2014 The Players Championship Betting Tips The Course The “fifth Major” as it is dubbed traditionally boasts the strongest field ...
2014 The Players Championship Betting Tips
The Course
The “fifth Major” as it is dubbed traditionally boasts the strongest field of any non-major and though stars like Tiger Woods and Jason Day will miss out due to injury, this 41st staging is no less intriguing. Nobody has ever defended since the inception of the tournament in 1974 and that record will continue for another year at least with Tiger not defending. Past champions Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar will be attempting to join the four players that have won more than once at TPC Sawgrass.
While I might be proved wrong with guys like Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Harris English in the field, traditionally to win The Players requires EXPERIENCE. Eight of the nine most recent winners on the course tried at least seven times before lifting the trophy.
Once again the iconic island green of the 17th will take centre stage but this 7,215 yard par 72 Pete Dye gym has several teeth besides with a score of 13 under winning in each of the last three stagings. It generally ranks in the top five courses on the PGA Tour roster and winners have all driven the ball well and topped the greens in regulation stats en route to victory. The general consensus among the players is to be careful on the par 3 and 4’s and make your score on the par 5’s which are birdieable.
Though weather in the weeks and months leading up to the event have been the harshest for many years, I have it on good authority from TPC Sawgrass manager Bill Hughes that thanks to the help of hundreds of staff and volunteers the course will be presented in pristine condition ahead of Thursday’s first round.
Betting Tips
Matt Kuchar 18/1
Rested since his big win in the RBC Heritage, Kuch is back this week and aiming to make it two for two. After close calls in San Antonio, Houston and Augusta getting over the line at Hilton Head was vital for Matt and is sure to have him super confident ahead of this week. After top 15 fifteen finishes in 2009 and 2010, Kuchar eased to victory in 2012 and with that memory still pretty fresh, he’s a danger man this week.
Luke Donald 25/1
Second to Matt Kuchar last time out at the RBC Heritage and I was impressed with how Luke Donald pushed the winner all the way. Yes the Englishman has suffered a dip from the form that brought him to world number one but I firmly believe he will win again not only this year but very soon. If that victory is to come where better than here at Sawgrass where you don’t need to a bomber to contend. Sixth in 2012 and a recent best of tied fourth in 2011.
Henrik Stenson 25/1
Top 20 finishes in four of his five outings, including T5’s at The Arnie and in China, but Henrik is still looking for the big week that will kick his season into gear. Seems to be perennially in the mix at Sawgrass, with a T10 in 2008, win in 2009, T15 in 2012 and T5 last year. Worrying that he has gone from first in 2013 to 55th in the greens in regulation stats and from 98th to 190th in putting, but on this course, Stenson remains a force.
Jim Furyk 33/1
After top 10’s in Texas, Hilton Head and a solo second at Quail Hollow, Jim Furyk brings his best form for some time to Sawgrass this week. His recent best stretches back to a T5 in 2009, but you cannot discount a man in form. We’ve seen in the past that Sawgrass does not discriminate against the shorter hitter as long as you are straight. And Jim is nothing if not straight.
Sergio Garcia 22/1
If I was let down by Sergio at Augusta, he himself must have been gutted. Missing the cut was incomprehensible given the incredible form he brought into the event with 11 consecutive strokeplay top 20’s including a win in Qatar. Sawgrass was the scene of one of Garcia’s greatest wins in 2008 and he has recent results of a T12 in 2011 and that gut wrenching T8 last season after a Sunday 76. I think we all know Garcia by now; he’ll be determined to make a point this week.
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This weeks tips are brought to you from the beautiful Golf Las Americas on the island of Tenerife. Make sure you check out www.golflasamericas.com for more info. With year round sunshine, daily flights from Ireland, UK and Europe Golf Las Americas is the perfect golfing holiday location. Regularly hosting the Ladies European Tour, Professional and top Amateur tournaments, you'll always find the course in pristine condition.
Best Of The Rest
Lee Westwood 30/1
Long Odds Glory
Ben Crane 175/1
Seems to be busier nowadays making deep and meaningful and oftentimes very funny video shorts, but Ben Crane has an uncanny knack of featuring at Sawgrass. Improved his finish three years in a row from T6 in 2008, to T5 in 2009 and T4 in 2010 and featured again last year with a T8. Certainly worth an each way or “finish in the top 10” look from long odds. No form to speak of though coming in.
Brendon deJonge 110/1
The big burly Zimbabwean has finished T15 at The Players for the past two seasons and discovered his lowest round for some time last week at the Wells Fargo with a second round of 63 which tied Rory McIlroy’s course record. Unfortunately it followed an 80 and therein lies the problem; consistency over four days. All the ability in the world.
Geoff Ogilvy 150/1
Small indicators that he might finally be returning to the form of the good ole days. It’s anything but consistent but decent finishes on difficult courses in San Antonio (11th) and Hilton Head (27th) stand out. Tied for 12th in 2012.
JB Holmes (non runner)
Three top 15’s at Sawgrass since 2008 with a best of T6 in 2011, I was delighted to see JB win at Quail Hollow following a decent week in New Orleans. Dogged by illness and injury for the past couple of years, it’s great to see him back to his best.
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