March 10, 2026
There aren't many players who can consistently show up at The Players Championship, but Shane Lowry is on the short list of names that have done that over the last five seasons. The Irishman has found his way inside the top 20 at this golf course four out of the last five years. It's been through a staggering strokes gained on approach effort, averaging +1.343 over his last 20 rounds. Judging by his missed cut last week at the API, another place that he's flourished, it's easy to assume he's still beside himself after what we saw a couple of weeks ago at PGA National. He'll get over that pain eventually, and a Player's trophy probably tickles his fancy more anyway. Play Lowry with hope this week.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
March 10, 2026
It has quietly been a really good start to 2026 for Russell Henley. He hasn't been a serious part of any conversation week to week, but has only slipped outside of the top 20 on any leaderboard in his first five starts. He's been a DFS darling, but there have been significant shortcomings almost every week that have kept him from really breaking out. For the last three, it's been his iron play, and his chipping and putting before that. Henley has become one of the most well-rounded players on the PGA Tour, and eventually, everything is going to align. His tournament history at TPC Sawgrass isn't great, but there are plenty of past champions with similar resumes. If he can start finding his way on approach, look for a career-best week at The Stadium Course.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 10, 2026
It was a return to form this past week for Chris Gotterup at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, finishing tied for 18th. He even gained strokes on the greens for the first time since his win at the Sony Open. The 26-year-old will now travel to Ponte Vedra for his second consecutive Players start. Given what we've already seen in 2026, it would be easy to assume that Gotterup will be among the more favored list of guys to compete this week. However, the deeper side of the analytics may say otherwise. He is 145th in driving accuracy (54.22%) this year, ranks rather poorly in approach metrics beyond 200 yards, and has had questionable wedgeplay at times. His play certainly warrants his high-profile status, but there are better weeks to play him than a demanding TPC Sawgrass.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 10, 2026
Max Greyserman is letting the results do the talking. The American golfer netted his first Top 20 result of the season at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (T-18). One of his biggest weaknesses is driver accuracy. Greyserman had 10 events where that accuracy was 10% or more lower than the rest of the field. Sometimes, the golfer overcomes it but most times he does not. Last week, he gained 1.93 strokes to putting at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Greyserman may need a similar effort this week just to be a birdie or DFS possibility. The problem is can the golfer keep putts to an absolute minimum. He averages 27.95 putts per round and needs to be in order to have a chance at TPC Sawgrass.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 10, 2026
Nico Echavarria keeps trying to play through the consistency issues. The Colombian golfer shows flashes of brilliance combined with calamitous results. Echavarria has two top 10 efforts including a win at the Cognizant Classic. When he is on, he is on. Pebble Beach showed his ability to avoid bogeys and missed shots. Numbers are all over the place when it comes to the golfer but he has gained 1.81 strokes putting over the previous two PGA events. Working around the greens has been more erratic with Echavarria not excelling at sand saves and scrambling (170th and 139th respectively). TPC Sawgrass is famous for the inevitable bunker shots and chip shots as much as the 17th hole. Echavarria might be too volatile from a DFS standpoint.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 10, 2026
Ludvig Aberg did not have the best start to the 2026 season. The Swedish golfer had an injury impact his play but since the calendar turned to February, his form has returned. That culminated in a T-3 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week. Aberg has been closing well in events with a 67-66-67 over his past three final rounds. Driving distance is vital but the accuracy is key. Last week, Aberg was 15% more accurate compared to the rest of the field. At TPC Sawgrass, it is vital that the golfer avoid errant tee shots. This is something that holds Aberg back. Aberg is a solid betting wager if not for a win but at least a Top 10 or even Top 5.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 9, 2026
Despite his Southeastern roots and affinity for playing on Bermuda grass surfaces, Harris English has a downright putrid record at The Players Championship. In 12 career appearances, he has one top 20 finish to go along with seven missed cuts. The former Georgia Bulldog is a serviceable ball striker, but it isn't up to the level needed to compete on The Stadium Course. He ranks third on the season in strokes gained off the tee (+0.596), and ranks 13th in par-4 scoring average. If he is to make a run at this championship, he'll need to be sharper with his iron play and short game. But there is some value to be had here for guys playing for the perceived ceiling English has.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
March 9, 2026
Things have cooled off for Pierceson Coody after the hot start to the season. He missed his first cut of the season last week at Bay Hill, after losing over three shots around the green. He'll now make his first career start at The Players Championship, a place notorious for being unkind to first-timers. The 26-year-old has proven his ability to hang, but TPC Sawgrass is unlike anything he's played this year. His distance gives advantages at certain venues, but a 55.77% driving accuracy will be difficult to overcome here. Luckily, the approach play he's displayed this season has been some of the best we've seen from anyone. Coody has the talent for The Stadium Course, but ownership will determine how viable an option he is. If he's even remotely at the same level that he was before last week, there are better options elsewhere.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
March 9, 2026
It wasn't meant to be for Daniel Berger this past week at the API, as he ultimately didn't do enough on the weekend to hold off a confident Akshay Bhatia. Still, it was a successful week for the 32-year-old, who led the field in strokes gained on approach (+1.98) and strokes gained from tee to green (+2.70). He'll now head to TPC Sawgrass, where his game sets up beautifully and ultimately flourishes. The Stadium Course usually awards sound ball striking, and while that is usually the skill we equate with Berger, it has been his short game and putting that have given him the biggest boost around this property. Hopefully, he can shake off the close call at Bay Hill and show up to Ponte Vedra ready to play, because he's a worthwhile DFS selection.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 9, 2026
Min Woo Lee has put together one of the strongest starts to the season, recording five finishes of T38 or better, including three straight top-12 results. He looks to carry that momentum into THE PLAYERS, where he has made three career starts with finishes of T6, T54, and T20. TPC Sawgrass rewards players who find fairways, play well on approach, and convert their opportunities on the greens. Lee ranks seventh on tour in total strokes gained (+1.573 per round), 78th on approach (+0.116), and 39th in putting (+0.411). He has also been excellent off the tee, ranking first in total driving. His proximity from key approach ranges has been mixed, sitting 46th from 125-150 yards (20'10") and 129th from 150-175 yards (31'1"), distances that accounted for 36.5% of all approach shots here last year. At $7,500 on DraftKings, Lee offers plenty of upside at his price, though he will likely need a stronger week with his mid-irons to return value.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 9, 2026
Sahith Theegala continued his strong start to the season with his third top-10 finish, a T6 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He now heads to THE PLAYERS, where he has four career starts with mixed results, ranging from a missed cut to a T9 finish here in 2024. TPC Sawgrass rewards players who hit fairways, are solid on approach, and convert opportunities on the green. Theegala ranks 22nd in total strokes gained (+1.014 per round), 44th on approach (+0.353), and 33rd in putting (+0.480), though he has struggled a bit off the tee, sitting 80th in total driving. His mid-iron play has been especially sharp, ranking ninth on tour in proximity from 150-175 yards and 40th from 125-150. Those two ranges accounted for 36.5% of all approach shots here last year. At $7,000 on DraftKings, Theegala enters the week in great form and brings plenty of upside at this price.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 9, 2026
Jason Day missed the cut at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational, and that was followed by a missed cut at The Genesis Invitational two weeks ago. Day opened the season with two top-25 finishes in his first three starts. Day will need to shake off these missed cuts and get back to his early-season form to have a chance to compete this weekend. Day missed the 2025 edition of THE PLAYERS Championship but tied for 35th in 2025 and tied for 19th in 2023. Over the past 12 months, Day ranks in the 83rd percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's THE PLAYERS Championship over 30% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 9, 2026
Patrick Cantlay missed the cut at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational, and this was followed by a tie for 37th at The Genesis Invitational two weeks ago. He'll now turn his focus on preparing for this week's THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Cantlay finished tied for 12th in 2025 and tied for 68th in 2024. Over the past 12 months, Cantlay ranks in the 97th 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 THE PLAYERS Championship over 30% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 4, 2026
Taylor Moore leaned on an elite short game at the Cognizant Classic, gaining over 10.6 strokes combined putting and around the green on his way to a T2 finish. He now heads to the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he has three prior starts with results of T42, T39, and T48. Bay Hill typically rewards strong ball striking and accuracy off the tee, areas where Moore has struggled. He ranks 32nd in strokes gained off the tee (+0.426 per round) but is just 138th on approach (-0.540) and 141st in driving accuracy. Where he separates himself is around the greens, ranking second on Tour in strokes gained (+1.066 per round) and is also second in bogey avoidance. Despite his elite short game, Bay Hill's emphasis on ball striking may limit his ceiling, making him a bit of a risky option at $6,400 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 4, 2026
Robert MacIntyre has opened 2026 with four straight top-40 finishes, including a T4 at the Sony Open. He now heads to the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he finished T11 last year. Bay Hill rewards ball striking and accuracy off the tee, areas MacIntyre has seen mixed results. He ranks 35th in strokes gained off the tee (+0.400 per round) and 73rd in driving accuracy, but is only 141st on approach (-0.575) . His long irons have also struggled, sitting 155th in proximity from 175-200 yards and 143rd from 200+. On a more positive note, during last year's T11 finish here, his ball striking was solid, as he gained over 5.5 strokes combined off the tee and on approach. Recent form and course history make MacIntyre a high-upside play at $9,000 on DraftKings, though he carries slightly more risk than others in this price range given his approach struggles so far this season.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
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