Horse For The Course: PGA DFS Course History - 2026 The Players Championship

March 9, 2026

Todd McGill's DraftKings, FanDuel PGA DFS picks for the 2026 The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course). Picks for daily fantasy golf based on course history.

It was another dramatic finish on the PGA Tour on Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where Akshay Bhatia defeated Daniel Berger on the first playoff hole to win his third career title. It was also the second week in a row we have seen the 54-hole leader falter on the final day. We are in big-time golf now, and with some of the highest names in the sport struggling, the next few weeks should be fun.

For the PGA Tour, the biggest week of the season is here. The Players Championship is the marquee event on the calendar and has been dubbed "Golf's Fifth Major" by many. It has been the site of many historic moments through the years, from Tiger's "better than most" putt, Jerry Pate's lake plunge, to Rickie Fowler's comeback win. Nearly every year has a chance to produce something really special.

Horse For The Course is an article highlighting players in this week's field with elite course history and is part of our free PGA DFS content here at RotoBaller. For some of the favorite DFS plays of the week, check out the Core Four article written by my buddy, Joe Nicely, here at RotoBaller every Wednesday. It's part of our amazing PGA Premium package that includes an all-new PGA Research Station, Lineup Builder & Optimizer, and some of the best articles in the PGA DFS industry! You can sign up now using the Promo Code TDG for an extra 30% discount at checkout!

2026 The Players Championship

This year has a slightly different feel going into the week, as both Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are in a bit of uncharted waters, just two completely different oceans. The defending champion from last season, McIlroy, withdrew before his third round last week at Bay Hill with a back injury, though it has been labeled as more of a precaution than a serious concern. But you never know.

Scheffler is struggling from the golf side of things, which feels weird to write given the dominance he's wielded for more than two years. His strokes gained on approach average is the lowest it's been since he's played on the PGA Tour, and while everything else about his game is fine, the vast superiority of the world number one has been with his iron play. It also helped him win here at TPC Sawgrass back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.

With the two unequivocal favorites having issues, it leaves the door open for someone else to take hold of the season. While this week may have an asterisk next to it compared to one of the four labeled majors, it's undoubtedly a more prestigious tournament to add to a resume over a normal PGA Tour event. We've had quite the drama over the last few events, but this week turns up the heat a bit.

You can find out who the smart money is on by checking out Spencer Aguiar's PGA DFS: Vegas Report weekly. Be sure to read our other top-notch weekly PGA DFS articles and Player News/Matchup Outlook Posts to help you win big!

TPC Sawgrass - Stadium Course

Par 72 - 7,352 | Greens: Bermudagrass | Designed By: Pete Dye

It harbours perhaps the most recognisable hole in the sport, and the lake that surrounds it annually consumes over 100,000 golf balls from amateur play. I'm talking about hole 17. It typically defines the outcome of the tournament, and finding the green is the most nerve-wracking shot players will face during all four days. The level of precision needed if the wind kicks up really separates the men from the boys.

This course is a ball strikers' haven, with interesting fairway layouts that force players to work the ball in both directions. Guys aren't winning this event through a putting contest; it takes getting it off the tee in the right spots and executing accurate approaches. The good news is that there is a healthy mix of approach distances, with both 150 yards or less and 225 yards or more sitting above average compared to most PGA Tour events.

While TPC Sawgrass doesn't quite have the same level of grittiness as a U.S. Open or Open Championship venue, it begs you to take it on, and those who do it successfully will be there down the stretch on Sunday. With an average winning score of -15 under par over the last five seasons, players can't stay stagnant. It also isn't a place where most guys tend to play well year-over-year, so course history shouldn't be weighted as heavily as other weeks.

Other stats to look at: Total Driving or Good Drive Percentage, Par 4 Scoring, and Bogey Avoidance

Recent Players Championship Winners

• 2025: Rory McIlroy (-12)
• 2024: Scottie Scheffler (-20)
• 2023: Scottie Scheffler (-17)
• 2022: Cameron Smith (-13)
• 2021: Justin Thomas (-14)

The Horse

Scottie Scheffler

• Notable Finishes: 1st ('23 & 24)

Look, I know this feels like a copy & paste from last week, but what else do you expect from a guy who's won here two of the last three years? As I mentioned, this place is where good ball strikers flourish, and there has been no one better in that area than Scheffler. Between off the tee and on approach, the former Texas Longhorn has averaged +1.645 strokes gained ball striking over the last five years.

Iron play is notably the one area of his game that has taken a step back so far in 2026. He's been wayward off the tee more than usual and is struggling to find that consistent shot, but he's been able to still rank second in strokes gained of the tee (+0.743) on the season. Everyone is expecting Scheffler to bust out of his funk at some point, and it won't surprise anyone wherever it happens.

The Ponies

Daniel Berger

• Notable Finishes: T9 ('21), T13 ('22)

A TOUGH birdie for Daniel Berger as he continues to lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. 👀 pic.twitter.com/S6DKt4al5A

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) March 8, 2026

It was a heartbreaking end to what seemed like his tournament for much of the day on Sunday at Bay Hill for Berger. It was the closest opportunity to see him get back in the winner's circle since returning from his back surgery a couple of years ago. He doesn't have a long wait before going to another favored track on the schedule, as he has been one of the more prevalent course history examples over the last five years.

Berger's medical issues kept him out of this event for two years, after solid finishes in the two years prior. He returned last season to finish T20. The accuracy off the tee doesn't put him in trouble often, but his chipping and putting have paved the way for much of the success. Averaging +0.824 strokes gained around the green and +0.719 putting over the last 12 rounds at TPC Sawgrass, Berger is likely the most successful player with this kind of approach, but he's coming in with a red-hot iron game that should bolster his chances.

Shane Lowry

• Notable Finishes: 8th ('21), T13 ('22), T19 ('24)

Shane Lowry immediately spoke with media after his brutal loss at the Cognizant Classic.

“I had the tournament in my hands and I threw it away. What more can I say”

Fair play to him. pic.twitter.com/03EIzZ7RAA

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) March 1, 2026

Sticking with the trend of players who are licking their recent wounds, Shane Lowry looks to shake off the mental freefall he's likely been experiencing since the Cognizant. He's been a constant face at The Players over the last five years, ranking second here over that time in strokes gained on approach (+1.343). Putting has been the bugaboo for him at TPC Sawgrass, as he's only gained strokes on the greens three times in 11 career appearances.

After his collapse at PGA National and his subsequent missed cut at the API, he'll be a hard name to have full DFS trust in. However, the resume and success he's recently found around this property should be noted, and ultimately make him an option for course history-favored roster constructions.

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Si Woo Kim

• Notable Finishes: 1st ('17), T6 ('24), T9 ('21)

Break 100 lefty with Si Woo Kim incoming?? @APInv pic.twitter.com/Y1pXF2o2mz

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 4, 2026

The 2017 winner, Si Woo Kim, has never missed the cut at The Stadium Course. However, it also hasn't come with a slew of high finishes either. Outside of his victory when the event was held in May, the South Korean has had a better time here since moving it back to its original March date, as he's averaged +1.083 strokes gained on approach over his last 16 rounds.

The deadly accuracy off the tee, aggressive plays with the irons, and sound abilities with wedges make him a deadly force from tee to green. There's no wonder why he continually finds ways to be a part of the conversation. Kim has been one of the biggest smash plays this season, and there is little reason why he wouldn't be that again come Thursday.

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