Now that the action down in Orlando is over following the conclusion of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, the 2022-23 PGA TOUR season now marches on to the next one: the 2023 THE PLAYERS Championship. With that said, let’s now take a look at some of the favorites, sleepers, and long shots to win this week at the 2023 THE PLAYERS Championship.
Just because he finished with a T39 last Sunday at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard doesn’t mean people are just going to forget how great Rahm has been this season. Rahm still has six top 10s in seven starts, and that includes his three victories. The Spaniard’s best finish at the TPC Sawgrass THE PLAYERS Stadium was ninth at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2021.
McIlroy doesn’t really need much introduction. He has always been good regardless of location, but it must still be pointed out that the Northern Irishman has made the cut in seven of 13 starts at TPC Sawgrass, including a win in 2019. That was also just one of his four top 10s there.
After a T4 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard 2023, Scheffler is going to be back looking for another win this season when he tees off a t TPC Sawgrass. He is a perfect 8/8 this season with a win (2023 Waste Management Phoenix Open) and five top 10s.
Here’s what we said about Theegala in our 2023 THE PLAYERS Championship sleepers piece.
The 25-year-old Sahith Theegala is still searching for his first career win on the PGA TOUR, but it does feel like he is very close to that goal, especially with how he’s been faring this season. Theegala has made the cut 11 of 12 times and he has made all cuts in every event he’s joined since the start of 2023. He also has five top 10s and seven top 25s this season to date, including a runner-up finish at The RSM Classic in November. Theegala also has two top 10s in his last four starts.
Here’s what we said about Horschel in our 2023 THE PLAYERS Championship sleepers piece.
Although he has been cut in two of his last starts – including at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard last week – Horschel can still be paid attention to. Prior to his debacle at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Horschel finished with a t$2 at The Honda Classic in which he fired a 65 in the first round and a 68 in the third round. He obviously struggled in the second and fourth rounds, but he might be just a tournament away from getting it together at last from beginning to end.
