The PGA Tour season is starting to choose up steam, and with the 2024 Gamers Championship quick approaching, the important thing query everybody’s asking is similar throughout the golf world: Who’re you choosing to win at TPC Sawgrass? With an incredible area that includes many of the finest golfers on this planet, we ought to be in for an epic experience starting with Thursday’s first spherical.
The Gamers might not maintain the “main championship” designation, but it surely’s however an enormous occasion on the annual golf calendar. Actually, the PGA Tour’s flagship occasion gives a $25 million purse with $4.5 million going to the winner. That is greater than can be payed out on the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open or Open Championship this yr.
Scottie Scheffler, the defending Gamers champion, enters with loads of momentum contemporary off a victory on the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational — his first win in 51 weeks. Justin Thomas, the 2021 winner at TPC Sawgrass, has additionally been enjoying wonderful golf of late. In the meantime, Rory McIlroy is hoping to seek out the most effective of his recreation with nearly one month to go till he competes for the elusive inexperienced jacket at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership.
One identify not on the dedication listing for The Gamers is Tiger Woods. The 15-time main champion was final seen withdrawing from the second spherical of the Genesis Invitational in February resulting from sickness (not damage) as he battled to make the lower on the occasion he hosts yearly. It was thought that Woods would possibly ramp his recreation again up at TPC Sawgrass forward of the Masters, however now it is wanting like he might not return to the sport till April.
So what will occur this week in Ponte Vedra Seashore, Florida? Let’s check out a full set of predictions and picks from our CBS Sports activities consultants.
2024 Gamers Championship professional picks, predictions
Kyle Porter, senior golf author
Winner — Scottie Scheffler (5-1): I am not terrified of Scheffler making an attempt to win again to again tournaments and again to again Gamers. That is how properly he is enjoying and the way properly he is hitting the golf ball proper now. And for everyone saying that he cannot have two scorching placing weekends in a row, I say, it does not matter. He gained this match by 5 strokes (seven over third place) final yr when he was area common in placing. Greatest participant on this planet, and it isn’t even shut.
Sleeper — Wyndham Clark (40-1): I am undecided what I am lacking right here. He gained the Pebble Seashore Professional Am and completed second to Scheffler on the Arnold Palmer Invitational every week in the past. But he is 40-1 to win the Gamers? He is been dangerous within the different occasions he is performed, positive, however that is type of the purpose. Feast or famine proper now for Clark, which is an efficient factor for a 40-1 sleeper.
Prime 10 lock — Hideki Matsuyama: Can I decide Scheffler once more right here? No one is a lock for something at TPC Sawgrass, however Matsuyama has two high 10s in his final 4 appearances on the Gamers Championship and is hitting the ball in addition to anyone. Amongst these with 20 measured rounds of their final 36 performed, Matsuyama ranks ninth in tee-to-green play, gained the Genesis Invitational and completed T12 on the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Star who undoubtedly will not win — Rory McIlroy: His iron play simply is not sharp sufficient proper now. I am going to fortunately be mistaken about this as a result of that might imply Scheffler and McIlroy successful in consecutive weeks, however there’s work to be accomplished along with his method pictures forward of the Masters. It isn’t tough to see him contending due to how properly he is driving it, however it is a bit harder to see him successful.
Shock prediction — A 150-1 (or longer) lengthy shot can be in competition on Sunday: This isn’t actually that shocking given how a lot variance this course appears to result in and the sphere being a bit much less high heavy with loads of main stars now competing over in LIV Golf.
Lowest spherical: 64 (-8)
Profitable rating: 272 (-12)
Winner’s Sunday rating: 70 (-2)
Patrick McDonald, golf author
Winner — Scottie Scheffler (5-1): I’m on the document saying I need greater than 5 wins out of Scheffler this season, and one this week would go a great distance in the direction of that complete. We needn’t focus on his tee-to-green or ball-striking metrics, which have been absurd for the final two years, as a result of they don’t seem to be going anyplace. I’m not 100% offered on the brand new mallet putter (but), but it surely has clearly added a strut to Scheffler’s stroll on the greens. He’s clearly assured, and Scheffler has proven that he performs properly on the identical golf programs yr over yr. Scottie goes back-to-back at Sawgrass.
Sleeper — Russell Henley (60-1): It is time to put some respect on his identify. Henley is contemporary off a T4 end on the Arnold Palmer Invitational and an excellent statistical match at TPC Sawgrass. Probably the most correct drivers of the ball on the planet, Henley will have the ability to decide aside this tough Pete Dye design. His placing has been a lot improved in 2024, reworking the 34-year-old into an entire participant. He collected high 20s in his final two makes an attempt at The Gamers.
Prime 10 lock — Will Zalatoris: Anybody aside from Scheffler feels unsure, however I am going to go together with Zalatoris. He is rattled off three straight high 15s with a pair of top-five finishes in signature occasions. Lots has been product of the broomstick putter, and whereas it has vastly improved his play on the greens, Zalatoris has made strides in one other space of the bag. Using a shorter driver, Zalatoris is discovering the quick grass off the tee at one of many highest clips of his profession. These enhancements mixed along with his iron play ought to result in a top quality consequence.Â
Star who undoubtedly will not win — Rory McIlroy: What’s going on with McIlroy’s iron play is anybody’s guess for the time being, however I do know it’s not good. He has been driving the ball like a stallion for the previous month however gotten completely nothing out of it. The massive numbers have riddled his scorecard up to now in 2024, and that’s not one thing you need coming into TPC Sawgrass the place excessive leverage golf pictures are plentiful.Â
Shock prediction — Half the highest 10 on the oddsboard miss the lower: TPC Sawgrass is labeled as risky by some, however it’s extra high-leverage than something. The par-3 seventeenth is a superb instance as a missed inexperienced in regulation does not result in a possible par save or bogey, however nearly definitely a double bogey. Photographs like these are all through the golf course. Due to this and the sloppiness of a few of the PGA Tour’s high gamers, I reckon half of them can be despatched packing early.Â
Lowest spherical: 64 (-8)
Profitable rating: 273 (-15)
Winner’s Sunday rating: 70 (-2)
Who will win The Gamers Championship, and which lengthy pictures will stun {the golfing} world? Go to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard and finest bets, all from the mannequin that is nailed 10 golf majors and is up greater than $9,600 since June 2020.