As I write this article, I am waiting for the playoff holes to start at the 2025 Players Championship. Currently, JJ Spaun and Rory McIlroy are preparing to tee it up in a three hole playoff. Given the current world standings and past history, McIlroy should be the odds on favourite. However, I have played in a couple playoff of a golf tournaments where it was sudden death – one I lost and one I won. I used two different approaches that produced two different results. Both were learning experiences and my golf game was better for the opportunities to test my game under pressure.
Continue readingThe Players Championship
What I Learned From 2022 Players Championship
Although The Players Championship is not a Major in golf, it sure can create the excitement and heartbreak of one. As I watched the play over the weekend, I realized that professional golfers have the same challenges as amateurs when challenging conditions are present. And since last Thursday, the weather created the environment where doubles, triples and quads were not a surprise. Having said this, I did learn three things that make me feel much better about my game.
Continue readingThe Players Championship
Starting tomorrow, some of the best golfers in the world will be teeing it up for the first major in 2020. Played at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, The Players is poised to grab the attention of the golf world. The field is strong and players are prepared for all the hype and pressure that is associated with what some consider the 5th major. It will be interesting to see who will rise to the top of the heap to claim the prize!
The odds makers have said their piece and picked their winner from the 144 man field. I am not sure exactly how they came up with the odds because depending on which odds maker you follow, the results are different. However, I am sure it was a little more scientific that gut feel.
In one poll, Rory McIlroy is the top pick to win this weekend. This is not a far stretch considering he is the world number one ranked player. Close on his heels in the odds is Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, and Patrick Cantlay. Of course there are many other top names in the field, but the odds makers believe these players have the best chance to win. I guess their thoughts are as good as any others. However, the poll I chosen to use is from PGATOUR power rankings. I figure their selections is something that most readers can support as the benchmark moving forward.
In the past, I have tried to select winners for the big five tournaments. I had mixed success, but it was fun pontificating on who would end up in the winners circle. At The Players this year I decided to try something different, I am randomly picking names from the field and will compare them to the odds makers to see how I do. I have decided to limit my comparison to the top 5 players for ease of math. The table is read from first to fifth, here it goes:
| Odds Makers | The Grateful Golfers |
| Justin Thomas | Kevin Kisner |
| Rory McIlroy | Charley Hoffman |
| Jon Rahm | Pat Perez |
| Webb Simpson | Abraham Ancer |
| Patrick Reed | Francesco Molinari |
As you can see, my team does not really stack up well against the odds makers. However, if one thing golf shows us is that on any given day, any player can win. My head and heart would not have picked my random players, but whose to say that this would be any better.
The Players is going to provide some exciting golf and I am looking forward to see some fantastic shots, great recoveries, and long unimaginable putts. It action is going to be worth watching.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Winning The Players Championship and The Masters In The Same Year!
There is only one player in 2019 who can match Tiger Woods feat in 2001 of winning The Players Championship and The Masters in the same year. With all the amazing players who have competed in both events since 1974, I am not surprised that only one player rose to the occasion and won. Yet, now there is talk of Rory McIlroy accomplishing what so many failed to achieve. Do you think it is probable that he wins The Masters this year…..he is the current favorite!
Continue readingThe Players Championship – Final Day Prediction
Moving day did not disappoint yesterday at TPC Sawgrass. Jon Rahm shot an 8 under 64 and Brandt Snedeker a 7 under 65. These were the best scores of the day and as such, they are both in the hunt for the winner’s circle. Not to be out done, Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy fired back and sit tied for second. The final day is going to be very exciting!
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The Grateful Golfer 