For Bleacher Report’s Alec Nathan, one name immediately jumps into mind when it comes to the sleeper front for this week’s Players Championship. And that name is Cameron Smith. He clinched a spot in this prestigious tournament by virtue of a dramatic playoff victory alongside Jonas Blixt at the Zurich Classic. Blixt was full of praises for his less-heralded teammate, saying he hasn’t seen anything that good in an extremely long time. Smith’s performance at the Zurich Classic wasn’t completely out of the blue as he finished in sixth place at the Valero Texas Open. Look for Smith to continue his fine form at TPC Sawgrass this week. He is pegged at +6,000to win the Players Championship.
Kevin Chappell is another golfer who has caught the eye of Nathan. Not only did he finish as the runner-up behind Jason Day at last year’s Players Championship, Chappell also carded a seventh-place finish at this year’s Masters and won the Valero Texas Open to secure his first PGA Tour triumph. With the form that he is in right now and his experience with this particular event, look for Chappell to add to his trophy collection this week. He is pegged at +5,000 to do just that.
Heavy (Tim Keeney)
Sleeper Picks
Adam Hadwin
Martin Kaymer
Ross Fisher
Looking for a worthy sleeper? How about Adam Hadwin? Hadwin is in a rich vein of form, nabbing top-10s in two of his last five starts, including a victory at the Valspar Championship last March. Hadwin’s stock dropped due to a poor weekend showing at the Valero Texas Open but he’s more than capable of turning things around at TPC Sawgrass this week. Remember, Hadwin’s 28th on Tour in strokes gained from tee to green and he also knows how to get it done with the flat stick (32nd in strokes gained: putting). He is pegged at +6,000 to win the Players Championship this week.
Tim Keeney also favors Martin Kaymer to do well this week. The German has had some success at TPC Sawgrass in the past, claiming the tournament win back in 2014. In fact, Kaymer has never missed the cut in each of his past eight appearances here. He is pegged at +5,000to win the Players Championship for the second time in his career.
Rounding out Keeney’s sleeper selection is Englishman Ross Fisher. He loves playing in full-field events, finishing sixth, third and fifth at the three World Golf Championship tournaments he joined this season. Fisher has been on fire of late as well, finishing T3 and T6 in his last two European Tour starts.
