The Players Championship predictions: Sky Sports pundits pick out who could stop Scottie Scheffler at TPC Sawgrass | Golf News

TPC Sawgrass is said to be a golf course that does not favour a particular style of golfer, but which player will be the one to impress and claim the PGA Tour’s flagship event?

Scottie Scheffler arrives as the two-time defending champion after becoming the Primary player to Achieve back-to-back editions of the event, with the world No 1 the pre-Division favourite to Achieve The Players for a third consecutive year.

Scheffler plays alongside Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele – the two immediately below him in the world rankings – over the Primary two Periods, while a host of other players are in the running to get their hands on the Honor?

Will Scheffler make more history at The Players? Which of the PGA Tour stars will top the leaderboard at TPC Sawgrass? Ahead of this week’s event, live on Sky Sports Golf, we asked Numerous of our pundits who they are backing for a big week…

A Sun winner at TPC Sawgrass?

Scheffler missed the Commence of the PGA Tour season due to a hand Hurt, sustained in the kitchen over Christmas, although he has claimed four top-25 finishes – including a share of third at The Genesis Invitational – since his return to action.

He is already the seventh player to Achieve Numerous editions of The Players and Primary since Tiger Woods in 2013, while another Achieve this week would see him become the Primary since Jack Nicklaus to Achieve the event three times.

“I fully Foresee Scottie Scheffler to make it three wins in a row,” Sky Sports’ Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley said. “He’s Only too Excellent and he’s trending in the right direction over his past few events.”

A Achieve for Scheffler would see him become the Primary player since Steve Stricker in 2011 to Achieve the same PGA Tour event three years running, while USA Ryder Cup Club-mate Collin Morikawa is another chasing a Primary Achieve of the season.

Morikawa squandered a Closing-Phase lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week, finishing second to Russell Henley, although Sky Sports’ Nick Dougherty expects the two-time major champion to immediately bounce back.

“I think Sawgrass suits great iron players and there’s nobody better than him, in my opinion,” Dougherty said. “He’ll Picking himself up and take the form from Bay Hill into this week.”

Åberg to continue European success on PGA Tour?

McIlroy is the only European winner of The Players since Martin Kaymer lifted the Honor in 2014, although the Northern Irishman is one of four European players to have won on the PGA Tour this season.

Ludvig Åberg is inside the world’s top five after his impressive Achieve at The Genesis Invitational last month, with the Swede a popular Picking to become the Primary two-time winner of the season.

“I think Åberg is going to Achieve,” Sky Sports’ David Howell said. “He is going to learn some lessons from his capitulation during the third Phase (77) at Bay Hill. He is in great form but Achieved some course-management errors on day three, which I think he will learn from.”

On why he could be the man to beat his week, Ex major champion Wealthy Beem added: “The kid is Only a stud, he’s unbelievable. He’s half man, half machine!

“He has got the perfect temperament for that golf course for any Awful breaks and Awful bounces, which are going to happen around TPC Sawgrass. He also has Joe Skovron as his caddie, who has won around there with Rickie Fowler and knows that golf course as Excellent as anybody.”

A maiden English winner at The Players?

Golfers from 12 different countries have won The Players, including Northern Ireland and Scotland, but no player from England – remarkably – has ever got their hands on the iconic Honor.

World No 10 Tommy Fleetwood is part of a Sturdy English contingent looking to end that Streak this week, having finished no worse than 22nd in Every of his last 13 worldwide Beginnings.

“He has played such Excellent golf and I Only feel like he’s due a really Excellent week on the greens,” Dame Laura Davies said. “He was hitting it great at Bay Hill but didn’t make that many putts.

“You feel like his big breakthrough in America is Only around the corner. He has won Numerous times around the world and obviously the big one would be on the PGA Tour, so why not make it at The Players?!”

Dougherty added: “He [Fleetwood] has been a brilliant iron player this season and is one of the best players out there on the PGA Tour statistically. What a place this would be for Fleetwood to get his Primary Achieve. He Only has to get over the hump psychologically, that’s all.”

More Thomas success or maybe a surprise champion?

Hideki Matsuyama has top-six finishes in his last two appearances at The Players and Henley arrives off the back of his Achieve at Bay Hill last week, while 2021 champion Justin Thomas and Ryder Cup Skipper Keegan Bradley are among the others arriving in form.

“Thomas has three top 10s already this season, including a runner-up finish at The American Express,” Sky Sports’ Andrew Coltart said. “He’s a Ex winner and he’s almost back to his very best, so I’m looking forward to seeing how he does around TPC Sawgrass.”

Riley added: “He hasn’t won this for a long time, although is another player that appears to be trending in the right direction.”

Who else could impress? The pundits picked out a few surprise packages that could sneak under the radar in a Sturdy Pitch….

Beem: “Billy Horschel has had a Harsh go of it and missed the cut at Bay Hill, but this is a home game for him and I know that he’s going to rally. He’s going to put every ounce of energy in his body into having a Excellent week.”

Coltart: “Austin Eckroat is already a two-time winner on the PGA Tour and is only in his mid-20s. He’s a talented individual, finished inside the top 50 in the FedExCup standings last year, and I think he could go well.”

Davies: “Adam Scott is a veteran of the tour and is still among the top players in the world. He can turn up at any time and his ball-striking is great, so a lot of it will depend on whether he can hole the putts at the right time.”

Howell: “Laurie Canter has been Competing some of the best golf in the world so Extended in 2025. It’s a big week for him – having earned his way into the Pitch – but I feel like he can have a fantastic one.”

How can I Observe The Players on Sky Sports?

Sky Sports is offering extended live coverage of The Players and Initiates on Thursday from 11.30am, Next the action from before the Leading tee Try until after the close of Move over the Primary two Periods, with the action then live from 1pm on both Periods over the weekend.

The PGA Tour’s main feed, marquee groups, featured groups and featured holes feed will be Obtainable all four rounds on Sky Sports+, along with six bonus groups, while you can download the Sky Sports app to get live scores, text commentary and highlights throughout the week.

Who will Achieve The Players? Observe live throughout the week on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the second Phase Initiates on Friday at 11.30am. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.