March 11, 2026
Sepp Straka was right there to potentially win the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The golfer from Austria was well inside the Top 10 when disaster struck on Sunday. Sepp started out T-3 on Sunday and dropped 10 spots after a 76. Straka bogeyed four straight holes and then 16 for good measure. Missed putts and errant shots erased what might have been a great result. He still has solid results historically at TPC Sawgrass. Straka has three Top 20 results over the past four appearances. It is intriguing that Straka's odds to lead after Round 1 have shortened to +4000 via DraftKings (+4500 to win the event). That presents as a viable option.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 11, 2026
Jordan Spieth still does not have a top-10 finish in 2026. The American golfer has finished T12 and T11 in back-to-back events, however. Spieth is puzzling because one never truly knows how he will perform at TPC Sawgrass. Yes, Spieth has one Top 20 result in his last five appearances at The Players Championship. One key with the play of Spieth has been strokes gained to putting (0.74, 1.73, 1.61). 2023 was probably his best chance to win, but a Sunday 72 quashed any hope of that. Spieth just has not been able to put together four solid rounds on the Sawgrass course. Expecting that this week feels unlikely, which makes it hard to gauge him for DFS outlooks.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 11, 2026
Justin Rose has not had the best time in Florida. The English golfer has missed consecutive cuts after a solid Top 40 at Pebble Beach. Rose has mostly the putter to blame for this. He lost 1.7 strokes last week and 1.64 the event before. Even his driver distance was off at Bay Hill (0.3 yards off the average). Worse, driver accuracy has been 10, 8, and 10% below the norm in his three missed cuts for 2026. Bluntly, Rose has to make putts and miss fewer fairways. History has not been on his side at TPC Sawgrass. Rose has missed three of the last four cuts here and has shot over par in four straight appearances on Friday. He remains a fade from a betting standpoint as his numbers have only lengthened (+8000 via DraftKings).
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 11, 2026
Maverick McNealy had one bad round at The Genesis Invitational. The American golfer missed the cut as a result but bounced back at Bay Hill with a T-13. That marked his fourth Top 25 result of the young 2026 season. McNealy did have another iffy Friday with a 74 but followed that up with a 69-70 weekend. He has mostly been in solid form and THE PLAYERS often rewards that. Driving accuracy is under 60% and greens in regulation is around average at 68.43%. However, McNealy has gained a respectable 0.27 strokes on approach to the green (53rd). With a star-studded field, he may go under the radar from a betting standpoint.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 11, 2026
Brooks Koepka returning to the PGA Tour in 2026 was significant. The American golfer delivered a final round 66 at the Cognizant Classic which vaulted him into the Top 10. It was his best round so far. Despite poor starts in his first three events (73-75-74), Koepka carries some intrigue heading into THE PLAYERS Championship. One thing which will need to improve is putting (0.872 strokes lost - 167th). He has 100 putts through three opening rounds. Koepka seems to relax as the rounds go by (26.5 putts per round on Sundays). If he can improve his form on Thursday, Koepka can be a betting factor come Sunday.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 11, 2026
Nicolai Hojgaard has been red-hot to start the season, posting results of T22-T3-T6-T24 through his first four events. He looks to keep it going at THE PLAYERS, where he has competed twice, missing the cut both times. TPC Sawgrass rewards players who find fairways, play well on approach, and convert opportunities on the greens. Hojgaard ranks fifth in total strokes gained (+1.628 per round), 18th on approach (+0.605), and 51st in putting (+0.325). He has struggled a bit with driving accuracy, ranking 111th, but has made up for it with distance, sitting eighth. Hojgaard is also 90th in proximity from 125-150 yards and 62nd from 150-175 yards, ranges that accounted for 36.5% of all approach shots here last year. At $7,500 on DraftKings, Hojgaard presents strong upside at a mid-tier price.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 11, 2026
Robert MacIntyre put together his third top-25 finish of the season at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, losing over 5.4 strokes on approach but finishing T24. He now turns to THE PLAYERS, where he has three career starts, including two missed cuts and a ninth-place finish here last year. TPC Sawgrass rewards players who find fairways, play well on approach, and convert opportunities on the greens. MacIntyre has been elite with the flat stick, ranking 13th in strokes gained putting (+0.828 per round), and is 72nd in total driving, but he has struggled greatly with his irons. He ranks 148th on tour in strokes gained on approach (-0.750 per round), 154th in proximity, and 130th in greens in regulation. MacIntyre's volatility with his ball-striking and up-and-down results at TPC Sawgrass make him the ultimate boom-or-bust option at $8,800 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 11, 2026
Matt Fitzpatrick recorded his first finish outside the top 25 this season at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, struggling on Sunday and finishing T41. He looks to return to his top-end results at THE PLAYERS, where he has nine career starts with five missed cuts and two top-10 finishes. TPC Sawgrass rewards players who find fairways, play well on approach, and convert opportunities on the greens. Fitzpatrick ranks 20th in strokes gained on approach (+0.585 per round), 11th in driving accuracy, and 13th in total driving. His only notable weakness has been on the greens, where he is losing -0.236 strokes per round with the putter, though he has gained strokes with the flat stick in all but three starts at TPC Sawgrass. Fitzpatrick has been on a roll to start the season and presents a very solid option at $8,900 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 11, 2026
Sam Burns has struggled to start the year, with three missed cuts through five events, though he has also registered a T6 finish at Pebble Beach. His usually reliable putter has been anything but that, sitting 70th on tour in strokes gained putting (+0.171 per round), a number heavily influenced by gaining nearly 5.2 strokes on the green in his opening round at Pebble Beach. He looks to get something going at THE PLAYERS, where he has competed five times, with his best result being a T26 in 2022. Burns ranks just 135th in driving accuracy, 69th in total driving, and 105th in strokes gained on approach (-0.125). He also sits 64th in proximity from 125-150 yards and 94th from 150-175, ranges that accounted for 36.5% of approach shots here last year. Burns typically makes up for his lack of elite ball-striking with a strong putter, but it hasn't been as sharp this season. Despite this, he still offers upside with the flat stick that could push him above others in this range, making him a high-risk, high-reward option.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 11, 2026
Keegan Bradley has cooled off after a strong 2025 campaign, with three missed cuts and only one top-30 finish through his first five events this year. He now tries to find some momentum at THE PLAYERS, where he has played 14 times with five missed cuts and two top-10 finishes. TPC Sawgrass rewards players who find fairways, play well on approach, and convert their opportunities on the greens. Bradley ranks 133rd in strokes gained on approach (-0.465 per round) and 156th in putting (-0.697), but he has been solid off the tee, sitting 42nd in total driving. His iron play has been a major concern so far this season, ranking 137th in proximity from 125-150 yards and 164th from 150-175. That is troubling, considering 36.5% of all approach shots here came from those ranges last year. While TPC Sawgrass has produced a few strong finishes for Bradley in the past, his current form makes him difficult to trust this week.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 10, 2026
Xander Schauffele finished tied for 24th at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational, and this was followed by a tie for seventh finish at the Genesis Invitational two weeks ago. Schauffele has now rattled off three straight top-25 finishes, and he has gained strokes across the board in his two prior starts. Schauffele finished 72nd in last year's PLAYERS Championship and tied for second in the 2024 edition. Over the past 12 months, Schauffele ranks in the 82nd percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway. This is important because over 30% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's PLAYERS Championship.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 10, 2026
Rory McIlroy is set to return at this week's Players Championship held at TPC Sawgrass after he withdrew before his third-round tee time due to a back injury at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational. McIlroy was sitting at 4-under before withdrawing and was within striking distance of the leader, Daniel Berger. McIlroy won the Players Championship last year and finished tied for 19th in 2024. Over the past 12 months, McIlroy ranks in the 92nd percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because at last year's Players Championship, over 30% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 10, 2026
Jake Knapp is set to return at this week's Players Championship held at TPC Sawgrass after he had to withdraw before his first-round tee time due to illness at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational. Knapp has had an excellent start to the 2026 season by rattling off four straight top-10 finishes and five straight top-15 finishes. Knapp finished tied for 12th at the 2024 PLAYERS Championship and tied for 45th in 2023. Over the past 12 months, Knapp ranks in the 43rd percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's Players Championship, over 30% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 10, 2026
Viktor Hovland found his putting stroke at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational, and that buoyed him to a tied-for-13th finish that was followed by a tie for 41st finish at The Genesis Invitational two weeks ago. Hovland has secured four top-25 finishes in six starts this season. Hovland has struggled at TPC Sawgrass in the past, missing the cut last year and finishing tied for 62nd in 2024. Over the past 12 months, Hovland ranks in the 98th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's PLAYERS Championship over 30% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 10, 2026
Rasmus Hojgaard missed the cut at last week's Puerto Rico Open, and that was followed by a tie for ninth finish at the Cognizant Classic two weeks ago. Hojgaard has secured two top-25 finishes this season and missed his first cut of the season last week. Hojgaard missed the cut at last year's PLAYERS Championship and will need to find his form to compete this week at TPC Sawgrass. Over the past 12 months, Hojgaard ranks in the 57th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because at last year's PLAYERS Championship over 30% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
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