As the Spring season approaches, fans will look at “The Fifth Major” of Men’s Golf. The Players Championship is a tournament where getting balls close to the hole and making birdies is paramount. However, outrageous scores of say -20 or better are not typical. Every so often, a first-round though will leave some speechless.
The top eleven men are listed below in our The Players Championships Prop for Round 1 leader.
| 2022 The Players -- First Round Leader |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Jon Rahm | +2800 | +2500 |
| Collin Morikawa | +2800 | +2800 |
| Justin Thomas | +2800 | +2800 |
| Rory McIlroy | +3300 | +3000 |
| Patrick Cantlay | +3500 | +3300 |
| Victor Hovland | +3500 | +3000 |
| Scottie Scheffler | +4000 | +3500 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | +4000 | +4000 |
| Xander Schauffele | +4500 | +4000 |
| Daniel Berger | +4500 | +5000 |
| Dustin Johnson | +4500 | +5000 |
The number of players that could win this tournament is more than usual. Then, when you add in all the players who could potentially lead the first round. Here is the problem with a player like Jon Rahm. Rahm takes time to get going. Birdies do not come along quite as often early on in rounds as his putter often can go cold. It also takes longer for it to heat up than maybe the putter should.
Now, the pandemic is winding down some of which help golfers prepare a bit more normally. The Players Championship took place last year from Sawgrass in Ponte Verda Beach, Florida. The course is yes, that one with the signature 17th hole — the water hole. Could Rahm jolt the golf betting world by leading Round 1 on the way to a wire-to-wire tournament win? Hey, anything is possible. After all, March roars in like a lion and Rahm certainly strikes the ball like one.
Again, the Spanish golfer ranks number one in the world and is also number one when it comes to strokes gained from tee-to-green in 2022. He gains nearly two strokes overall (1.977). That is a big number especially when it comes to a tournament where accuracy and ball striking go hand in hand. It is one reason why Jon Rahm could easily win The Players Championship prop to lead Round 1.
Typically, Rahm starts slow at the TPC and the last few years have seen him around even par or so missing several early putts in the first round. That is our concern here. Yet, somehow his prop lists him at +2800 which is tied with the favorites. That does seem strange. Do some just assume the Spaniard will magically make putts early? He loses nearly a tenth of a stroke gained which ranks just 135th on tour. It is his glaring weakness.
Yes, it is understandable why Rahm could be near the top of the round 1 leaderboard. Some of the best online golf betting sites are somewhat in agreement here. They are assuming that this is one of The Players Championship prop which is easy to predict. How about wrong?
The problem is the weather forecast which calls for not just typical Florida thunderstorms. Storms are in the forecast for the first two days along with steady rain on Thursday afternoon for Round 1. Florida has been seeing some flooding rain events of late. That slows down greens but can be miserable weather to play in. Worse, the round could be subject to delays. Yes, there is a state-of-the-art drying system. However, if it keeps raining…
There, even lies the possibility of play being suspended. That is rare for this tournament but it can happen. Normally, this is a tournament that does not feature a ton of rain. It changes the focus a bit on who handles adverse weather the best. Rahm has a questionable history. A golfer like Collin Morikawa has shown the ability to handle strange and wild conditions — like at The Open Championships.
Hence, our The Players Championship prop for Round 1 leader pick below is one where the odds may just change right before Thursday morning’s tee time. That’s right. The tournament goes from March 10th – March 13th.
The golfer is a cerebral assassin that just makes shots. If he can get over his previous struggles at Sawgrass, Morikawa could be the clubhouse leader after Round 1. He sets himself up with good placement and then is fourth-best on tour in putting strokes gained at 0.927.
Also, the best golfers are always at The Players Championship. Morikawa tends to shine the best when the world becomes the stage. It is why his prop is enticing enough for Thursday. With expected inclement weather, Morikawa will tee off just before 1:00 pm on Thursday. He will be able to see how the course is early on whereas a golfer like Rahm will be done with his round before the American starts.
Will the weather improve? That is an unknown. What is known is that Morikawa is one of the best when everything else is not at its best.
For The Players Championship Prop our best bet is to pick Collin Morikawa.
2022 has taught us to just keep looking at the men’s field as a body of work and not one or two players. This week, one is looking for players who can simply get off to a hot start no matter what.
Some will even take a risk on Hideki Matsuyama at 40 to 1. He is a golfer who can get hot early and ride a tournament. Again, all we are looking for is that guy to surprise and lead after 18 holes. Even Dustin Johnson at 45 to 1 is worth a look or perhaps a longer shot like Abraham Ancer at 70 to 1 or Luke List (90 to 1).
Take Collin Morikawa to lead Round 1 at +2800 before his odds possibly shorten.
See an online betting site like MyBookie, where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
