With St. Patrick’s Day approaching, there is plenty of green err golf to bet on. Yes, the 2026 The Players Championship starts this Thursday from the beautiful Sawgrass course in Ponte Verda Beach, Florida. There is the Stadium Course where the top players will take their swings at. Hey, many consider this the unofficial fifth major. The current event record of 264 set by Greg Normal in 2004. Cue up those 2026 The Players Championship bets.
This is considered more than a signature PGA event. Yes, the battle for glory on this course spans over 72 holes from March 12-15th, 2026. Can Rory McIlroy win again, will Scottie Scheffler win this time, or could someone more unexpected take the title?
We examine the field, sprinkle in a few contenders and longer shots then offer up more of our best free golf betting picks to see if you can find some gold at the end of the rainbow err Sunday evening.
| The Players Championship |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | +365 | +350 | +340 |
| Rory McIlroy | +1125 | +1200 | +1000 |
| Xander Schauffele | +2300 | +2200 | +2200 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +2500 | +2500 | +2400 |
| Collin Morikawa | +3000 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Ludvig Aberg | +3300 | +2800 | +3000 |
| Cameron Young | +3000 | +3000 | +3000 |
| Si Woo Kim | +3700 | +3500 | +3300 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | +3900 | +3500 | +3500 |
| Russell Henley | +4000 | +3800 | +3500 |
| Chris Gotterup | +4300 | +3800 | +4000 |
| Viktor Hovland | +4500 | +4000 | +4000 |
Check out all the latest and top Las Vegas Golf betting odds here.
Below you will find some contenders, a favorite and a longer shot or two to win the 2026 edition of The Players Championship.
Now, The Players Championship bets have a familiar face or two at least.Thanks to the large field of 156 golfers, bettors get some more help in the way of more options. Furthermore, some golfers are trying to make a name for themselves and this event provides it. 2026 The Players Championship bets reflect a slight shift in the expected numbers.
As we mentioned, plenty of top golfers are here. This course corrected the market in a different direction. It is no surprise that Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are the favorites. After all, McIlroy won the event last year. He prevented Scheffler from gaining the elusive three-peat. Jack Nicklaus is the only golfer to ever win the tournament three times.
Now, why is that? Honestly, there are times where TPC Sawgrass can be lame and tame and times where it has teeth. Both Scheffler and McIlroy have shown an ability to win both ways. The early forecast indicates potential for big problems on Thursday and potentially on Sunday as well. Remember, this is Florida. Thunderstorms can happen at any time.
Scheffler has been gaining strokes left and right and won at The American Express in January. That Top 5 number at -114 could be something to sneak in. He will fight all weekend and maybe that Sunday weather doesn’t materialize. The McIlroy +125 for a Top 10 is another option here if there is a bit more inclement weather.
Here is the 2026 soup to nuts review for Bovada Las Vegas sports betting
When it comes to The Players Championship bets, will we get that playoff again? Why? Sometimes, these events are unique. Playoff probabilities are a little low. Only three times in the past 15 years have 72 holes not decided the issue. However, one of those was in 2025 when Rory McIlroy needed a little more time to defeat J.J. Spaun.
Thanks to the abundance of props, some books have this listed at +400 on BetOnline. Hey, this is not too surprising given what occurred last year. With so many top golfers down in Florida, the iconic 17th hole (The Island), and maybe that Sunday weather, playoff chances have to be elevated. A three player playoff clocks in at a whopping +1200 because the chances are a lot smaller. The last one was in 2015.
The golfers will feel the need to make more birdies early because the pin placements get more challenging late. This is the type of event for those who can be resillient. After that, it is up to their putters to be true. It is why golfers like Chris Gotterup and Tommy Fleetwood could have a shot here to cause a playoff. Both have shown excellent early season form.
Here is our current and updated review for BetOnline sports betting.
The allure of The 2026 The Players Championship Bets is apparent. Yes, this is one huge payday to the winner of $4.5 million but the glory of the title is everlasting. The list of winners is like a who’s who of the best and highest profile golfers. One can truly make a name for themselves winning this event. Period!
In the meantime, let us mull some longer shots to win in Florida. One could be Robert MacIntyre at +5000 via BetUS. MacIntyre has had his moments and the long hitter does have some touch. That may surprise quite a few people. Golfers like Min Woo Lee (also +5000) and even Akshay Bhatia have to be placed in this group.
If one likes to roll even further down the column, J.J. Spaun is right there at +7600. He nearly won the event previously in 2025 as he lost the aforementioned playoff to McIlroy. The American later won the U.S. Open at Oakmont in a classic battle of guts and perseverance. His 2026 has not been the best but an event like this can bring back a return of form.
There is almost zero chance of the course record falling. No one has gone close to -24 under par since Scheffler in 2024 (-20). This tournament is must watch TV and more than just that 17th hole.
