The 2024 PGA Tour’s The Players Championship is set to be a star-studded event, featuring a field of 144 players from 23 countries. The tournament will take place at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass from March 12-17. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who won the event in 2023, enters the week as World No. 1, marking the first time a player has held this position since Rory McIlroy in 2020. The field includes nine PLAYERS Champions, with notable players such as Rory McIlroy, Webb Simpson, and Jason Day among the participants.
The field is highlighted by the debut of 23 players, including seven PGA TOUR winners like Ludvig Åberg, Akshay Bhatia, and Alexander Björk. However, Tiger Woods, a four-time champion, is notably absent from the field. The tournament also features four eligible players not committed: Will Gordon, David Lingmerth, Danny Willett, and Tiger Woods.
SportsLine’s model has simulated The Players Championship 2024 10,000 times, revealing its PGA golf picks. Scottie Scheffler is the 11-2 favorite, followed by Rory McIlroy at 12-1. Other contenders include Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, and Viktor Hovland, who are all 22-1 longshots. The model also predicts a strong run from Will Zalatoris, a 25-1 longshot, who secured his spot in The Open Championship with a fourth-place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The nine PLAYERS Champions in the field for the 2024 Players Championship are:
- Scottie Scheffler (2023): The defending champion, Scheffler is currently World No. 1. He won the Players Championship in 2023, marking his first major victory on the PGA Tour.
- Justin Thomas (2021): Thomas won the Players Championship in 2021, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament’s history at the age of 24.
- Rory McIlroy (2019): McIlroy’s victory in 2019 was his first major win on the PGA Tour since 2014.
- Webb Simpson (2018): Simpson won the Players Championship in 2018, becoming the first player to win the tournament in consecutive years since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002.
- Si Woo Kim (2017): Kim’s victory in 2017 was his first major win on the PGA Tour.
- Jason Day (2016): Day won the Players Championship in 2016, becoming the first Australian to win the tournament.
- Rickie Fowler (2015): Fowler’s victory in 2015 was his first major win on the PGA Tour.
- Matt Kuchar (2012): Kuchar won the Players Championship in 2012, becoming the first player to win the tournament in consecutive years since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002.
- Adam Scott (2004): Scott won the Players Championship in 2004, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament’s history at the age of 23.
The 2024 Players Championship, a prestigious event in golf, is set to begin on March 14th. Here are some key details and insights from the preview:
Date and Location: The tournament will take place from March 14-17, 2024, at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Course: The event will be held at TPC Sawgrass, known for its challenging layout with a par of 72.
Favorites: World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the favorite with odds of +550, followed by Rory McIlroy at +1200 and Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, and Viktor Hovland at +2200 each.
Contenders: Other notable contenders include Patrick Cantlay and Will Zalatoris at +2500, Hideki Matsuyama at +2800, and Max Homa and Ludvig Åberg at +3300 each.
Longshots: Some longshot players with odds of 25-1 or longer are also worth considering for potential upsets.
Previous Winner: Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion of the Players Championship.
Some of the top players to watch in the 2024 Players Championship include:
Scottie Scheffler: Currently holding a promising position at number two, Scheffler is a strong contender with impressive odds of +550.
Rory McIlroy: Ranked at number six, McIlroy is another player to keep an eye on with odds of +1200.
Justin Thomas: Positioned at number three, Thomas is a notable player in the tournament with odds of +2200.
Cam Smith: Ranked at number ten, Cam Smith is also a player worth watching in the championship.
Hideki Matsuyama: With consistent performance and a good record at TPC Sawgrass, Matsuyama presents a compelling choice with odds of +2800.
Shane Lowry: A seasoned competitor with talent on Bermuda grass greens, Lowry offers an intriguing option at odds of 33 to 1.
Other Contenders: Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Will Zalatoris, Max Homa, Ludvig Åberg, and Wyndham Clark are among the other contenders to watch out for in the tournament.