Ludvig Aberg got as many nods from our staff as tournament betting favorite Scottie Scheffler.
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The Players Championship kicks off Thursday at TPC Sawgrass, and — surprise, surprise — two-time Players champion Scottie Scheffler is the betting favorite.
When is the last time Scheffler wasn’t the odds-on favorite? That takes a bit of digging, since the World No. 1 has dominated the odds board for the last two-plus years. But at the 2023 BMW Championship, Rory McIlroy edged Scheffler by a hair, with +750 odds to win, compared to Scheffler’s +800.
As it happens, those two men have won the last three editions of the Players — Scheffler in 2023 and 2024, and McIlroy last year, when he beat J.J. Spaun in a playoff — and occupy the top two spots on the odds board yet again.
Scheffler is listed at +450 to win, McIlroy at +1600 to win, and Collin Morikawa rounds out the top three with odds of +1800 to win.
Scheffler will play alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas in Rounds 1 and 2; McIlroy will play with Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama; and Morikawa will play with Ludvig Aberg and Si Woo Kim.
The Players Championship offers the year’s richest purse, totaling $25 million, with $4.5 million going to the winner. Check out our staff picks to win and sleepers below, and here’s how you can watch the tournament this week.
Scottie Scheffler (+450) Rory McIlroy (+1600) Collin Morikawa (+1800) Ludvig Aberg (+2200) Si Woo Kim (+2200) Russell Henley (+2800) Tommy Fleetwood (+2800) Xander Schauffele (+3000) Cameron Young (+3250) Hideki Matsuyama (+3250) Matt Fitzpatrick (+3250)
Josh Berhow, managing editor: Collin Morikawa (+1800). The win at Pebble was huge and he hasn’t slowed down, with two top-10 finishes since. He hasn’t shot worse than 70 in his last three tournaments. He tied for 10th here last year, his best finish at TPC Sagwrass. Things are trending in the right direction.
Josh Schrock, associate news editor: Ludvig Aberg (+3000). Aberg has shaken off his WD-CUT start to the season and finally looked like himself this past week at Bay Hill. He ranked fifth in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and third in SG: Approach. Feels like he’s due for another big win after his Genesis breakthrough last year.
Jessica Marksbury, senior editor: Scottie Scheffler (+450). I’m taking the low-hanging fruit here with Scottie, I know. But who am I to not pick him? Even his B game has kept him inside the top 25 in his last two tournaments, and at a ball-striker’s course like TPC Sawgrass, where he has two wins and a T20 in his last three appearances, I have little doubt he’ll contend yet again.
Zephyr Melton, associate game improvement editor: Scottie Scheffler (+450). It’s hard to pick against the best player in the world — especially in the biggest events. I like Scottie to get out of his funk and win the Players yet again.
Josh Sens, senior writer: Cameron Young (+3200). Young’s close-but-no-cigar record on big stages is no secret. Neither is his talent. We all know it’s just a matter of time, and with the good form he showed this past week at Bay Hill, the time seems pretty right.
Jack Hirsh, associate gear editor: Tommy Fleetwood (+2800). What has Tommy-Lad done in his three stateside starts this season? T4, T7, 49th. While the rough week at Bay Hill might be cause for concern, I’d rather see it as creating more value for a golfer for who is tailor-made to win at TPC Sawgrass (pun somewhat intended). Fleetwood is one of the most accurate drivers on the planet and that always plays well here.
Alan Bastable, executive editor: Ludvig Aberg (+3000). I’m with Schrock. After Aberg’s mostly sleepy second half of 2025, it’s been easy to overlook him. (Don’t look now but Patrick Reed has caught Aberg in the world ranking.) But the Swede has been trending up in his last three starts, most recently at Bay Hill last week where he finished third. On his home course, Aberg is primed for another big week.
2026 Players Championship sleepers to watch
Josh Berhow, managing editor: Chris Gotterup (+5000). He’s hardly a sleeper, but when he’s listed at these odds, you better believe I’m taking it. He’s coming off a rough Sunday at Bay Hill but his win at another TPC course (the WM Phoenix Open) was only a month ago.
Josh Schrock, associate news editor: Rickie Fowler (+5500). With the nagging shoulder issue that plagued him last year fully healed, Fowler has played consistently good golf to start the year. He has gone T18-T18-T19-T28-T9 in his first five starts. He led at the halfway point at Pebble Beach before letting things slip on the weekend. Ranks 17th in total Strokes Gained so far this season and has the putter working again. Good memories here from his 2015 victory. I know that +5500 isn’t exactly “sleeper” territory but there’s no one else below that piques my interest.
Jessica Marksbury, senior editor: Jake Knapp (+5000). Knapp has had a stellar start to the year, finishing in the top 11 in his first five events. The fact that he withdrew from the API — a Signature Event — with illness shows perhaps just how seriously he’s taking his performance this week. He’s only played TPC Sawgrass twice, but was T12 last year. Given all these stats, +5000 seems like a real bargain.
Zephyr Melton, associate game improvement editor: Pierceson Coody (+9000). Coody has been sneaky consistent this year, finishing in the top 20 in five of seven starts. He’s been flying way under the radar in 2026. If you aren’t familiar with him, I’d advise doing so. He’s gonna stick around for a while.
Josh Sens, senior writer: Corey Connors (+10000). From tee to green, Connor is as steady as they get, with just the sort of ball-striking skill set Sawgrass requires. He finished T6 in his last Players appearance. Just need the pesky putter to heat up and you never know …
Jack Hirsh, associate gear editor: Sahith Theegala (+7500). Three top-10s so far this season and he’s played his way back into the Signature events and OWGR Top 100. Sahith Theegala is back and I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins this year.
Alan Bastable, executive editor: Alex Noren (+8000). Yes, another Swede! Like Aberg, Noren has been buckling down with three strong finishes since Pebble, and his natural fade plays well on a course at which tugs and hooks can spell doom.
As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Issue, which debuted in February 2018. Her original interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.
