Golf betting tips and free bets: Three picks for the Players Championship including 40/1 Major winner in great form
After the mayhem caused by rock hard greens at Bay Hill last week the world’s finest could face a very difficult challenge at the Players Championship, with severe storms forecast for Sawgrass.
The worst of the weather is forecast for Thursday and Friday, and with his reputation as a mud-lover – plus an infuriating tendency to butcher great starts at the moment – the 22-1 about Rory McIlroy to be the halfway leader looks very tempting.
Rory will have to be at his best to finish on top though, as the field contains 46 more of the world’s top fifty, a line-up worthy of any of the Majors.
He was flying after a seven-under first round last week but finished the event by snapping a club and complaining about the set up.
Maybe the record-breaking $20million prize money has something to do with that, with the winner taking home a mouth-watering $3.5million.
As if that wasn’t enough of an incentive, my top pick, Collin Morikawa, has the added goal of trying to overtake Jon Rahm as world No 1.
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Hot shot: Collin Morikawa, 14-1.
As outlined above, Morikawa has everything to play for at Sawgrass, and I reckon he could enjoy a double celebration on Sunday.
He clearly relished being back on home soil after a couple of lacklustre efforts in Abu Dhabi and Dubai when he finished runner-up at the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles on his last start.
He can be forgiven for losing out to wire-to-wire winner Joaquin Niemann, who had one of those once in a lifetime weeks, and is nicely rested for the Players – unlike those who played in the gruelling Honda Classic and Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Morikawa looks capable of winning anywhere, and don’t be put off by the fact that this is only his second appearance at Sawgrass. He finished off last year’s debut by shooting a best of the day 66, and definitely has the game for this test.
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Mid price: Shane Lowry 40-1.
The former Open champion reckons he was robbed when the heavens opened just as he was about to play the final hole at the Honda Classic needing to birdie the par five closing hole to force a play-off.
Let’s hope he will be singing in the rain this time. His recent form certainly suggests a first victory since his runaway triumph at Royal Portrush in 2019 is just around the corner.
Lowry has been knocking on the door recently in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia before that runner-up finish at Honda, and seems to be oozing with confidence.
He was not playing anywhere near as well as this in the build-up when he finished eighth last year, and with some bookmakers paying ten and eleven places, Lowry looks great value.
Longshot: Lucas Herbert, 150-1.
First timers are not supposed to win at Sawgrass, but the gritty Aussie has the game to make an impact in his Players debut. And if you can find a market on the best of the newcomers, he looks the man to be on.
Herbert suffered an understandable dip after big wins in Europe and the USA last year, but he bounced back to form with a top ten finish at Bay Hill last week.
He shot the best round of the day on Sunday, a brilliant four under par 68 on a brutal day when only one other player managed to break 70.
Herbert has shown on several occasions that he loves it when the conditions get tough, and if the storms arrive this week he could easily make a mockery of those three figure odds.
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