The world’s best golfers will tee it off at the famed TPC Sawgrass at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida this week for the 41st edition of the PLAYERS Championship. All eyes will definitely be on young guns Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth as they resume their burgeoning rivalry at the demanding Players Stadium Course.
They might be the runaway favorites to win this event but a host of other golfers are ready to spoil their party this coming weekend. Read on below as we list down three high-value sleeper picks for what some are calling is the golfing world’s unofficial fifth major. While you’re at it, you can check out our in-depth preview of the 2015 PLAYERS Championship here.
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The 2015 Players Championship Sleeper Picks and Predictions
Where: TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Jim Furyk may have suffered a gut-wrenching defeat to eventual champion Rory McIlroy in the semifinals of the WGC-Cadillac Match Play on Sunday, but he’s got to be feeling good about himself heading into the PLAYERS Championship this week.
After missing the cut at the Masters earlier this month, the 44-year-old has rebounded quite strongly. He’s finished in the top 4 in his last two starts, including a victory at the RBC Heritage two weeks ago, his 17th career win in the PGA Tour.
[sc:Golf240banner ]What makes Furyk such a great pick to win this week is that he has an excellent record here at Sawgrass. He has survived 15 of 19 cuts at The PLAYERS with nine of those going for top 25 finishes. The American fell agonizingly short in this event last year, finishing one stroke back of eventual winner Martin Kaymer. He shot a stunning six-under-par 66 in the final round to almost pull off the comeback win.
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Phil Mickelson
One player who definitely loves playing in this golf course is Phil Mickelson. Lefty famously said in an interview that winning the PLAYERS Championship is more satisfying than being No. 1 in the world golf rankings. Mickelson already experienced that triumphant feeling, capturing the PLAYERS title back in 2007 when he shot an 11-under-par total of 277.
After struggling mightily at the beginning of the season, Mickelson has since rediscovered his golf game, finishing second at Augusta earlier this month. He finished with a solid 14-under-par total of 274, four strokes back of eventual champion Jordan Spieth. With the form that he is in right now and his experience with this difficult course, Mickelson has an excellent chance of ending his title drought this weekend.
Jimmy Walker
One golfer who’s primed for a breakthrough victory at Sawgrass this week is Jimmy Walker. The American came close to a victory in the PLAYERS last year, finishing in a tie for sixth after firing a scorching 65 in the final round. That performance follows his solid 15th-place showing in the same event the previous year.
Walker has been in excellent form this season as well, becoming the PGA Tour’s first multi-winner with victories at the Sony Open and the Texas Open. Key to his strong start this year has been his superb putting. He is second in the PGA Tour in strokes gained with putting, posting a solid .950 clip. As a result, he is also second in the tour in birdie average, with 4.68 birdies per round thus far this campaign.
That will come in handy in tackling the tough 7,215-yard, par-72 Stadium course. Designed by the legendary Pete Dye, TPC Sawgrass has been notorious for its delicate and fast greens. If Walker can get his putter working in the early going, then the Texan has a great chance of lifting his first ever PLAYERS crown this week.
