Yes, the 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship is going to be very unpredictable and exciting. Rickie Fowler provided us one hell of a conclusion last year when he rallied from a five-shot deficit with six holes to play, and eventually emerged as the champion. Can Fowler successfully defend his crown this week? Or will someone else among a star-studded field of 144 players steal the glory at TPC Sawgrass?
To help you answer those questions, let’s take a look below at the opinions of some of the sport’s brightest minds. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to check out our full preview of the tournament itself and the some of the valuable long shots on the field.
Experts Picks and Predictions for the 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship
Bleacher Report
Expert
Picks
Steve Silverman
Adam Scott, Jason Day, Russell Knox, Kevin Kisner, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, William McGirt, Jason Bohn and Daniel Berger
Steve Silverman of Bleacher Report gave us a relatively long list of contenders heading into the 2016 PLAYERS Championship. But it’s evident that’s he’s favoring the trio of Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson to take home the trophy this week.
Scott is not ranked No. 1 in the FedEx Cup points for nothing. He’s been having a solid year thus far, as he’s made it in the top-25 in seven out of 11 tournaments. The 43-year-old American won a pair of tournament championships (The Honda Classic and WGC Cadillac) in that stretch.
McIlroy is also in good shape, according to Silverman. The Irishman has inserted himself in the top-10 at the PLAYERS Championship in each of the previous three years. McIlroy has also made some necessary adjustments to his game, which could help him perform better in the famed and unforgiving TPC Sawgrass course.
Mickelson, on the other hand, has often struggled in the aforementioned venue despite having won the tournament once. He’s only managed to make two top-10 finishes overall, but his experience should still help him pose as an intriguing contender.
Roto Experts
Expert
Picks
Patrick Mayo
Jordan Spieth, Sergio Garcia or Henrik Stenson
Patrick May of the Roto Experts has a different opinion, though. He also provided a pretty long list of names, but he’s going with Jordan Spieth, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson to win the 2016 PLAYERS Championship for a number of reasons.
Spieth’s most recent showing at Augusta was a forgettable one, and that should help him redeem himself this week. He’s clearly a type of player who knows how to bounce back in a big way, and his skill-set is exactly the kind you want to have at TPC Sawgrass. The 22-year-old American has made it in the top-25 in all but one of the nine events that he’s played this season.
Garcia, meanwhile, is no stranger to the pressure of this tournament. He owns the longest active cuts-made streak at THE PLAYERS with 12, and is also a former winner (2008). Those facts alone should explain why he’s one of the top favorites to win again.
As for Stenson, he could be in line for a big outing. He’s been terrific this year, as he’s made the cut in seven out of eight starts. And yes, Stenson is coming off a poor showing at Quail Hollow last week, but the 40-year-old golfer from Sweden is set to play at a field—TPC Sawgrass—that’s more favorable to his skills and type of play.
Heavy
Expert
Picks
Tim Keeney
Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett
Tim Keeney of Heavy.com would partly agree with Mayo’s picks. Keeney believes that Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson both have what it takes to reign supreme at the 2016 PLAYERS championship for almost the same reasons. But Keeney’s third choice—Danny Willett—is the difference-maker.
Willet has been sensational throughout the season, and is coming off a victory in the Masters Tournament. He’ll definitely be bringing in a lot of momentum and confidence heading into TPC Sawgrass. This, however, marks just the second time that Willet will be participating in this event. He missed the cut in his debut there last year.
