and more for every group this weekend,” Wall said.
Caesars said it has a betting market for the number of balls No. 17 will claim, but it’s not available in Iowa, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, or Ontario.
