Players Championship odds: Predictions, sleepers, how to watch PGA Tour signature event

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Outside of the majors, there is perhaps no more prestigious tournament to win on the PGA Tour than The Players Championship.

Scottie Scheffler has won the event two years in a row, a feat never accomplished before, and this week's rendition of "golf's fifth major" will center around his quest to complete an unprecedented three-peat at TPC Sawgrass.

Like he has been in every PGA Tour event he's entered this season, Scheffler is the favorite heading into the The Players Championship in 2025 — but he has yet to win a tournament in 2025. Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa, the latter of whom is coming off a blown three-stroke lead in the final round of last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational, are considered the top contenders based on the odds, according to BetMGM.

First-round action begins Thursday, with Scheffler, McIlroy and Xander Schauffele all slated to play together in a marquee group. Here are the latest odds, predictions and sleeper picks for the The Players Championship, as well as how to watch this week's PGA Tour signature event at TPC Sawgrass:

The Players Championship 2025 odds

Scottie Scheffler is the favorite to win The Players Championship again in 2025, according to BetMGM, with McIlroy, Morikawa, Ludvig Aberg and Justin Thomas also among the top five for oddsmakers in terms of chances to win this week's PGA Tour signature event.

Scheffler became the first golfer to win The Players Championship in back-to-back years in 2024.

Odds as of Wednesday, March 12

Favorites

Sleepers

Picks by USA Today Sportsbook Wire

Jason Day (+5000): "Day is ascending at the right time, coming in eighth at the API on Sunday. He hasn’t missed a cut and has 3 top-15 finishes already this season despite being weighed down by some putting struggles (116th in SG: putting). His ball striking is on point and he’s a past champion here, winning in 2016."
Denny McCarthy (+8000): "McCarthy fired a final-round 67 to finish 18th at Bay Hill on Sunday, continuing some strong play as of late. That was after also coming in fifth at the Genesis last month. In 5 career starts here, he’s never missed the cut and has a career-best finish of 13th in 2023."
Akshay Bhatia (+10,000): "Bhatia struggled on Thursday at Bay Hill, shooting a 9-over 81. He bounced back with a 1-under on Friday but still missed the cut by a lot. He’s playing much better than those scores indicate and his odds shouldn’t be this long at a course where shot shaping is important."

The Players Championship 2025 predictions

Sportsbook Wire: Hideki Matsuyama or Ludvig Aberg win again

Sportsbook Wire lists Aberg and Matsuyama, who have both already won tournaments on the PGA Tour this season, as its favorites to win The Players Championship.

"Aberg made his tournament debut last year and came in eighth, showing he didn’t need much time to learn the course. He’s playing even better right now than he was a year ago and could be poised for his second win of the season. His accuracy and high ball flight make him a perfect fit for Sawgrass."

CBS Sports: Collin Morikawa

Patrick McDonald writes, "The two-time major champion was sensational from tee to green at Bay Hill, and that will carry over to TPC Sawgrass where his blend of accurate driving and pinpoint iron play will allow him to rise to the top of the leaderboard. His Players Championship history is mixed, but he has a number of quality rounds under his belt. Given the way he is trending, he should be able to string four together this week."

BetMGM: Ludvig Aberg is best bet

"Aberg picked up his first “big time” PGA Tour win last month at the Genesis Invitational and with that added confidence it feels like an even bigger win is coming. The 25-year-old finished fourth in his debut at this event a year ago, and has spent a lot of time in recent months practicing at TPC Sawgrass as he lives in the area. That familiarity with the grounds could give him an advantage over others this week."

How to watch The Players Championship 2025: TV, streaming for PGA Tour

The Players Championship will be carried live on TV by the Golf Channel all four days. NBC will pick up live coverage of the third and final rounds. There is streaming coverage available on ESPN+, Peacock and Fubo, which is offering a free trial.

Thursday, March 13

First round

7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
1-7 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
1-7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports app

Friday, March 14

Second round

7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
1-7 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
1-7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports app

Saturday, March 15

Third round

8 a.m.-7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
2-7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports app
2-7 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock

Sunday, March 16

Final round

7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. ET, ESPN+
1-6 p.m. ET, NBC Sports app
1-6 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock

Watch The Players Championship with Fubo

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