Players 2025: Power rankings for the entire field at TPC Sawgrass

No tour pro had ever won the Players Championship in consecutive years … until Scottie Scheffler backed up his five-shot runaway in 2023 with a one-stroke squeaker in 2024. SPOILER ALERT: Scheffler sits at No. 1 in our rankings for the 51st Players Championship. Behind him, however, is a strong list of awesome contenders. And the favorites are where you should be looking when thinking of betting on a champion for 2025. Webb Simpson in 2018 was the last Players winner to start the week with pre-tournament odds over +6000 (60-1). Simpson capped a fun run that included some longshots like Si Woo Kim, Rickie Fowler and Martin Kaymer. Those days seem to be gone as the chalk controls TPC’s Stadium Course.

Our Power Rankings continue to evolve. In 2025, I have added a player’s recent tournament history and his fantasy value. My mission in creating this labor of love is to build a reliable resource for the reader. When golf’s fifth major takes place, we are inundated with wagers of all sorts: pools, bets, leagues, one & dones, etc. The Read The Line Power Rankings are a perfect piece of content for the modern fan. Below you will find an individual list of the top 65 in the field. Those are we favor to make the cut and compete over the weekend for the $25 million overall prize money payout.

Whether you believe the Players is a major or not is irrelevant. TPC Sawgrass has the best three closing holes in professional golf. The real-time roller coaster of emotion we all engage with every year on Sunday is sensational. Find time for the couch come the final round; with a stacked field of favorites this year will surely not disappoint.

To assist with understanding the rankings, here is a quick breakdown of the “key” information.

Key

• Age: Most majors are won by players in their 20s and 30s. Always good to keep track of these things.
• Odds to win: These are the futures odds listed for each player prior to Monday of tournament week.
• Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) value: The posted price for each competitor on DraftKings.
• OWGR/Data Golf: Let’s face the facts, the OWGR is incomplete. To give us a better top line view of player performance, I included the Data Golf rankings. (Rankings are taken prior to the Arnold Palmer Invitational.)
• Players 2024 results: How did we fare last year?
• Players appearances/cuts made: How many starts a player has had in the tournament along with the number of times he’s played more than 36 holes.
• Best Players finish: Again, another quick reference tool. Taking out Jack Nicklaus win in the inaugural event in 1974, only one golfer has won the Players as a rookie (Craig Perks, 2002).
• Notes: A quick summary for each player to pique or deter your interest in their chances to win or play well in the 51st Players Championship.

Nos. 126 and beyond

The players in this category will need a serious spark to win come Sunday, but I have seen lightning strike in Florida before. The Players has an incredibly deep field, and six winners from the previous 12 months on the PGA Tour are listed in this group, so they are capable of winning. It’s just highly unlikely.

Rafael Campos, Laurie Canter, Will Chandler, Chris Gotterup, Charley Hoffman, Patton Kizzire, Ben Kohles, Nate Lashley, David Lipsky, Luke List, Peter Malnati, Matt McCarty, Henrik Norlander, Aldrich Potgieter, Chad Ramey, Davis Riley, Ben Silverman, David Skinns, Camilo Villegas

Nos. 101-125

Each player in this collection has at least one superpower. If they can combine their primary strength with one more Sawgrass skill, their chances of making the cut are good. The majority of these guys are young and hungry, so keep an eye on them as the season continues. We will get a couple wins from them before December comes.

101. Rico Hoey, 102. Jackson Suber, 103. Carson Young, 104. Brian Campbell, 105. Bud Cauley, 106. Kevin Roy, 107. Greyson Sigg, 108. Patrick Fishburn, 109. Vince Whaley, 110. Ryan Fox, 111. Mac Meissner, 112. Kris Ventura, 113. Matti Schmid, 114. Frankie Capan III, 115. Adam Schenk, 116. Hayden Springer, 117. KH Lee, 118. Alejandro Tosti, 119. Sami Valimaki, 120. Chandler Phillips, 121. Will Gordon, 122. Trey Mullinax, 123. Ryan Gerard, 124. Brice Garnett, 125. Chan Kim

Nos. 66-100

The field is cut to the top 65 and ties for the final 36 holes. It’s very difficult to determine who doesn’t earn a check. The remaining majors have qualifiers and past champions. The Cognizant Classic winner Joe Highsmith is listed below. Highsmith’s recent form is very good but look at the names below him in the rankings. The 2019 U.S. Open winner is in this group. Contending for the cutline alone, a few of these men are interchangeable with the early part of the individual rankings.

66. Beau Hossler, 67. Gary Woodland, 68. Jake Knapp, 69. Seamus Power, 70. Ryo Hisatsune, 71. Austin Eckroat, 72. Byeong Hun An, 73. Will Zalatoris, 74. Nico Echavarria, 75. Taylor Pendrith, 76. Andrew Novak, 77. Matthieu Pavon, 78. Mark Hubbard, 79. Kevin Yu, 80. Adam Hadwin, 81. Sungjae Im, 82. Andrew Putnam, 83. Joe Highsmith, 84. Jacob Bridgeman, 85. Victor Perez, 86. Matt Kuchar, 87. Max McGreevy, 88. Erik van Rooyen, 89. Isaiah Salinda, 90. Sam Stevens, 91. CT Pan, 92. Cameron Young, 93. Jesper Svensson, 94. Eric Cole, 95. Adam Svensson, 96. Justin Lower, 97. Max Homa, 98. Sam Ryder, 99. Emiliano Grillo, 100. Lanto Griffin

Ranking the top 65 players

65: Alex Smalley

Age: 28
Odds to win: +12000
DFS Value: $5,400
OWGR: 129 Data Golf: 66
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 2/1
Best finish: T-65 (2023)

64: Patrick Rodgers

Age: 35
Odds to win: +12000
DFS Value: $5,600
OWGR: 72 Data Golf: 56
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 8/2
Best finish: T-65 (2021)

63: Joel Dahmen

Age: 37
Odds to win: +15000
DFS Value: $5,100
OWGR: 173 Data Golf: 135
Players 2024: T-11
Players appearances/cuts made: 5/4
Best finish: T-11 (2024)

62: Rasmus Højgaard

Age: 23
Odds to win: +10000
DFS Value: $5,800
OWGR: 46 Data Golf: 41
Players 2024: DNP
Players appearances/cuts made: 0/0
Best finish: Rookie

61: Jhonattan Vegas

Age: 40
Odds to win: +12000
DFS Value: $6,300
OWGR: 65 Data Golf: 105
Players 2024: DNP
Players appearances/cuts made: 10/6
Best finish: T-3 (2019)

60: Chris Kirk

Age: 39
Odds to win: +20000
DFS Value: $5,600
OWGR: 75 Data Golf: 133
Players 2024: T-26
Players appearances/cuts made: 13/9
Best finish: T-12 (2017)

59: Taylor Moore

Age: 31
Odds to win: +12000
DFS Value: $5,600
OWGR: 82 Data Golf: 64
Players 2024: T-31
Players appearances/cuts made: 3/2
Best finish: T-31 (2024)

58: Stephan Jaeger

Age: 35
Odds to win: +15000
DFS Value: $6,200
OWGR: 43 Data Golf: 57
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 3/1
Best finish: T-44 (2023)

57: Harry Hall

Age: 27
Odds to win: +14000
DFS Value: $6,500
OWGR: 94 Data Golf: 49
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 1/0
Best finish: MC (2024)

56: Tom Hoge

Age: 35
Odds to win: +15000
DFS Value: $6,100
OWGR: 73 Data Golf: 160
Players 2024: T-54
Players appearances/cuts made: 6/6
Best finish: T-3 (2023)

55: Nicolai Højgaard

Age: 23
Odds to win: +15000
DFS Value: $5,700
OWGR: 69 Data Golf: 87
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 1/0
Best finish: MC

54: Mackenzie Hughes

Age: 34
Odds to win: +15000
DFS Value: $6,100
OWGR: 67 Data Golf: 107
Players 2024: T-26
Players appearances/cuts made: 6/3
Best finish: T-16 (2017)

53: Thomas Detry

Age: 32
Odds to win: +8000
DFS Value: $7,800
OWGR: 23 Data Golf: 44
Players 2024: T-62
Players appearances/cuts made: 2/1
Best finish: T-62 (2024)

52: Lee Hodges

Age: 29
Odds to win: +9000
DFS Value: $7,200
OWGR: 91 Data Golf: 81
Players 2024: T-35
Players appearances/cuts made: 3/2
Best finish: T-35 (2024)

51: Harris English

Age: 35
Odds to win: +9000
DFS Value: $7,400
OWGR: 33 Data Golf: 69
Players 2024: T-19
Players appearances/cuts made: 10/3
Best finish: T-19 (2024)

50: J.T. Poston

Age: 31
Odds to win: +12500
DFS Value: $6,900
OWGR: 39 Data Golf: 40
Players 2024: T-45
Players appearances/cuts made: 5/3
Best finish: T-22 (2019, 2021)

49: Nick Taylor

Age: 36
Odds to win: +10000
DFS Value: $7,300
OWGR: 29 Data Golf: 53
Players 2024: T-26
Players appearances/cuts made: 7/5
Best finish: 16 (2019)

48: Matt Fitzpatrick

Age: 30
Odds to win: +8000
DFS Value: $7,500
OWGR: 61 Data Golf: 65
Players 2024: 5
Players appearances/cuts made: 8/4
Best finish: 5 (2024)

47: Cam Davis

Age: 30
Odds to win: +15000
DFS Value: $7,200
OWGR: 49 Data Golf: 71
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 4/1
Best finish: T-6 (2023)

46: Kurt Kitayama

Age: 32
Odds to win: +10000
DFS Value: $6,900
OWGR: 98 Data Golf: 70
Players 2024: T-19
Players appearances/cuts made: 2/1
Best finish: T-19 (2024)

45: Justin Rose

Age: 44
Odds to win: +15000
DFS Value: $6,300
OWGR: 36 Data Golf: 121
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 19/11
Best finish: T-4 (2014)

44: Rickie Fowler

Age: 36
Odds to win: +12000
DFS Value: $6,600
OWGR: 95 Data Golf: 79
Players 2024: T-68
Players appearances/cuts made: 13/7
Best finish: Won (2015)

43: Keith Mitchell

Age: 33
Odds to win: +10000
DFS Value: $7,000
OWGR: 101 Data Golf: 78
Players 2024: 73
Players appearances/cuts made: 6/5
Best finish: T-13 (2022)

42: Michael Kim

Age: 31
Odds to win: +8000
DFS Value: $5,900
OWGR: 68 Data Golf: 38
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 4/1
Best finish: T-60 (2017)

41: Denny McCarthy

Age: 31
Odds to win: +12000
DFS Value: $7,700
OWGR: 38 Data Golf: 27
Players 2024: T-35
Players appearances/cuts made: 5/5
Best finish: T-13 (2023)

40: Nick Dunlap

Age: 21
Odds to win: +15000
DFS Value: $6,400
OWGR: 31 Data Golf: 90
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 1/0
Best finish: MC

The 2024 PGA Tour rookie of the year is coming in with a solid iron game, savvy short game and a hot putter. If he can safely navigate things off the tee, the already two-time tour winner will score and keep his name relevant into the weekend.

39: Doug Ghim

Age: 28
Odds to win: +20000
DFS Value: $5,600
OWGR: 99 Data Golf: 77
Players 2024: T-16
Players appearances/cuts made: 4/3
Best finish: T-6 (2022)

Ghim is a ball-striking machine and that obviously suits TPC Sawgrass. In four starts on the Stadium Course, the former U.S. Amateur finalist has three top-30 finishes, leading with his sixth-place showing three years ago.

38: Max Greyserman

Age: 29
Odds to win: +10000
DFS Value: $7,300
OWGR: 35 Data Golf: 23
Players 2024: DNP
Players appearances/cuts made: 0/0
Best finish: Rookie

Would it scare you to know that Max may not be the best golfing Greyserman? He has two brothers, one at Stanford and the other at Princeton. That said, Max has five top-25 performances in eight starts this year. While this is his first appearance at the Players, this New Jersey native has the game to score on the Stadium.

37: Lucas Glover

Age: 45
Odds to win: +12000
DFS Value: $6,800
OWGR: 44 Data Golf: 48
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 16/6
Best finish: 3 (2010)

Glover doesn’t lead the field in Players appearances, but he is a veteran of the event. With a resurgent fall, the former U.S. Open champ gave us hope he might make another run at some elite events with his legendary ball-striking. Mind you, he has only one top-10 in seven starts this season, plus three missed cuts.

36. J.J. Spaun

Age: 34
Odds to win: +12000
DFS Value: $6,700
OWGR: 56 Data Golf: 34
Players 2024: T-64
Players appearances/cuts made: 5/1
Best finish: 64 (2024)

Since last summer, Spaun has been on a steady ascent. J.J. has six top-10s in his last 18 four-round starts. Spaun is an approach machine and on these Dye dartboards you need to be precise.

35: Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Age: 30
Odds to win: +12500
DFS Value: $7,100
OWGR: 54 Data Golf: 46
Players 2024: T-13
Players appearances/cuts made: 3/3
Best finish: T-13 (2023, 2024)

Top-15 showings in his last two Players starts makes sense for C-Bez, who is an excellent Florida player and has the combination wedge and putter that always allows him to score. When the conditions get difficult, the South African can separate with those tools, and that’s a blueprint for success at Sawgrass.

34: Min Woo Lee

Age: 26
Odds to win: +7000
DFS Value: $8,000
OWGR: 55 Data Golf: 39
Players 2024: T-54
Players appearances/cuts made: 2/2
Best finish: T-6 (2023)

In his first appearance two years ago, Lee inspired the fans with his long game and swagger. The thing is, he’s a little too loose with his iron game, which explains why he has yet to contend consistently on tour. Accuracy is too important around these parts for Min Woo to win, but he will play well.

33: Ben Griffin

Age: 28
Odds to win: +12000
DFS Value: $6,700
OWGR: 48 Data Golf: 26
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 2/1
Best finish: T-35 (2023)

Griffin has closed with two top-four results in his last three starts. He has gained positive strokes with his driver and irons in four of his last five as well. The Stadium Course demands you keep the ball in play, and the former North Carolina All-American can do that. Griffin can putt as well, when scoring gets tough, Ben always seems to be right around the upper range of the leaderboard.

32: Adam Scott

Age: 44
Odds to win: +8000
DFS Value: $7,800
OWGR: 24 Data Golf: 29
Players 2024: T-45
Players appearances/cuts made: 22/18
Best finish: Won (2004)

Our second past champion in the top 65, Scott has more appearances than any other player in the field. The Aussie has made the cut nearly 80 percent of the time and missed just one weekend in his last 13 Sawgrass starts.

31: Davis Thompson

Age: 25
Odds to win: +8000
DFS Value: $7,900
OWGR: 51 Data Golf: 42
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 2/1
Best finish: 68 (2023)

Thompson’s driver has been great in 2025 and his irons recently have gotten even sharper, but the putter is inconsistent. Thompson will play well because he is so talented, but overall, without the flatstick in order, it is tough to see him do more than top 40.

30: Akshay Bhatia

Age: 23
Odds to win: +10000
DFS Value: $7,000
OWGR: 30 Data Golf: 21
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 1/0
Best finish: MC

With a missed cut, Bhatia struggled at the challenging API this past week. Even so, the brilliant young ball-striker has a skill set that’s great for the Players. Akshay just needs some more elite experience and he’ll be a consistent contender on challenging courses like TPC Sawgrass.

29: Daniel Berger

Age: 31
Odds to win: +7000
DFS Value: $9,600
OWGR: 53 Data Golf: 43
Players 2024: DNP
Players appearances/cuts made: 7/6
Best finish: T-9 (2016, 2021)

Before Berger’s injury break, he finished ninth (2021) and 13th (2022) at the Players. Berger hits fairways and is an incredible wedge player. Always gritty, he plays patiently when conditions are at their most challenging. With five top-25 results in seven starts in 2025, Berger is back and this is one place he likes.

28: Viktor Hovland

Age: 27
Odds to win: +5000
DFS Value: $9,000
OWGR: 15 Data Golf: 28
Players 2024: T-62
Players appearances/cuts made: 4/3
Best finish: T-3 (2023)

If you wish to back Hovland, don’t listen to him speak about his own game. Struggling for some time, Hovland loves to describe those struggles. True, Viktor has not been scoring well of late, but the ball-striking is still very good. A decent week around the green and his name will leap up the leaderboard. With two top-nine results in his last three Players, this is one place it could happen.

27: Sahith Theegala

Age: 27
Odds to win: +9000
DFS Value: $7,400
OWGR: 21 Data Golf: 47
Players 2024: T-9
Players appearances/cuts made: 3/2
Best finish: T-9 (2024)

Theegala was so solid last year. We have to keep him in the top 30 based upon talent, and a ninth-place finish one year ago at the Stadium Course. Beware, Theegala only has one top-20 in six starts this season and just missed the cut by two strokes at Bay Hill. If Sahith is searching for something to play better, it is not hidden at TPC Sawgrass.

26: Corey Conners

Age: 33
Odds to win: +6500
DFS Value: $7,900
OWGR: 50 Data Golf: 35
Players 2024: T-13
Players appearances/cuts made: 5/4
Best finish: 7 (2021)

It has been a roller-coaster season for Conners. Three below average starts back in January and February have been followed up by two straight top-25s in signature events. His approach game still needs work, but Sawgrass is a place where he has seen success. In six starts, the trusty Canadian has a seventh and 13th place finish in his last four trips to Ponte Vedra Beach.

25: Aaron Rai

Age: 30
Odds to win: +10000
DFS Value: $7,100
OWGR: 25 Data Golf: 30
Players 2024: T-35
Players appearances/cuts made: 2/2
Best finish: T-19 (2023)

Rai continues to ascend the PGA Tour status ladder, having always been an excellent fairway and GIR finder. It was the putter that has plagued him, but guess what? Rai has gained with his flatstick positively in all six starts this season. Two trips to Sawgrass, two top-35 finishes. I like Rai to make some noise this week at the Stadium.

24: Jason Day

Age: 37
Odds to win: +6500
DFS Value: $8,100
OWGR: 34 Data Golf: 36
Players 2024: T-35
Players appearances/cuts made: 13/9
Best finish: Won (2016)

One more previous winner pops up on the Power Rankings. Day has six top-20s at the Players. Day hasn’t missed a cut in 2025 and has posted four top-13 finishes in seven starts. I think more than Day’s outfits will be making noise at TPC Sawgrass this week.

23: Robert MacIntyre

Age: 28
Odds to win: +8000
DFS Value: $8,300
OWGR: 19 Data Golf: 22
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 2/0
Best finish: MC (2023, 2024)

Bobby Mac can drive it and putt it, two characteristics you need to play well around the Stadium Course. A two-time winner on the PGA Tour over the last 10 months, MacIntyre has been good this year posting four top-17 results in seven starts.

22: Billy Horschel

Age: 38
Odds to win: +12000
DFS Value: $6,800
OWGR: 20 Data Golf: 55
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 11/6
Best finish: T-13 (2015)

The Florida native who lives in the Ponte Vedra Beach area has a love-hate relationship with TPC Sawgrass. Horschel doesn’t love how he played the Stadium Course in recent years posting no top-25s in his last nine starts. Of course, that’s the opposite of 2025 where Horschel has three top-25s in his last six events.

21: Sam Burns

Age: 28
Odds to win: +5000
DFS Value: $9,300
OWGR: 28 Data Golf: 16
Players 2024: T-45
Players appearances/cuts made: 4/3
Best finish: T-26 (2022)

Burns is very interesting player to rank. He has an incredibly high ceiling with his prolific scoring ability, but he also tends to balance that out with bogeys. As such, Burns bounces around the top 20 by the end of each week. Sam’s last three starts at Sawgrass have been 26-35-45 … see what I mean? He’s a great pool pick because he plays the weekend, but a tough bet to win.

20: Sepp Straka

Age: 31
Odds to win: +6000
DFS Value: $8,600
OWGR: 18 Data Golf: 20
Players 2024: T-16
Players appearances/cuts made: 4/3
Best finish: T-9 (2022)

Straka has been strong this season. The European Ryder Cupper won The American Express and has four more top-15s. Two of the last three years, he has played very good on the Stadium Course. If the odds creep up some more, Straka’s value and winning potential should catch everyone’s attention.

19: Si Woo Kim

Age: 29
Odds to win: +8000
DFS Value: $8,200
OWGR: 71 Data Golf: 32
Players 2024: T-6
Players appearances/cuts made: 8/7
Best finish: Won (2017)

If you are going to ride the Kim swing, buckle up. We experienced a wild trip at Bay Hill, and TPC Sawgrass is an even more entertaining venue. Kim is a past Players champion (2017) coming off four straight top-25 results on tour.

18: Maverick McNealy

Age: 29
Odds to win: +8000
DFS Value: $8,900
OWGR: 12 Data Golf: 17
Players 2024: T-9
Players appearances/cuts made: 4/3
Best finish: T-9 (2024)

The former Stanford star’s stated goal is to make the U.S. Ryder Cup team in September. The Players is a great opportunity to catch Captain Bradley's attention. Three top-10s in seven starts this season is a good start. Combine that with another top-10 on the Stadium Course last year, and you see why he’s ranked inside the top 20.

17: Tony Finau

Age: 35
Odds to win: +5000
DFS Value: $9,200
OWGR: 27 Data Golf: 18
Players 2024: T-45
Players appearances/cuts made: 8/4
Best finish: T-19 (2023)

In four signature starts this season, Finau has three top-15 results. His ball-striking has been great, but I’m not sure if the fit at TPC Sawgrass allows Tony the chance to use his ball speed. For me, Finau is certainly a solid performer, but a bigger threat to win at other elite events.

16: Tom Kim

Age: 22
Odds to win: +5500
DFS Value: $8,500
OWGR: 26 Data Golf: 25
Players 2024: WD
Players appearances/cuts made: 2/1
Best finish: T-51 (2023)

Stop is if you’ve already heard the Stadium Course is an extreme accuracy contest. Well, Kim keeps the ball in play and loves a big stage. His 2024 Players performance was cut short as he withdrew. Back and with considerable confidence let’s see if Tom can improve upon that top-seven at Pebble Beach against a very similar cast of competitors.

15: Jordan Spieth

Age: 31
Odds to win: +5000
DFS Value: $8,800
OWGR: 64 Data Golf: 72
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 10/4
Best finish: T-4 (2014)

Returning from injury in 2025, Spieth has so far answered the call. Two top-10s in his last three starts, Spieth is healthy and building momentum for a month from now at Auugsta National. Jordan is truly a top-10 talent in the world and with his wrist rebuilt, he can do more than contend. Two years ago, he made the cut on the number and finished inside the top 20 at TPC Sawgrass. Spieth’s sending an early season message and there’s more to deliver this week.

14: Brian Harman

Age: 38
Odds to win: +10000
DFS Value: $7,600
OWGR: 37 Data Golf: 54
Players 2024: T-2
Players appearances/cuts made: 12/9
Best finish: T-2 (2024)

I’d pay attention to Harman at TPC Sawgrass. He has four top-eight results in his last 10 starts on the Stadium Course. His “Bulldog” ability to hit fairways, GIRs, and make a ton of putts around the Dye layout adds up. Pros who minimize mistakes tend to contend. In seven 2025 starts, Harman has only missed one weekend.

13: Shane Lowry

Age: 37
Odds to win: +4500
DFS Value: $9,100
OWGR: 17 Data Golf: 15
Players 2024: T-19
Players appearances/cuts made: 9/6
Best finish: 8 (2021)

The harder you make a golf course, the more it seems Lowry climbs the leaderboard. API was near impossible for four days last week, and Lowry led the field in field after 36 holes by two strokes before eventually finishing seventh. An average weekend kept him from winning, but with a week off from outings and TGL, I like the big Irish Bear to get some rest and contend even more in the Dye swamp.

12: Keegan Bradley

Age: 38
Odds to win: +6000
DFS Value: $7,700
OWGR: 16 Data Golf: 31
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 13/8
Best finish: 5 (2022)

The U.S. Ryder Cup captain seems more than motivated these days. Bradley started the year with three top-15 finishes in January and backed them up with another fine finish at Bay Hill on Sunday. His closing 65 was the best final round by three strokes. Ranked first tee to green and first on approach at Bay Hill, can the Captain continue this Ryder Cup playing discussion?

11: Russell Henley

Age: 35
Odds to win: +5000
DFS Value: $9,500
OWGR: 14 Data Golf: 12
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 11/5
Best finish: T-13 (2022)

Henley continues to get better and better, moving up to seventh in the OWGR after the biggest win of his career on Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Russell finished top 40 in all four major championships last season and top 10 in the last two. The Players has never been a great venue for Henley, but buoyed by a signature win things are currently trending in a much different direction.

10: Tommy Fleetwood

Age: 34
Odds to win: +3100
DFS Value: $9,800
OWGR: 10 Data Golf: 9
Players 2024: T-35
Players appearances/cuts made: 7/6
Best finish: T-5 (2019)

What to do with Tommy boy? Will he win? Probably not. Will he break your heart on the way to finishing top 15? Absolutely. In three signature events this season, Fleetwood has finished T-22 at AT&T, T-5 at the Genesis (Torrey), and T-11 at a very difficult API. Fairway Fleetwood also has two career top-10s at TPC Sawgrass.

9: Patrick Cantlay

Age: 32
Odds to win: +3500
DFS Value: $10,000
OWGR: 13 Data Golf: 10
Players 2024: T-68
Players appearances/cuts made: 7/4
Best finish: T-19 (2023)

Cantlay has three top-25s and three missed cuts at the Players. Despite the roller coaster résumé, Cantlay has been solid this season; he has three top-15s in five starts and is gaining an average of five strokes per start over the field. Canltay’s pushing hard for a win, and I believe his next one will be a signature start or even better. On a course where patience and plodding are rewarded, I’ll take the Iceman and his ability to make fewer mistakes than his opponents.

8: Wyndham Clark

Age: 31
Odds to win: +6500
DFS Value: $9,400
OWGR: 7 Data Golf: 51
Players 2024: T-2
Players appearances/cuts made: 5/2
Best finish: T-2 (2024)

What is it that Clark likes about March? Last year he finished runner-up at API and the Players. (Who could forget that final putt as it lipped out on the 72nd hole?!?) One year later, Clark put himself in contention again at API. Why does Wyndham work in major moments? When Clark puts on his driver cape, his off-the-tee game differentiates him from the field. Combined with an elite ability to score from close range, don’t be surprised if this Players feels like déjà vu all over again.

7: Xander Schauffele

Age: 31
Odds to win: +1600
DFS Value: $11,100
OWGR: 3 Data Golf: 3
Players 2024: T-2
Players appearances/cuts made: 6/3
Best finish: T-2 (2018, 2024)

This one is an educated guess. Coming off six weeks of rest from a rib injury, Schauffele made the cut on the number at API. That’s significant as he was the active leader on tour in cuts made at 57 straight. On Friday, he needed to perform and he did, fighting off two double bogeys on the back nine. Xander finished runner-up in his first Players and his latest. Between those two bookends, he has missed the cut three times. Another great fit for a well-rounded exam, Schauffele is going to be a better bet when the majors make their debut in a month on the calendar.

6: Collin Morikawa

Age: 27
Odds to win: +1800
DFS Value: $10,500
OWGR: 5 Data Golf: 5
Players 2024: T-45
Players appearances/cuts made: 4/3
Best finish: T-13 (2023)

Something about the greens at TPC Sawgrass does not sit well with Morikawa. He has lost strokes on the putting surfaces in four straight starts on the Stadium course. Collin’s putting is much improved in the last 12 months, hence his current power and world ranking. Morikawa almost won API, finishing runner-up on what was a very tough test. Four signature starts this year and each finish inside the top 17.

5: Hideki Matsuyama

Age: 33
Odds to win: +2400
DFS Value: $9,900
OWGR: 6 Data Golf: 8
Players 2024: T-6
Players appearances/cuts made: 9/7
Best finish: 5 (2023)

Matsuyama has an incredible record of success at TPC Sawgrass with seven top-25s in 10 starts—and four top-10s. Part of me still believes he wants another shot at the 2020 Players; recall he opened with a 63 and lead by two strokes only for the tournament to be cancelled with the COVID outbreak erupting that week. With one signature win already in 2025, Matsuyama has the talent and résumé to take this title back to Japan and put it on a shelf with his Masters trophy.

4: Justin Thomas

Age: 31
Odds to win: +2000
DFS Value: $10,100
OWGR: 8 Data Golf: 6
Players 2024: MC
Players appearances/cuts made: 9/8
Best finish: Won (2021)

JT has gained positive strokes with his iron game in 12 straight starts. With another strong showing at a signature event on Sunday at Bay Hill, the 2021 Players champ has the game to get it done in Ponte Vedra. For example, Thomas has gained with that same approach game in his last nine Stadium Course starts. He has six starts this season and three top-nine finishes. What does a player's record look like leading up to a big win; see JT’s 2025.

3: Ludvig Åberg

Age: 25
Odds to win: +1800
DFS Value: $10,200
OWGR: 4 Data Golf: 11
Players 2024: 8
Players appearances/cuts made: 1/1
Best finish: 8 (2024)

TPC Sawgrass sets up perfect for Åberg. This Texas Tech slinger can seriously separate from the field with his driver. The Stadium Course is intimidating off the tee, but when you drive it like Ludvig, you can attack holes and leave short scoring shots into the green complexes. In three signature events this year, Ludvig has finished fifth, first and 22nd. During his rookie trip to the Players (2024), Åberg finished eighth. Let’s face it, “The Kid” is a superstar, and TPC Sawgrass will just be one more opportunity for him to stand up to Scheffler and win.

2: Rory McIlroy

Age: 35
Odds to win: +800
DFS Value: $11,500
OWGR: 2 Data Golf: 2
Players 2024: T-19
Players appearances/cuts made: 14/8
Best finish: Won (2019)

McIlroy’s résumé at the Players makes his future performances impossible to predict. During one three-start stretch from 2018 to 2021, he went MC, win, (COVID cancellation) and MC. Four top-12 results and seven missed cuts, Rory’s recent play leaves me to believe this will be a year to back him. McIlroy started his FedEx Cup season with a signature win at Pebble Beach, followed by a top 20 at Genesis and T-15 at API. Just like Ludvig, Rors can attack this course off the tee and separate from the field and Scheffler.

1: Scottie Scheffler

Age: 28
Odds to win: +400
DFS Value: $12,800
OWGR: 1 Data Golf:
Players 2024: Won
Players appearances/cuts made: 4/3
Best finish: Won (2023, 2024)

Get ready to hear this a lot: Scheffler successfully defended his Players title last year, a feat no other previous Players winner had EVER accomplished. Can he make it a three-peat? Well, can he win a gold medal after being six shots back with nine to play? I get it … Scheffler started the season injured and has no wins heading into Players week. Need I remind you, however, that Scottie had only one win last year prior to arriving in Ponte Vedra. We all know how 2024 went. Scheffler’s the best bet on the board to win. Do yourself a favor, don’t overthink it.

Keith Stewart is a five-time award-winning PGA professional, a betting contributor and content partner with Golf Digest and founder of Read The Line, the premier on-site live golf betting insights service covering the LPGA and PGA Tour. Subscribe to Read The Line’s weekly newsletter here and raise your golf betting acumen. Keith's winning content can also be found on SportsGrid, Bleacher Report and The Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @readtheline_.