The 2026 Players Championship takes place this weekend after an enthralling Arnold Palmer Invitational. Played at the picturesque and uniquely challenging TPC Sawgrass, the Players Championship has long been considered the fifth major.
The latest golf betting markets price world number one Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy as the favourites as of March 10.
Rory McIlroy
Sure, Rory McIlroy is always a player to watch. It seems particularly relevant this time around after he had to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a back injury.
Jack Nicklaus is the only player with more Players Championship wins after McIlroy’s triumph at TPC Sawgrass 12 months ago. McIlroy leads all PGA Tour players in shots gained in 2026.
Injury looms large, with uncertainty over McIlroy’s involvement at the time of writing. If he can tee off on Thursday, will he be in good enough physical shape to contend?
Akshay Bhatia
Winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in a playoff and tied for third at the Players Championship in 2025, Akshay Bhatia is a serious contender this weekend. Bhatia is 11th on the tour in shots gained overall and in the top 10 in shots gained putting and around the green.
The end of last season and the start of this weren’t good for Bhatia, but he’s enjoying the best run of golf in his career, capped off by the success last weekend.
The two top-five finishes he’s already recorded in 2026 make this the third-most successful of his young career so don’t be surprised if he adds to that tally this weekend.
Min Woo Lee
Fifth in shots gained on the year, Min Woo Lee has been exceptional off the tee and around the greens. With thicker, longer rough, his impressive short game play is going to be tested at Sawgrass.
Strong play off the tee is important on this course. Angled fairways can punish errant tee shots. Lee’s iron play needs to be at his best, but we are well aware of what he’s capable of when he’s on a roll.
Rickie Fowler
Rickie Fowler is playing some of his best golf in years. Ranking 14th in strokes gained so far in 2026, Fowler is impressing in all facets, other than some struggles with his around-the-green game.
The veteran has finished in the top 20 in six of his last seven tournaments, including a T9 placing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. His putting has been lights out in 2026.
Jacob Bridgeman
There aren’t many golfers playing at Jacob Bridgeman’s level in 2026. He’s finished 18th or better in all six events he’s played this calendar year, including a win at the Genesis Invitational.
This is far and away the best spell Bridgeman has had since turning pro. The win at the Genesis Invitational was his first as a professional and he backed that up with a solid showing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
It will be fascinating to see how the 26-year-old copes with the pressure. More eyes are on him than ever before – he’s never made the cut at any of the four majors and fell off the pace in the third and fourth rounds at last year’s Players Championship after shooting a pair of 69s on Thursday and Friday.
