2024 Gamers Championship picks, odds: Skilled predictions, favorites to win in betting area at TPC Sawgrass

The PGA Tour season is starting to select up steam, and with the 2024 Gamers Championship quick approaching, the important thing query everybody’s asking is identical throughout the golf world: Who’re you selecting to win at TPC Sawgrass? With an incredible area that includes a lot of the finest golfers on the planet, we needs to be in for an epic trip starting with Thursday’s first spherical.

The Gamers could not maintain the “main championship” designation, but it surely’s however an enormous occasion on the annual golf calendar. The truth is, the PGA Tour’s flagship occasion provides a $25 million purse with $4.5 million going to the winner. That is greater than will probably 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 glorious golf of late. In the meantime, Rory McIlroy is hoping to search out the perfect 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 checklist 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 as a consequence of sickness (not harm) as he battled to make the lower on the occasion he hosts yearly. It was thought that Woods may ramp his recreation again up at TPC Sawgrass forward of the Masters, however now it is trying like he could not return to the sport till April.

So what’s going to 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 nicely he is enjoying and the way nicely 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 received this event by 5 strokes (seven over third place) final yr when he was area common in placing. Greatest participant on the planet, and it isn’t even shut.

Sleeper — Wyndham Clark (40-1): I am undecided what I am lacking right here. He received the Pebble Seashore Professional Am and completed second to Scheffler on the Arnold Palmer Invitational per week in the past. But he is 40-1 to win the Gamers? He is been dangerous within the different occasions he is performed, certain, however that is type of the purpose. Feast or famine proper now for Clark, which is an efficient factor for a 40-1 sleeper.

High 10 lock — Hideki Matsuyama: Can I decide Scheffler once more right here? No person 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, received the Genesis Invitational and completed T12 on the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Star who positively will not win — Rory McIlroy: His iron play simply is not sharp sufficient proper now. I am going to fortunately be fallacious about this as a result of that will imply Scheffler and McIlroy profitable in consecutive weeks, however there’s work to be performed along with his method photographs forward of the Masters. It isn’t tough to see him contending due to how nicely he is driving it, however it’s kind of more durable to see him profitable.

Shock prediction — A 150-1 (or longer) lengthy shot will probably be in competition on Sunday: This isn’t actually that shocking given how a lot variance this course appears to result in and the sector being a bit much less high heavy with loads of main stars now competing over in LIV Golf.

Lowest spherical: 64 (-8)
Successful 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 good distance in direction of that complete. We needn’t talk about his tee-to-green or ball-striking metrics, which have been absurd for the final two years, as a result of they are not going wherever. 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 nicely 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 a really perfect statistical match at TPC Sawgrass. One of the crucial correct drivers of the ball on the planet, Henley will have the ability to decide aside this difficult Pete Dye design. His placing has been a lot improved in 2024, reworking the 34-year-old into a whole participant. He collected high 20s in his final two makes an attempt at The Gamers.

High 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 brief 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 high quality consequence. 

Star who positively will not win — Rory McIlroy: What’s going on with McIlroy’s iron play is anybody’s guess in the mean time, 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 large 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 photographs are plentiful. 

Shock prediction — Half the highest 10 on the oddsboard miss the lower: TPC Sawgrass is labeled as unstable by some, however it’s extra high-leverage than something. The par-3 seventeenth is a good instance as a missed inexperienced in regulation does not result in a possible par save or bogey, however virtually actually a double bogey. Pictures 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 will probably be despatched packing early. 

Lowest spherical: 64 (-8)
Successful rating: 273 (-15)
Winner’s Sunday rating: 70 (-2)

Adam Silverstein, editorial director

Winner — Viktor Hovland (22-1): I will be the one who does not go together with chalk right here. Hovland has not been enjoying his finest golf of late, and he opened the week tearing down the PGA Tour commissioner … so what higher final result than forcing him at hand Hovland the trophy Sunday night? With the Masters approaching, that is the time for the Norwegian to begin gearing up, and we have seen him do nicely at The Gamers with T3 and T9 finishes over every of the final two playings of this occasion. Plus, his odds are excellent.

Sleeper — Tom Hoge (65-1): With the most effective scores to par mixed at TPC Sawgrass over the past two years, the 34-year-old is stay right here. He is additionally been enjoying nicely of late. Listed below are his final 5 finishes: T6, T17, eighth, T28, twelfth. That features top-10s at Pebble Seashore and Riviera, plus a top-15 at Bay Hill. Is Hoge going to win The Gamers? Most likely not. However at odds this lengthy, we may do far worse than backing him.

High 10 lock — Scottie Scheffler: The good thing about not selecting Scheffler to win. He begins the week because the reigning champion each on the PGA Tour and on this occasion, he has three high 5 and 5 top-10 finishes in six begins this season, and nobody on the planet is enjoying higher golf.

Star who positively will not win — Collin Morikawa: Morikawa has performed decently nicely at TPC Sawgrass, however he is been up and down all yr with two missed cuts in his final 4 stars. He has not actually come near competition but in 2024, and I do not see it taking place at a course as unpredictable as this one.

Shock prediction — The Gamers will exceed expectations: There was a lot speak in regards to the area being decreased as a consequence of defections from a few of the finest golfers on the planet, however there may be nonetheless quite a lot of star energy at TPC Sawgrass this yr. The cream normally rises to the highest when the stakes are the very best, and a $25 million purse is fairly rattling excessive. Sure, the PGA Tour has gotten off to a tough begin this yr, however this weekend is the place that every one turns round.

Lowest spherical: 65 (-7)
Successful rating: 274 (-14)
Winner’s Sunday rating: 69 (-3)

Who will win The Gamers Championship, and which lengthy photographs 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.