Key Highlights and Player Analysis

? Russell Henley’s Victory at Arnold Palmer Invitational

• Henley won his fifth PGA Tour title at Bay Hill.
• Entered the Top 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
• Ranked first in top-10 finishes for the season.
• Hit 2nd most greens in regulation and showcased an elite short game.
• Major moment: Chipped in for Eagle on the 16th hole to secure a one-stroke victory.

 Collin Morikawa’s Near-Miss

• Two-time major winner who had a three-shot lead on Sunday but lost.
• 11th runner-up finish since the start of 2024.
• 4th in strokes gained off the tee, 5th in approach, but putting struggles held him back.
• Lost almost half a stroke per round on Bermuda greens.

 Scottie Scheffler’s Performance at Bay Hill

• Finished T-11 with rounds of 71, 72, 71, 70.
• Led the field in strokes gained off the tee.
• Lost 5.5 strokes on the greens, making it his worst putting week since the U.S. Open.
• Defending champion at the Players' Championship, but struggles with putting raise concerns.

 Patrick Cantlay and Max Gracerman’s Struggles

• Cantlay (30-1 odds) finished T-31, struggled with driving and putting.
• Gracerman (110-1 odds) had a solid start but collapsed over the weekend.
• Both players had subpar putting weeks, affecting their contention.

 Other Notable Player Performances

• Justin Thomas: Tied for 31st, lost nearly 5.5 strokes on the greens.
• Ludvig Åberg: Elite driver, but weak iron play kept him out of contention.
• Davis Riley: Secured a top-20 finish at Puerto Rico Open.

Betting Picks & Predictions for the Players' Championship

 Top Five Favorites (Betting Odds & Analysis)

1. Scottie Scheffler (+550)

   • Defending Players' Champion.
   • Strong driver, elite ball striker, but recent putting struggles.
   • No bets placed on him due to low betting value.

2. Rory McIlroy (12-1)

   • Former champion (2019), finished T-19 last year.
   • Elite iron player, but historically poor putter at Sawgrass.
   • No bet placed due to inconsistency on Bermuda greens.

3. Collin Morikawa (14-1)

   • Historically poor performances at Sawgrass: 41st (2021), MC (2022), 13th (2023), 45th (2024).
   • Weak Bermuda grass putter, recent struggles at Bay Hill.
   • No bet placed.

4. Ludvig Åberg (18-1)

   • Second-best driver in the field, but iron play has been erratic.
   • Finished 8th in his debut at Sawgrass last year.
   • No bet placed due to weak approach play.

5. Justin Thomas (25-1)

   • Past champion, but recently poor putting.
   • Missed the cut last year and finished 60th the year before.
   • No bet placed.

 Key Betting Picks

 Head-to-Head Matchup

• Russell Henley (-180) over Sam Burns
  • Burns has lost strokes in six of his last seven events.
  • Henley is on a hot streak with consistent top-25 finishes.
  • Bet placed on Henley due to Burns’ struggles.

 Top-20 Finish Picks

1. Tommy Fleetwood (+150)

   • Consistent top-20 finishes since the Olympics.
   • Strong driver and iron player, but putting can be inconsistent.

2. Aaron Rai (+188)

   • Elite approach play in last two tournaments.
   • Weak Bermuda grass putter, but great recent form.

3. Robert MacIntyre (+200)

   • Two top-10s in last three starts.
   • Missed two cuts at Sawgrass, but trending upward.

 Outright Winners

1. Wyndham Clark (66-1)

   • Tied 4th at last year's Players’ Championship.
   • Elite putter on Bermuda greens.

2. Jordan Spieth (70-1)

   • Elite putter, strong recent form.
   • Past T-4 finish at Sawgrass.

3. Michael Kim (90-1)

   • Three top-6 finishes in last five starts.
   • Playing the best golf of his career.

 Sleeper Pick

• Jason Day to Top 10 (+400)
  • Former Players' Champion (2016).
  • Elite putter, trending in the right direction.

 First Round Leader

• Michael Kim to Top 10 after Round 1 (+550)
  • Excellent ball striking, paired with solid putting.

 DFS & Fantasy Lineups

 DraftKings ($50K Budget)

1. Tommy Fleetwood ($9.8K)
2. Wyndham Clark ($9.4K)
3. Jordan Spieth ($8.8K)
4. Jason Day ($8.1K)
5. Matthew Fitzpatrick ($7.5K)
6. Michael Kim ($5.9K)

 PGATOUR.com Lineup

• Starters: Wyndham Clark, Jordan Spieth, Michael Kim (Captain), Jason Day.
• Bench: Tommy Fleetwood, Matthew Fitzpatrick.

 Final Predictions & Best Bet

• Weather: Rain will soften the course early in the week, with gusts up to 30mph on the weekend.
• Winning Score: -17 under par.
• Best Bet: Matthew Fitzpatrick to Top 20 (+320).
  • Elite iron player at Sawgrass.
  • Two top-10 finishes in last four starts here.

? Conclusion

This episode of the Golf Preview Podcast provided a deep dive into recent tournament results, player form, and betting strategies for the Players’ Championship. Will Doctor meticulously analyzed each player’s strengths and weaknesses, crafting strategic bets and DFS lineups. With the soft course conditions and a stacked field, the tournament is expected to be highly competitive.