Preview and betting tips for THE PLAYERS Championship

A $15 million purse brings out the best players and golf, and THE PLAYERS Championship features 49 of the top 50 players in the world. I've covered the event from tee-to-green for a number of outlets, and can read more at my site, Vegas Sports Zone. 

Last time we checked in with golf plays at Off Shore Gaming Association, we beat the leading online sportsbooks with a tournament match-up winner. We also had a push in the Genesis Invitational event at Riviera, where we took a good swing and hit the winner before dinner (opponent cut). Some of the bets are posted, and if you follow along with my weekly updates and tournament match-up picks and bets, you'll see a 6-1 record over the past seven tournaments. That includes in the WGC Championships (2-0-1) with some posted bets.  

Betting outrights is not the preferred profile in your betting portfolio if you want to consistently build your bankroll. It's fine to add some outright win bets, although the low priced favorites are not prudent plays. Top finishing position, props and in-play or adjusted odds bets are in play, but tournament match-ups and/or some round-by-round match-ups will keep you in the game and allow you to profit from the experience much longer with a greater chance to profit. I've proven it over a decade of betting golf, and going back to my time on radio in Las Vegas providing golf betting insight and information you can bet on. 

You don't have to pay for any picks here. Just learn while you hopefully earn, and I'll chip-in my thoughts and information you can bet on with the hopes of avoiding the hazards and rough, and finding more fairways and green to add to your bottom line. 

While the top golfers and leading favorites take a majority of the bets to win and finish in the top 10 or 20, one online sportsbook has seen some action on a few longshots to win this week in THE PLAYERS Championship. Jordan Spieth is a popular bet, and Cameron Smith a handle leader along with a player in our bag this week, Justin Thomas. 

Highest Bet Golfers to Win Tournament:

Jordan Spieth (+2500) 7.1%
Dustin Johnson (+1200) 6.5%
Justin Thomas (+1800) 5.2% 

Highest Handle% to Win Tournament: 

Cameron Smith (+6000) 7.6%
Justin Thomas (+1800) 7.4%
Jordan Spieth (+2500) 6.8%

THE PLAYERS Championship Odds

I make a case for Justin Thomas as one of the leading favorites, but at more favorable odds than most weeks of +2176 at top online sportbook, BookMaker. They run a massive operation, and often have some of the better futures odds while also posting the most tournament match-ups.

Patrick Cantlay (+2308) is another player I'm high on this week as one of the leading contenders. Cantlay is in strong current form, which is most positive preparing to play the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course designed by Pete Dye. Precision iron play is required, and a solid tee-to-green game has proven positive for many past winners and top contenders. Cantlay ranks top-10 in this field in those two strokes gained categories over his last 36 rounds, along with SG: Approach. He's finish top-20 in six straight events. In two of his three starts in this event, Cantlay was top-10 heading into Sunday's final round before falling just out of the top-20 at finish. He opened with a 67 in last year's opening round before the event was cancelled, and looks like one to include in your wagering portfolio this week. Top finishing position odds are in place for top 10 (+225) or top 20 (+100). Not great odds, but perhaps you decide to take a shot on Cantlay as first round leader (+4000), and reasses you in-play bets and adjusted odds after Thursday or Friday's rounds.

I have more player profiles on darkhorse picks as I chip-in at another leading online sportsbook. That includes on Sawgrass specialist, Jason Day (+5550). Also an interest and bet on Tommy Fleetwood (+5000), who is available at longer odds at some leading online sportsbooks. Fleetwood has finished top-10 in the last two events here in 2019 and 2018, and was tied for the 36-hole lead in 2019 with eventual winner Rory McIlroy.

Tournament Match-ups 

I bet Justin Thomas (-112) over hot Viktor Hovland, who plays TPC Sawgrass in THE PLAYERS Championship for the first time. That match-up is not available at BookMaker, but Patrick Cantlay (-111) over Collin Morikawa is, and that's a chip-in 3-wood off the tee bet as well. Morikawa also plays in the event for the first time, and this is a course that will find your flaws and where experience matters.

Also, Tommy Fleetwood comes off a T10 finish last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational where his iron play was precise and . Fleetwood has also gained an average of 1.78 strokes per round on the field at TPC Sawgrass. Find him in match-ups of interest, and Fleetwood (-105) can bet bet as an underdog over Tyrrell Hatton at William Hill. Hatton is up to No. 7 in the world golf rankings with his improved play, but he missed the cut in this event in 2018 and 2019. Hatton's Short Game and Around the Green stats are his weakness, while those are strengths of Fleetwood, who was also top-10 last week in SG: Total at Bay Hill while Hatton was up and down while shooting a pair of 77's. 

Follow along as I chip-in more updates on the sites and Twitter with information you can bet. It's another packed sports weekend with college basketball tournaments, and THE PLAYERS Championship is one to watch with the world's best players showcasing their skills. 

FairwayJay is a leading national sports handicapper and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. Read more great insights from Jay and follow him on Twitter: @FairwayJay