The Players Championship 2013

Three quarters of the way through the Masters, swinging away comfortably, tracking the leaders with aplomb despite several wayward drives of the tee, I had made the decision that sooner rather than later, Tiger Woods would win a major and that I would be onboard. Today’s Players Championship – commonly known as the fifth major, and one of few tournaments which is played on the same turf year in year out – is as good an opportunity as you’ll get to back Tiger at a half decent price outside of majors, but one for which he makes absolutely no appeal.

Woods was in a rich vein of form before the Masters and in sensational form on the greens, with his game let down by some wayward driving, which even his wonderful scrambling game couldn’t save, as he tied for fourth. However the one thing that should really be bugging anyone over backing him this weekend is his horrendous Sawgrass record. Since his one win 12 years ago, he’s finished in the Top 10 just once, and hasx finished outside the top 20 three times as well. At just 15/2, he’s impossible to trust. So too is Rory McIlroy, who didn’t have the compleling for of some before the Masters and had a collapse after a turn. A 10^th at Qualil Hollow last week does bode well but he’s missed three cuts here in the last five years and can’t be enthused about with such a dire track record. Adam Scott, who finally got the break he deserved when landing his first major, is a past champion here and should contend, but this is his first start since and while he could well contend, we’re yet to see how he’ll go post Augusta.

One of Pete Dye’s most famous creations, Sawgrass polarizes opinion amongst some, especially the iconic 17^th hole with an island finish, but there’s no doubting that it suits one type of player above all – the short game expert. With no two holes playing the same way, only fairway finders need apply and the better your tee to green game, the stronger your chances. Sawgrass’s drainage ensures lightning fast greens, which makes approach shots the gamebreakers here in no uncertain terms, and few are better than that at Luke Donald, who was in contention for so much of the masters before folding on the final day. That can take a lot out of a player mentally, but his third at Quail Hollow was a very encouraging effort and few players go better around this course than he does, so at a general 18/1 he makes appeal to lead our challenge this week – he’s worth backing on the handicap with Paddy Power as well getting three shots. 

If we’re going for course specialists, than you would think that it’s a good idea to have a player who was eighth in 2006, fourth in 2010, and seventh last year. Bo Van Pelt disappointed a little in the Masters, with his putting game not quite holding up the excellent gains that he made off the tee, but was right back to his best in the Wells Fargo Championship, where nobody bettered his score for the last three rounds combined. At 50/1 (45 for those who want the extra each/way place), he looks too generous for a really big effort this week.

Lee Westwood is half the price of Van Pelt but well worth having in any staking plan for a course that rewards a short game, and in any case, is playing himself into tournament winning form. He’s a small stretch away from winning a major yet, but the move towards the US has helped him game no end and he’s now widely regarded as one of the most fearsome putters on tour.

Phil Mickleson isn’t your idea of a Sawgrass player – at least not a typical one – but it’s just impossible to ignore how well he putted, making 36 straight within 10 feet last week. Bogeys in two of the last three destroyed his chances but if over that – and he seems to be the type to get over such a blow – he’s impossible to ignore.

The spot for our last place was a tough pick between Matt Kuchar – champion last year and always threatening at Augusta until a dire last round – and Nick Watney, who was tied for the lead after three rounds at Quail Hollow last week and come tenth, despite slipping badly. With three top 15’s in a row - including a 13^th at Augusta – he looks to be on a real roll of late and his fourth here two years ago gives us plenty to like.

Advice

1 pt each/way Luke Donald (18/1 general)

1 pt each/way Lee Westwood (25/1 general)

1 pt each/way Bo Van Pelt (50/1 Coral, Spreadex)

1 pt each/way Phil Mickleson (25/1 general)

1 pt each/way Nick Watney (40/1 general)