Players Championship: Golf's unofficial "fifth major"
Ingress:
The world's elite gather this week at one of golf's most iconic and feared venues. From March 12-15, The Players Championship at the legendary TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course in Florida - a course designed for drama, risk and big moments.
A tournament with almost major status
Although The Players Championship is not formally one of golf's four majors, the tournament is often referred to as the sport's "fifth major." The tournament is ranked by many as just behind The Masters , the US Open , The Open Championship , and the PGA Championship .
This year's edition will be played at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, not far from Jacksonville . The course measures just over 7,200 yards and is played as a par 71 during the tournament.
In 2025, Rory McIlroy lifted the trophy after finishing the tournament 12 strokes under par. Viktor Hovland, on the other hand, had a tough week and missed the cut.
Tough luck to join
The field in The Players Championship consists of 120 players, and after 36 holes the field is cut to about half.
The road to the tournament is demanding. The starting spots go to players who have won on the PGA Tour in the past year, the best from the FedEx Cup , top players in the world rankings, and winners of major tournaments in the past five years.
The winner is rewarded with 750 FedEx Cup points – a significant prize in the battle for the overall victory of the season.
The track that was built for the public
When Deane Beman , then head of the PGA Tour , wanted to create a permanent venue for the tournament in the late 1970s, he had an ambitious idea: a golf course designed as much for the public as for the players.
The result was the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course , designed by legendary architect Pete Dye . The course opened in 1982 and was the first in a series of so-called TPC courses – facilities owned by the PGA Tour and developed specifically for major tournaments.
Here, the landscape was shaped into a kind of golf stadium, with natural stands around many of the greens. Spectators thus get a good view of the game without huge grandstand structures.
A path full of strategic traps
Pete Dye was known for challenging players' strategy and decision-making. His courses are largely about angles - where in the fairway you land your tee shot determines how difficult the next shot will be.
At TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, there is hardly a hole where players can relax. The fairways are narrow, the bunkers are numerous – 88 in total – and the greens are small and fast.
The greens can roll around 13 on the stimp meter during the tournament, making precision absolutely crucial.
Hole 17: One of golf's most famous shots
No review of The Players Championship is complete without mentioning hole 17.
The short par 3 hole with the iconic island green is only about 137 yards long, but the wind conditions make it a mental challenge for even the world's best players. Many tournaments have been decided – and lost – right here.
The idea for the island green actually came from Alice Dye , who suggested turning a large excavated sand crater into a water hole with a green in the middle. The result was one of golf's most famous holes – and a motif that has since been copied on courses around the world.
What can we expect this year?
Historically, TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course players who combine precision off the tee with strong iron shots into the greens, while also being a course where momentum can turn quickly.
In other words: few tournaments on the PGA Tour create as much drama.
As the world's elite now gather in Florida, the stage is set for a weekend of high risk, big swings – and perhaps another classic moment on hole 17.
Norwegian expectations at Sawgrass
For Norwegian golf enthusiasts, the greatest excitement is naturally associated with Viktor Hovland and Kristoffer Reitan .
For Viktor Hovland, this year's tournament is also a bit about revenge. Last year, the Norwegian crashed out before the weekend after a tough start at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course . However, the course initially suits his strengths well – especially the precise iron play that is often crucial at Sawgrass. At the same time, this is a course that places great demands on close play and putting, which has historically been a variable factor in Hovland's game. If he gets a good start to the tournament, he definitely has the level needed to claim a high position on the leaderboard.
For Kristoffer Reitan, the participation itself is a sign of how far he has come in recent seasons. Playing The Players Championship means competing against one of the strongest fields in the golf world. Reitan has shown flashes of very solid play, and the key this week will be to keep his mistakes to a minimum on a course that quickly punishes inaccuracy. If he makes the cut and gets four rounds at Sawgrass, it will be an important experience to take with him into the season.
The fact that Norway is fielding two players in the tournament for the second year in a row also emphasizes the development of Norwegian men's golf at the top international level.
Five players to watch this week
The field in The Players Championship is, as always, full of world stars, but some names still stand out before the tournament starts. We put playable odds here. Then you can judge for yourself. Our suggestions are highlighted.
Rory McIlroy
Reigning champion knows what it takes on the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course . When his game is flowing, he can dominate from the tee and make plenty of birdies. He had to withdraw from the tournament last weekend with a back injury. But it seemed like a foregone conclusion for this tournament. If he plays, he's a force to be reckoned with. He played well until he had to throw in the towel.
Winner: 15.00
Top 5: 3.60
Top 10: 2.40
Top 20: 1.67
Collin Morikawa
Morikawa has raised his level this season and is once again one of the most consistent players on the tour. With one of the world's best iron games, the course suits his strengths well. Seems to be in great shape these days, and he was in the top 5 last week.
Winner: 17.00
Top 5: 4.00
Top 10: 2.60
Top 20: 1.94
Akshay Bhatia
The young American continues to develop and plays with a creativity that could be very valuable around the Sawgrass greens. Once he gets the hang of it, the birdies could come in a row. If there is one person who can eventually challenge the world number one Scheffler, it is Bhatia. An incredibly strong win last week shows that he is in great shape. That finish then smelled burnt. If he delivers something of the same now, he could easily take a back to back here.
Winner: 41.00
Top 5: 7.50
Top 10: 4.00
Top 20: 2.75
Sahith Theegala
After a period a little below his best level, Theegala seems to have found his form again. He is a player who thrives when there is a bit of chaos on the course – which it often does at Sawgrass. Except for one day last weekend. He delivered brilliantly. He ended up in 6th place. An incredibly exciting player.
Winner: 81.00
Top 5: 11.00
Top 10: 6.00
Top 20: 3.55
Ludvig Åberg
The Swede has quickly established himself as one of Europe's most exciting players. With length from the tee and increasingly stable play, he could be a factor this week too. One of the biggest talents in the golf world. Or actually one of the best players on the circuit now. He finished last weekend in third place, without impressing according to himself. This tournament should suit him well. Can he get rid of the small periods of mistakes. Can he be at the top in such a tournament too.
Winner: 23.00
Top 5: 5.00
Top 10: 3.20
Top 20 : 2.35
All of these are current winners of the tournament. That also makes it very relevant to try these who lead after day 1. A game that is incredibly popular on these evenly played golf courses. If you lead or share the lead with someone, the bet will be in. Many therefore find it nice to try such a game on several players. Odds that some of these lead after the first day are as follows:
Rory McIlroy : 29.00
Collin Morikawa : 26.00
Akshay Bhatia : 41.00
Sahith Theegala : 67.00
Ludvig Åberg : 29.00
Looking at the two Norwegians leading the first day, the odds are as follows:
Viktor Hovland : 41.00
Kristoffer Reitan : 81.00
We had many H2H duels last weekend, as well as some other tips out on the odds list. ( which you can find here! ) We hit well there. Those who followed there had the opportunity for some good days. There will be more tips there already from Thursday and opening day. See the picture below for the results last weekend.
We hope we can meet just as well this weekend too. So stay tuned!!!!
