Though not officially a major, the PGA Tour’s flagship event THE PLAYERS Championship has been symbolically called the “fifth major” with the top players in the world lured by the massive prize pool. More than 120 golfers will compete for the $4.5 million first place payout. Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 ranked golfer, opened as the PGA golf odds betting favorite.
What Is THE PLAYERS Championship?
First played in 1974, THE PLAYERS Championship rivals and in some cases surpasses what the traditional majors offer. Its high class field, enormous purse and challenging course conditions have earned it the title of fifth major. The event typically features the top 50 players in the OWGR and recent PGA Tour winners ensuring a world class field.
Where Is THE PLAYERS Championship Played?
Since 1982 THE PLAYERS Championship has been held exclusively at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. The Stadium Course is known as one of the most difficult on Tour and boasts the most iconic hole in golf: the par 3, 17th “Island Green.” More than 70 yards were added to the course bringing the distance to 7,352 yards at par 72.
THE PLAYERS Championship Schedule
The tournament will be contested from Thursday, March 12 thru Sunday, March 15, 2026. A field of 123 golfers will play a format featuring 72 holes of stroke play. The field will be reduced to the top 65 players and ties with a cut after 36 holes.
How to Watch THE PLAYERS Championship
Fans can watch THE PLAYERS Championship through a combination of television and streaming services. Early rounds air on Golf Channel with NBC covering the weekend. Peacock streams NBC weekend coverage and ESPN+ streams featured groups and holes.
THE PLAYERS Championship Betting Odds & Markets
THE PLAYERS Championship isn’t a major but it gets treated like one at sportsbooks with an extensive menu of wagers and props. Most of the top 50 in the world rankings will peg it up with No. 1 Scheffler the favorite in the outright market. Scheffler went back to back at TPC Sawgrass in 2024 and 2025 but he’s coming off his worst finish in more than a year.
There is some concern about second favorite and defending champion Rory McIlroy, who withdrew from last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational with what was described as a back injury. Collin Morikawa and Si Woo Kim are the only other players with shorter than 20/1 PGA golf odds.
Scottie Scheffler +485
Rory McIlroy +1500
Collin Morikawa +1500
Si Woo Kim +1950
Ludvig Aberg +2251
Russell Henley +2401
Xander Schauffele +2801
Cameron Young +3001
Tommy Fleetwood +3251
Matt Fitzpatrick +3601
Hideki Matsuyama +3651
Min Woo Lee +3801
All Other Golfers Listed at +4000 or Higher
It’s hard to say Scheffler is slumping but he did finish outside the top 20 for the first time in his last 24 starts. And McIlroy is ailing with a back injury that opens the field up for better value picks down the odds board. Akshay Bhatia won last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and earned a podium finish here last year making him worth a look.
Backing an outright winner in a stacked field is a tough call. Other betting markets are open and worth a look. Check out this golf betting resource to improve your chances of picking the winner of THE PLAYERS Championship.
THE PLAYERS Championship Leaderboard
For all things related to the PGA Tour visit their website for updated player profiles and a live leaderboard. Tournament scores are tracked in real time giving fans and bettors the feeling of being on the course. The field includes up to 123 golfers with the top 65 plus ties advancing to the weekend.
Who Won THE PLAYERS Championship in 2025?
Last year’s tournament extended into Monday due to a rain delay on Sunday, but it was worth the wait for McIlroy, who outlasted J.J. Spaun in a 3-hole playoff after finishing at 12-under 276. McIlroy entered Sunday 4-shots off the pace but made up ground with Spaun shooting even-par 72 over the final 18. Spaun had a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th for the win but came up short.
Why Bet on THE PLAYERS Championship at Prime Sportsbook
You can wager on the PGA Tour anywhere, so why do it at Prime Sporstbook? The easy-to-use platform and reliable technology removes the guesswork from sports betting. Reduced juice also puts more money back into your account and gives bettors more power. And you will find the best odds in a wide variety of markets at Prime Sports.
