Best Bets For The Players Championship: Weather Forecast, Picks For Ponte Vedra Beach Showdown

Players Championship Betting Picks And Weather

The golf season is in full swing! The Players Championship tees off Thursday, and it's often referred to as the fifth major because it is the first big tournament where nearly all the best golfers in the world come to play.

This year is no different. All the big dogs are here: Rory McIlroy will play and defend his championship after pulling out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend due to injury. Scottie Scheffler will be looking to capture his third TPC title in four years. And Brooks Koepka continues his return to the PGA Tour after his LIV Golf stint.

The weather might be a challenge during this tournament this week. The forecast says Thursday has a 70% chance of rain, so expect wet conditions during the first round, with sustained winds of 10-16 mph and gusts hitting 22 mph.

Friday dries out, but don't expect blazing hot temperatures, as there will be a high of 73 degrees with stronger winds pushing 12-18 mph and gusts up to 24 mph.

Saturday will have the best weather of the tournament: 77 degrees, no rain, and winds calming down to 10-15 mph. But don't get too comfortable because scattered thunderstorms are back in play on Sunday, which means potential delays and the worst conditions when it matters most.

(MORE: Dangerous Severe Thunderstorm Outbreak Unfolds)

The Players takes place at the renowned TPC Sawgrass. The famous par-3 17th hole features an island green and is a favorite for viewers but a thorn in the side of many competitors. Players who don't panic over winds or wet greens are going to have the advantage. That breeze is going to mess with club selection.

My pick for the outright winner this week is Si Woo Kim (+2500). Kim was the youngest winner ever of this tournament when he won back in 2017, and he has finished in the top 10 in the event twice before. He is scarily accurate off the tee, which will do him well on this course. And honestly, not many golfers are playing better than him right now, as he has finished in the top 13 in five of seven events and has not missed a cut yet. I will also take him for a top 10 finish (+210).

It's all starting to click for Ludvig Aberg. Every event, he's gotten better, improving his finishing position in each of his past four events. Then, last weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he finished top three, easily his strongest showing of the season. He missed the cut in this event last year, so I see him coming for vengeance here and continuing his strong play. He hit for us last week, so let's stick with him. The play at The Players is for Aberg to finish top five (+520).

If you want some bang for your buck, I would look at Brooks Koepka. After playing with LIV Golf for the past few years, Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and something tells me he's going to remind everyone why LIV Golf wanted him so badly. Not too many betting sites have Koepka winning outright (+4500), but you can look like a genius and be a rich one at that.

My last play will be on the man who won it all last weekend. Akshay Bhatia is riding high after his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and I see him continuing his excellent form at The Players as well. I would take Bhatia for a top 10 finish (+345).

All odds are courtesy of DraftKings.