Players 2026: Power rankings for the entire field at TPC Sawgrass

Whether the Players Championship is considered a major is irrelevant. The flagship event of the PGA Tour is a true bucket-list venture for every golf fan. From the most exciting three-hole finish in all of tournament golf to the most volatile cut line on tour, the Players never lets us down from a competitive and compelling perspective.

Entering the week, two worlds are colliding. Half of the events to date on the PGA Tour schedule have been won by names we have known for years. The other half? Chris Gotterup is your only two-time winner, and who can forget Jacob Bridgeman’s performance at Riviera over a signature field? There’s a new generation of players rising on the tour, and the Players is their first chance in 2026 to measure and elevate their résumés against the very best on tour. As the young guns continue to evolve, so do our Power Rankings. New to the resource list this year is each player’s best major performance in 2025. (Sorry, Brandel, that does not include this event.)

As you prepare those weekend wagers, pool picks, tier takes, fantasy lineups and One and Done selections, enjoy golf’s most complete written resource for fans from Read The Line. Since 2024, the Power Rankings have been your player encyclopedia. Aiming to give you any and every edge possible. Four rounds at TPC Sawgrass’ Players Stadium Course with 47 of the top 50 players in World Ranking may not be considered a major, but come Sunday afternoon, it will sure feel like one.

As usual, to assist with understanding our 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 at DraftKings before Monday of tournament week.
  • Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) value: The posted price for each competitor on DraftKings.
  • OWGR/Data Golf: Yes, LIV Golf is now recognized by the OWGR, But World Rankings still have some catching up to do. To give us a better top-line view of player performance, we include the Data Golf rankings.
  • Best major finish of 2025: Who made news in 2025? (Does not include the Players.)
  • Players 2025: How did we fare last year?
  • Players appearances/cuts made: The number of times a player has competed in the tournament, along with the number of successful cuts made.
  • Best Players finish: Again, another quick reference tool. In 51 editions, only three players have won the Players in their first appearance in the event: Jack Nicklaus in 1974 (inaugural event), Hal Sutton in 1983 and Craig Perks in 2002.
  • Notes: A quick summary for each player to pique or deter your interest in their chances to win or contend in the 52nd Players Championship.

Nos. 101-123

I might be the only person who likes the reduction of the field size. Lol, just kidding, the more the merrier, especially with the clock change on Sunday. Last year, the Power Rankings topped out at 144 players for the Players. If not for Brooks Koepka coming back, the field would have been 120. A mere 24 spots smaller than 2025!

101. Mark Hubbard, 102. Karl Vilips, 103. Emiliano Grillo, 104. Rico Hoey, 105. Danny Walker, 106. Lee Hodges, 107. Zach Bauchou, 108. Chandler Phillips, 109. Kevin Roy, 110. Erik van Rooyen, 111. Patton Kizzire, 112. Garrick Higgo, 113. Matthieu Pavon, 114. A.J. Ewart, 115. Steven Fisk, 116. William Mouw, 117. Sudarshan Yellamaraju, 118. KristofferReitan, 119. Davis Riley, 120. Brian Campbell (below), 121. Adam Schenk, 122. Cam Davis, 123. Joe Highsmith

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Hector Vivas

Nos. 71-100

The field is cut to the top 65 and ties for the weekend. The average cut line over the past decade is one over par. In anticipation of some ties, our Power Rankings extend past 65. All of these players are legitimately on the cusp for weekend play and a chance for a piece of the $25 million purse. Can Ricky Castillo continue his fine form, or will Tony Finau get his back? For middle-tier PGA Tour members, making the cut at TPC Sawgrass can be very impactful. It’s tough to forget the purse ($25 million total, $4.5 million first place prize money payout), but keep in mind the points. A great week on the Stadium Course is a big boost toward earning a spot in the FedEx Cup playoffs.

71. Nick Taylor, 72. Seamus Power, 73. Ricky Castillo, 74. Christiaan Bezuidenhout, 75. Eric Cole, 76. Johnny Keefer, 77. Haotong Li, 78. SH Kim, 79. Chad Ramey, 80. Austin Smotherman, 81. Andrew Novak, 82. Stephan Jaeger, 83. Mackenzie Hughes, 84. Takumi Kanaya, 85. Patrick Rodgers (below), 86. Gary Woodland, 87. Marco Penge, 88. Aldrich Potgieter, 89. Max McGreevy, 90. Matti Schmid, 91. Zecheng Dou, 92. Max Meissner, 93. Kevin Yu, 94. Thorbjorn Olesen, 95. Tony Finau, 96. Sami Valimaki, 97. Alex Smalley, 98. Andrew Putnam, 99. Taylor Moore, 100. Vince Whaley

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Orlando Ramirez

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TPC Sawgrass: Stadium
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
TPC’s stadium concept was the idea of then-PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman. The 1980 design was pure Pete Dye, who set out to test the world’s best golfers by mixing the demands of distance with target golf. Most greens are ringed by random lumps, bumps and hollows, what Dye called his "grenade attack architecture." His ultimate target hole is the heart-pounding sink-or-swim island green 17th, which offers no bailout, perhaps unfairly in windy Atlantic coast conditions. The 17th has spawned over a hundred imitation island greens in the past 40 years. To make the layout even more exciting during tournament play, Steve Wenzloff of PGA Tour Design Services later remodeled several holes, most significantly the 12th, which he turned into a drivable par-4, something Dye was never a fan of.
View Course

Top 65 and ties

70: Max Homa

Age: 35
Odds to win:
+16000
DFS Value:
$7,300
OWGR:
148 Data Golf: 83
Best major finish of 2025:
Masters, T-12
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
5/3
Best finish:
T-6 (2023)

69: Sam Stevens

Age: 29
Odds to win:
+9000
DFS Value: $6,900
OWGR:
46 Data Golf: 51
Best major finish of 2025: U.S. Open, T-23
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
2/0
Best finish:
MC (2024, 2025)

68: Michael Kim

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Al Chang/ISI Photos

Age: 32
Odds to win:
+16500
DFS Value:
$6,800
OWGR:
51 Data Golf: 93
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, T-27
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
5/1
Best finish:
T-60 (2017)

67: Jordan Smith

Age: 33
Odds to win:
+9000
DFS Value:
$6,900
OWGR:
90 Data Golf: 69
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-45
Players 2025:
DNP
Players appearances/cuts made:
Rookie

66: Harry Hall

Age: 28
Odds to win:
+7600
DFS Value:
$6,900
OWGR:
60 Data Golf: 33
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, T-19
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
2/0
Best finish:
MC (2024, 2025)

65: Max Greyserman

Age: 30
Odds to win:
+15500
DFS Value:
$6,700
OWGR:
52 Data Golf: 60
Best major finish of 2025: U.S. Open, T-23
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
1/0
Best finish:
MC (2025)

64: Rasmus Højgaard

Age: 24
Odds to win:
+6700
DFS Value:
$7,300
OWGR:
48 Data Golf: 31
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-16
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
1/0
Best finish:
MC (2025)

63: Michael Thorbjornsen

Age: 24
Odds to win:
+5500
DFS Value:
$7,400
OWGR:
56 Data Golf: 74
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, T-41
Players 2025:
DNP
Players appearances/cuts made:
Rookie

62: Sungjae Im

Age: 27
Odds to win:
+12000
DFS Value:
$6,400
OWGR:
72 Data Golf: 125
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, T-5
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
6/5
Best finish:
T-6 (2023)

61: Jhonnattan Vegas

Age: 41
Odds to win:
+55000
DFS Value:
$6,200
OWGR:
103 Data Golf: 256
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, T-5
Players 2025:
60
Players appearances/cuts made:
11/7
Best finish:
T-3 (2019)

60: Keith Mitchell

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Jared C. Tilton

Age: 34
Odds to win:
+10000
DFS Value:
$7,000
OWGR:
46 Data Golf: 51
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, MC
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
7/5
Best finish:
T-13 (2022)

59: Taylor Pendrith

Age: 34
Odds to win: +7000
DFS Value: $7,100
OWGR: 62 Data Golf: 45
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, T-5
Players 2025: T-38
Players appearances/cuts made: 4/3
Best finish: T-13 (2022)

58: Justin Thomas

Age: 32
Odds to win:
+4800
DFS Value:
$8,000
OWGR:
14 Data Golf: 28
Best major finish of 2025:
The Open, T-34
Players 2025:
T-33
Players appearances/cuts made:
10/9
Best finish:
Win (2021)

57: Davis Thompson

Age: 26
Odds to win:
+10000
DFS Value:
$6,900
OWGR:
119 Data Golf: 98
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, T-46
Players 2025:
T-10
Players appearances/cuts made:
3/2
Best finish:
T-10 (2025)

56: J.T. Poston

Age: 32
Odds to win:
+10500
DFS Value:
$6,700
OWGR:
65 Data Golf: 52
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, T-5
Players 2025:
T-33
Players appearances/cuts made:
6/4
Best finish:
T-22 (2019, 2022)

55: Pierceson Coody

Age: 26
Odds to win:
+7400
DFS Value:
$6,700
OWGR:
47 Data Golf: 38
Best major finish of 2025: DNP
Players 2025:
DNP
Players appearances/cuts made:
Rookie

54: Michael Brennan

Age: 24
Odds to win:
+28000
DFS Value:
$6,700
OWGR:
45 Data Golf: 110
Best major finish of 2025: DNP
Players 2025:
DNP
Players appearances/cuts made:
Rookie

53: J.J. Spaun

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Richard Heathcote

Age: 29
Odds to win:
+4900
DFS Value:
$7,400
OWGR:
9 Data Golf: 23
Best major finish of 2025: U.S. Open, Win
Players 2025:
P-2
Players appearances/cuts made:
6/2
Best finish:
P-2 (2025)

52: Lucas Glover

Age: 46
Odds to win:
+25000
DFS Value:
$6,800
OWGR:
78 Data Golf: 95
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-23
Players 2025:
T-3
Players appearances/cuts made:
17/7
Best finish:
T-3 (2010, 2025)

51: Ryo Hisatsune

Age: 23
Odds to win:
+15000
DFS Value:
$7,100
OWGR:
64 Data Golf: 91
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, T-37
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
2/0
Best finish:
MC (2024, 2025)

50: Nicolai Højgaard

Age: 24
Odds to win:
+7000
DFS Value:
$7,500
OWGR:
50 Data Golf: 39
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-14
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
2/0
Best finish:
MC (2024, 2025)

49: Jordan Spieth

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Age: 32
Odds to win:
+6800
DFS Value:
$7,700
OWGR:
75 Data Golf: 44
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, T-14
Players 2025:
59
Players appearances/cuts made:
11/4
Best finish:
T-4 (2014)

48: Chris Kirk

Age: 29
Odds to win:
+21000
DFS Value:
$6,900
OWGR:
98 Data Golf: 85
Best major finish of 2025: U.S. Open, T-12
Players 2025:
T-42
Players appearances/cuts made:
14/10
Best finish:
T-12 (2017)

47: Joel Dahmen

Age: 38
Odds to win:
+36000
DFS Value:
$6,100
OWGR:
160 Data Golf: 116
Best major finish of 2025: DNP
Players 2025:
T-54
Players appearances/cuts made:
6/5
Best finish:
T-11 (2024)

46: Nico Echavarria

Age: 31
Odds to win:
+20000
DFS Value:
$6,800
OWGR:
34 Data Golf: 57
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, T-41
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
3/0
Best finish:
MC (2023, 2024, 2025)

45: Bud Cauley

Age: 35
Odds to win:
+22500
DFS Value:
$6,600
OWGR:
82 Data Golf: 121
Best major finish of 2025: PGA T-72
Players 2025:
T-6
Players appearances/cuts made:
5/2
Best finish:
T-6 (2025)

44: Ryan Fox

Age: 39
Odds to win:
+23000
DFS Value:
$6,500
OWGR:
44 Data Golf: 53
Best major finish of 2025: U.S. Open, T-19
Players 2025:
T-20
Players appearances/cuts made:
3/2
Best finish:
T-20 (2025)

43: Ben Griffin

Age: 29
Odds to win:
+3,300
DFS Value:
$6,900
OWGR:
11 Data Golf: 12
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, T-8
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
3/1
Best finish:
T-35 (2023)

42: Jason Day

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Andrew Redington

Age: 38
Odds to win:
+6500
DFS Value:
$7,800
OWGR:
37 Data Golf: 41
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, T-8
Players 2025:
DNP
Players appearances/cuts made:
13/9
Best finish:
Won (2016)

41: Wyndham Clark

Age: 32
Odds to win:
+11000
DFS Value:
$7,300
OWGR:
66 Data Golf: 80
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-4
Players 2025:
WD
Players appearances/cuts made:
5/2
Best finish:
T-2 (2024)

40: Corey Conners

Age: 34
Odds to win:
+9000
DFS Value:
$7,100
OWGR:
38 Data Golf: 54
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, T-8
Players 2025:
T-6
Players appearances/cuts made:
6/5
Best finish:
T-6 (2025)

Conners’ iron game has been off in 2026. If you want the Canadian to reach that sixth-place plateau again, his approach play has to improve.

39: Brian Harman

Age: 39
Odds to win:
+13500
DFS Value:
$6,900
OWGR:
55 Data Golf: 100
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-10
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
13/9
Best finish:
T-2 (2024)

With four top-eight finishes in Harman’s last 10 starts at TPC Sawgrass, you must keep him in mind. Following a missed cut in 2025, Harman went on to win the Valero Texas Open in his next start.

38: Denny McCarthy

Age: 32
Odds to win:

DFS Value:
$6,900
OWGR:
89 Data Golf: 67
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, T-8
Players 2025:
T-14
Players appearances/cuts made:
6/6
Best finish:
T-13 (2023)

McCarthy has yet to miss a cut at TPC Sawgrass. With two top-15 results in the last three years, he is someone to keep your eye on for tier contests, placements and H2H matchups.

37: Tom Hoge

Age: 36
Odds to win:
+37000
DFS Value:
$7,000
OWGR:
95 Data Golf: 155
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, T-14
Players 2025:
T-3
Players appearances/cuts made:
7/7
Best finish:
T-3 (2023, 2025)

Hoge has two third-place finishes in the last two years. He also holds the Players Stadium course record (62) along with Justin Thomas.

36: Ryan Gerard

Age: 26
Odds to win:
+8000
DFS Value:
$7,400
OWGR:
26 Data Golf: 30
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, T-8
Players 2025:
T-42
Players appearances/cuts made:
1/1
Best finish:
T-42 (2025)

One of the top five ball-strikers on tour in 2026, Gerard will capture some attention on Dye’s design. Accuracy is everything around the Stadium Course, and Gerard is nothing if not precise.

35: Alex Noren

Age: 43
Odds to win:
+9400
DFS Value:
$7,200
OWGR:
16 Data Golf: 20
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, T-17
Players 2025:
DNP
Players appearances/cuts made:
7/4
Best finish:
10 (2017)

Noren turned a corner at the Genesis Invitational with a T-12. The Swede looks like he is back in the form that helped him win two DP World Tour events in the fall. Noren also has had success at TPC Sawgrass; given his short game and approach accuracy, he starts the next tier of contenders.

34: Matt McCarty

Age: 28
Odds to win:
 +13000
DFS Value:
$6,700
OWGR: 40 Data Golf: 47
Best major finish of 2025:
Masters, T-14
Players 2025:
T-20
Players appearances/cuts made:
1/1
Best finish:
T-20 (2025)

McCarthy has a knack for playing well in big events. After a T-20 in his first Players start, He quickly backed it up with a top 15 at the Masters. His lefty ball flight just seems to fit, and with a runner-up already this year, a player to pay attention to.

33: Maverick McNealy

Age: 30
Odds to win:
+4300
DFS Value:
$7,600
OWGR:
24 Data Golf: 21
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-23
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
5/3
Best finish:
T-9 (2024)

It took the former college player of the year a couple of years to hit his stride on Tour. Now, McNealy’s time has come, and with 12 top-25 finishes in his last 25 starts, Maverick has become one of the PGA Tour’s top guns.

32: Kurt Kitayama

Age: 33
Odds to win:
+7800
DFS Value:
$7,500
OWGR:
30 Data Golf: 26
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, MC
Players 2025:
T-33
Players appearances/cuts made:
3/2
Best finish:
T-19 (2024)

Kitayama is a secret weapon in pools and DFS contests. He is efficient at making cuts and scoring. One of the best ball-strikers on tour, Kitayama may not win often, but when you need consistency in your lineup on a volatile track, he is a keeper.

31: Jacob Bridgeman

Age: 26
Odds to win:
+7000
DFS Value:
$7,900
OWGR:
19 Data Golf: 27
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, U.S. Open, MC
Players 2025:
T-50
Players appearances/cuts made:
1/1
Best finish:
T-50 (2025)

In six starts this year, Bridgeman has yet to finish outside the top 18. Winner of the Genesis Invitational, the former Clemson golfer has the perfect combination of approach accuracy and putter savvy needed to succeed at Sawgrass.

30: Keegan Bradley

Age: 39
Odds to win:
+6500
DFS Value:
$7,200
OWGR:
20 Data Golf: 36
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, T-8
Players 2025:
T-20
Players appearances/cuts made:
14/9
Best finish:
5 (2022)

Bradley does not seem to have put Bethpage behind him. The U.S. captain had a phenomenal 2025 on tour, and since the Ryder Cup has not finished better than T-29. The Players is an amazing fit for Keegan’s killer ball-striking and short game. Four top-20s in the last seven starts at TPC Sawgrass are proof.

29: Sam Burns

Age: 29
Odds to win:
+5100
DFS Value:
$8,400
OWGR:
29 Data Golf: 19
Best major finish of 2025: U.S. Open, T-7
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
5/3
Best finish:
T-26 (2022)

Burns certainly has the talent to win a Players gold trophy, but the results at TPC Sawgrass are average at best. He managed a spike performance at Pebble Beach last month, so he remains in the top 30 based on talent.

28: Sahith Theegala

Age: 28
Odds to win:
+12000
DFS Value:
$7,000
OWGR:
97 Data Golf: 66
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, T-29
Players 2025:
T-52
Players appearances/cuts made:
4/3
Best finish:
T-9 (2024)

Theegala is back to his elite ways in 2026. Seven starts and three top-10 finishes, including sixth place at API on Sunday proves he has figured out his form and can repeat his 2024 top-10 finish (or better) at the Players.

27: Daniel Berger

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Mike Ehrmann

Age: 32
Odds to win:
+8200
DFS Value:
$7,100
OWGR:
61 Data Golf: 76
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, T-21
Players 2025:
T-20
Players appearances/cuts made:
8/7
Best finish:
T-9 (2016, 2021)

Berger has the ball flight, recent form and course history at the Players to make another run at the leaderboard. Will he be bothered by his Bay Hill finish? Berger came back from an injury that sidelined him for several months. With that kind of resolve, he gets a strong look on the Power Rankings list.

26: Justin Rose

Age: 45
Odds to win: +3600
DFS Value:
$8,500
OWGR:
4 Data Golf: 37
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, P-2
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
20/11
Best finish:
T-4 (2014)

Rose has won twice on the PGA Tour in the last seven months. However, buyer beware: This Rose has given us thorny results recently at the Players. The Englishman missed the cut three times in his last four starts at TPC Sawgrass. The form is great, let’s see if he can rekindle that 2023 form where he finished T-6 on the Stadium Course.

25: Viktor Hovland

Age: 28
Odds to win:
+3900
DFS Value:
$9,100
OWGR:
17 Data Golf: 24
Best major finish of 2025: U.S. Open, 3
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
5/3
Best finish:
T-3 (2023)

I remain steadfast on the notion that Hovland is a big game hunter. Hovland’s recent results should push his power rankings further down the board, but Viktor has two top-nine finishes here in the last four years.

24: Chris Gotterup

Age: 26
Odds to win:
+4100
DFS Value:
$9,200
OWGR:
6 Data Golf: 29
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, 3
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
1/0
Best finish:
MC (2025)

The first two-time winner in 2026, Gotterup, continues to show up in big moments. Another top-20 in a signature event at Bay Hill on a questionable Sunday for course conditions at API, and the New Jersey native continues to elevate his standing on tour. TPC Sawgrass is a place where you cannot miss left off the tee. Gotterup’s power fade couldn’t be a more perfect weapon for this week.

23: Patrick Cantlay

Age: 33
Odds to win:
+4100
DFS Value:
$8,200
OWGR:
31 Data Golf: 17
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, T-36
Players 2025:
T-12
Players appearances/cuts made:
8/5
Best finish:
T-12

Last year was Cantlay’s best finish at the Players. His Data Golf trend is one of the best of the outright options, yet he sits on our list poised to move in either direction. Will we see the early top-15 results Cantlay showed us this year, or the form that missed the cut at API?

22: Akshay Bhatia

Age: 24
Odds to win:
+7000
DFS Value:
$7,700
OWGR:
39 Data Golf: 35
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-30
Players 2025:
T-3
Players appearances/cuts made:
2/1
Best finish:
T-3 (2025)

A perfect course for Bhatia’s ball-striking acumen, I expect several top-10s on Bhatia’s career résumé at the Players. At 24, he plays the style of aggressive golf Pete Dye rewards. Think about Akshay’s approach on 16 Sunday at Bay Hill. With the tournament on the line, Bhatia makes an eagle. Fresh off winning the API, does anyone have better recent form than Bhatia?

21: Harris English

Age: 36
Odds to win:
+5600
DFS Value:
$7,500
OWGR:
15 Data Golf: 16
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, The Open, T-2
Players 2025:
T-30
Players appearances/cuts made:
11/4
Best finish:
T-19 (2024)

When you see English in the field on a difficult course, you think his name should be lower on the rankings. English’s U.S. Open style accuracy and scoring savvy should be a perfect fit for TPC Sawgrass, and yet he barely made the cut in most of his Stadium Course starts! Seven for seven in made cuts and top-30 finishes in 2026, maybe this recent run will give English the opportunity to get serious on a Players Sunday.

20: Aaron Rai

Age: 30
Odds to win:
+10500
DFS Value:
$7,200
OWGR:
33 Data Golf: 61
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, T-19
Players 2025:
T-14
Players appearances/cuts made:
3/3
Best finish:
T-14 (2025)

Three starts at the Players for Rai and two top-20 finishes. This accuracy maven will keep himself in contention by avoiding major trouble for 72 holes. The putter is usually Rai’s trouble spot, but at TPC Sawgrass, he has gained with his flatstick in two of his three starts.

19: Sepp Straka

Age: 32
Odds to win:
+6600
DFS Value:
$7,600
OWGR:
13 Data Golf: 42
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-52
Players 2025:
T-14
Players appearances/cuts made:
5/4
Best finish:
T-9 (2022)

Straka is an accurate player, and his Players record reflects an ability to keep the ball safe around TPC Sawgrass. In his last three Stadium Course starts, he has finished with three top-16 results. After a T-13 at API, Straka makes a great case for a top-20 option in this field.

18: Rickie Fowler

2262545830

Orlando Ramirez

Age: 37
Odds to win:
+6100
DFS Value:
$7,400
OWGR:
67 Data Golf: 22
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-14
Players 2025:
71
Players appearances/cuts made:
14/8
Best finish:
Won (2015)

Fowler represents a great value opportunity on the betting board or in your local pool or contest. A name the casual fan hasn’t paid attention to in some time is trending. Fowler’s finish at the API gives him six top-20s in seven starts, going back to the FedEx St. Jude. Let’s not forget, Rickie is a Players champion (2015).

17: Jake Knapp

Age: 31
Odds to win:
+5400
DFS Value:
$7,600
OWGR:
41 Data Golf: 15
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, MC
Players 2025:
T-12
Players appearances/cuts made:
2/2
Best finish:
T-12 (2025)

There’s a small cloud of uncertainty surrounding Knapp’s withdrawal from API. Whether it was illness or injury, keep an eye on the situation. If Knapp is healthy, he is a viable contender for this trophy. This season, he has not finished worse than 11th in five starts. T-12 at TPC Sawgrass one year ago, Knapp is playing better than last year (Data Golf trend), and with his driver and putter, he’s a serious player to consider on the Stadium Course.

16: Robert MacIntyre

Age: 29
Odds to win:
+4000
DFS Value:
$8,800
OWGR:
8 Data Golf: 11
Best major finish of 2025: U.S. Open 2
Players 2025:
9
Players appearances/cuts made:
3/1
Best finish:
9 (2025)

MacIntyre would be ranked in the top 10 if not for recent struggles with his iron game. Bobby Mac has not been attacking the greens with great accuracy. The rest of his game is on point, and MacIntyre gained nicely on approach at TPC Sawgrass last year, finishing ninth. We are going to keep him close to the top of the rankings, because if there is a positive swing in his iron game, MacIntyre will be in contention come Sunday afternoon.

15: Brooks Koepka

Age: 35
Odds to win:
+5400
DFS Value:
$7,800
OWGR:
216 Data Golf: 135
Best major finish of 2025: U.S. Open, T-12
Players 2025:
DNP
Players appearances/cuts made: 6/4
Best finish:
T-11 (2018)

This is a big week for Brooks. He came back to the PGA Tour because he wanted to compete in elite events and prepare for majors. With T-9 at the Cognizant Classic, Koepka is motivated to gain signature status. Since returning to the tour, his ball-striking has been great. A quick change of venue to Florida, and the putter popped. If the flatstick trend continues, there’s value where Brooks sits on the board. The only hitch: his career record at TPC Sawgrass is inconsistent.

14: Shane Lowry

2204764637

Jared C. Tilton

Age: 38
Odds to win:
+5000
DFS Value:
$8,600
OWGR:
27 Data Golf: 14
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-40
Players 2025:
T-20
Players appearances/cuts made:
10/7
Best finish:
8 (2021)

API provided a much-needed reset for Lowry after his surprising close at the Cognizant Classic. I’m not worried about the Irishman since he sank the winning putt at the Ryder Cup last September. He has nine starts and six top-12 results. Lowry has not lost strokes to the field with his irons since last May at the Truist. He starts the top 15 in the Power Rankings because he always shows up in the Sunshine State. What better way to exorcise the demons of PGA National’s Bear Trap than to conquer 16, 17, and 18 at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday?

13: Ludvig Åberg

Age: 26
Odds to win:
+4500
DFS Value:
$8,700
OWGR:
23 Data Golf: 25
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, 7
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
2/1
Best finish:
8 (2024)

Should "The Kid" be ranked inside the top 10 after a top-three finish at API? Åberg came into the 2025 Players following a Genesis victory at Torrey Pines and went home for the weekend. TPC Sawgrass can be tough to predict. Åberg’s first appearance resulted in an eighth-place finish, and the second was a missed cut. He’s inside the top 15 based upon talent, but grabbing a top 10 spot in the rankings will require more consistency.

12: Adam Scott

2113291530

Ben Jared

Age: 45
Odds to win:
+7200
DFS Value:
$7,300
OWGR:
53 Data Golf: 34
Best major finish of 2025: U.S. Open, T-12
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
23/18
Best finish:
Won (2004)

Scott hit the high 180s in ball speed at Riviera. Much like Justin Rose, Scott continues to play elite golf into his mid-40s. The Aussie’s approach game has been off at TPC Sawgrass in recent years. Scott comes into the Players gaining with his iron game in his last nine measured starts! Combine proximity from the fairway with one of the best drivers of the golf ball all-time, and I’m saying there’s a chance

11: Min Woo Lee

Age: 27
Odds to win:
+5400
DFS Value:
$7,500
OWGR:
32 Data Golf: 32
Best major finish of 2025: Masters 49
Players 2025:
T20
Players appearances/cuts made:
3/3
Best finish:
T6 (2023)

Over his last 10 starts, Lee has seven top-15 finishes. He is an incredible driver of the golf ball and well-rounded when it comes to the short game and putting. The missing element was his approach proximity. Min Woo has vastly improved in that strokes-gained category, and the results show it. Lee finished sixth in his first Players start and has not missed a cut. A top-six finish at API further proves Lee is ready to challenge all contenders on a course where few are comfortable.

10: Cameron Young

2261518799

Mike Mulholland

Age: 28
Odds to win:
+3600
DFS Value:
$8,100
OWGR:
21 Data Golf: 13
Best major finish of 2025: U.S. Open, T-4
Players 2025:
T-61
Players appearances/cuts made:
4/3
Best finish:
T-51 (2023)

Young’s record at the Players gives us pause. Since winning the Wyndham, he has taken his game to another level. In 10 post-Sedgefield starts, he has seven top-11 finishes. Tied seventh at Genesis and third at API, Young has positioned his ball-striking to perform better on Dye’s design. If he keeps that putter and short game going, he will give us something to talk about on Sunday

9: Si Woo Kim

Age: 30
Odds to win:
+3200
DFS Value:
$9,300
OWGR:
28 Data Golf: 10
Best major finish of 2025: PGA T8
Players 2025:
T38
Players appearances/cuts made:
9/8
Best finish:
Won (2017)

The 2017 Players champ has been lingering around the top of the PGA Tour leaderboards since the start of the season. What’s most impressive is that Kim contends with 13 clubs. Kim has gained with his flatstick in one out of six starts in 2026. Si Woo’s ball-striking is incredible, and the short game saves strokes. This is one of those get-ready situations. If we know the T2G is there, and we need the putter, Kim is a perfect candidate to pop on this course, where he has already won. Not to mention he gains on the greens in more than 50 percent of his career starts. An excellent first-round leader candidate, go after Si Woo early and often.

8: Matt Fitzpatrick

2084801226

James Gilbert

Age: 31
Odds to win:
+4600
DFS Value:
$8,900
OWGR:
22 Data Golf: 8
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-4
Players 2025:
MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
9/4
Best finish:
5 (2024)

Under super-firm conditions, Fitzpatrick was not a great fit at API. His flights the ball super low, and with that Bay Hill bounce, it is tough to keep up with the elite high launch players. Start hitting scoring irons and wedges into greens at TPC Sawgrass, and control over your wedge trajectory and spin becomes an edge. Fitzpatrick has been on a tear since the 2025 PGA. In 21 starts, he has a win (DP World Tour Championship), a Ryder Cup triumph, and 10 top-10s! The 2022 U.S. Open winner knows how to close major events, and another big win is coming.

7: Russell Henley

Age: 36
Odds to win:
+3300
DFS Value:
$9,000
OWGR:
7 Data Golf: 6
Best major finish of 2025: U.S. Open, The Open, T-10
Players 2025:
T-30
Players appearances/cuts made:
12/6
Best finish:
T-13 (2022)

Not every player embraces being ranked inside the top 10 of the OWGR. Henley has been thriving since joining the top 10. Fifth at the Memorial last summer, Henley has eight top-15 results in 13 starts. Henley isn’t playing the John Deere every week. These are signature events he continues to contend in. Over the weekend at API, Henley finished T-6 in defense of his Bay Hill title

6: Hideki Matsuyama

Age: 34
Odds to win:
+3100
DFS Value:
$9,500
OWGR:
12 Data Golf: 7
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-16
Players 2025: MC
Players appearances/cuts made:
10/7
Best finish:
5 (2023)

Matsuyama is one of five players to shoot 63 in the opening round of the Players. Three of the other four went on to win the championship. Matsuyama? We will never know; it came in 2020 when the rest of the tournament was cancelled due to COVID. On an incredible run, Matsuyama is a real threat to avenge that moment and grab the gold trophy. Since winning the Hero World Challenge in December, he is hitting in all four strokes-gained categories, especially approach.

5: Xander Schauffele

2083910508

Kevin C. Cox

Age: 32
Odds to win:
+2500
DFS Value:
$9,600
OWGR:
10 Data Golf: 5
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-7
Players 2025:
72
Players appearances/cuts made:
7/4
Best finish:
T-2 (2018, 2024)

API was just another week of gaining in all four primary strokes-gained categories for Schauffele. Twice a runner-up at TPC Sawgrass, his complete complement of skills places him firmly in the outright winner conversation. Back-to-back solid performances in difficult signature events catch my attention. What’s even more interesting is that few are talking about his play. Which is fine with us, let those odds creep up even more, and we’ll head right to the window. The Stadium Course calls for a well-rounded résumé, and we all know Schauffele has one.

4: Tommy Fleetwood

2237364605

Andrew Redington

Age: 35
Odds to win:
+1800
DFS Value:
$10,300
OWGR:
3 Data Golf: 4
Best major finish of 2025: The Open, T-16
Players 2025:
T-14
Players appearances/cuts made:
8/7
Best finish:
T-5 (2019)

Let’s face it, Fleetwood is well-suited to win a Players or an Open Championship; his trajectory control and accuracy are amazing. In Fleetwood’s last 25 starts, he has two wins, including the Tour Championship, and 13 top-15s, including a T-14 last year on the Stadium Course. Proving to himself he can win on the PGA Tour under pressure in Atlanta, watch Fleetwood finish this field off with superior ball striking and short game savvy. What about the misfire at API? The mechanics of Tommy’s move allow him to reset quickly, which is exactly what he will do in Ponte Vedra. 

3: Collin Morikawa

2204971778

Richard Heathcote

Age: 29
Odds to win:
+2700
DFS Value:
$9,800
OWGR:
5 Data Golf: 18
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, T-14
Players 2025:
T-10
Players appearances/cuts made:
5/4
Best finish:
T-10 (2025)

What a difference a year makes: Heading into the 2025 Players, Morikawa was answering tough questions. A little spat with the media and his week at Sawgrass was cursed from the start, making his T-10 finish all the more impressive. Fast forward to 2026, Morikawa has won a signature event and has his world-class iron game back. He has tortured the field for 10 starts in a row. Tenth at the Players last year, he comes in looking very confident. TGL, API, Pebble Beach, it does not matter. The Stadium Course calls for several high-leverage iron shots down the closing stretch. There is no player in the field I would rather have hit those shots than Morikawa right now!

2: Rory McIlroy

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Ben Jared

Age: 36
Odds to win:
+1000
DFS Value:
$11,700
OWGR:
2 Data Golf: 3
Best major finish of 2025: Masters, Win
Players 2025:
Win
Players appearances/cuts made:
15/9
Best finish:
Win (2019, 2025)

The defending champion has won here twice in the last five full editions of this championship. McIlroy’s WD at API (back) must have been precautionary. No offense to The King, but defending a Players title required some rest. Fourteenth at Pebble and runner-up at Riviera, Rory’s iron game is clicking much like one year ago when he won the gold statue. McIlroy always has that driver ability to boost him up leaderboards, but when the approach game is on, he wins. Make a couple of putts at TPC Sawgrass and watch out for the second defending champion to win in four years and the first player to win three Players at Sawgrass. So long as the API WD really was precautionary.

1: Scottie Scheffler

2205374621

Richard Heathcote

Age: 29
Odds to win:
+305
DFS Value:
$14,200
OWGR:
1 Data Golf: 1
Best major finish of 2025: PGA, The Open, Win
Players 2025:
T-20
Players appearances/cuts made:
5/4
Best finish:
Win (2023, 2024)

Scheffler has a win and two top-four finishes in five starts on tour in 2026. Sounds pretty good when you say it that way. He has not lost strokes to the field since the Genesis Scottish Open in July 2022! Scottie’s dip in approach play? In his last three starts on the Stadium Course, Scheffler has gained an average of +1.7 strokes with his irons and +3.8 strokes on the field total PER round. Therefore, the rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated. With two major championships and seven wins since the 2025 Players, the World No. 1 has earned that spot, even with his recent uncharacteristic iron play.

Keith Stewart is a five-time award-winning PGA professional, a betting contributor and content partner with Golf Digest. Stewart is a co-founder of Read The Line, the premier on-site live golf betting insights service covering the PGA Tour, LPGA and TGL. Subscribe to Read The Line’s weekly newsletter for the industry's best betting narratives. Follow him on Twitter @readtheline.