It’s the biggest event thus far in 2021, and there are no shortage of ways you can bet it.
The Players Championship is back after an interrupted version a year ago, with 48 of the top 50 players in the world teeing it up at TPC Sawgrass. Rory McIlroy is still the defending champ two years after his victory, and he’ll have plenty of competition this week for the gold-plated trophy.
We’ve already looked at potential plays to win and have strong finishes, but an event of this magnitude means the card can extend into some more exotic markets. Oddsmakers at PointsBet Sportsbook have priced up a number of unique markets, ranging from where the cut line will land to how much carnage will felt on the par-3 17th.
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17th hole props (odds via PointsBet)
It’s a short shot to an island green, a wedge for many and a 9-iron at most. It’ll also draw plenty of attention this week. The most popular prop could be the total number of balls in the water. Last year there were only three in the opening round, but the three years before included 45, 54 and 69 water balls. This week oddsmakers have created a three-way market:
Total water balls on 17
+150: 48 or more
+175: 37-47
+200: 36 or fewer
An ace on No. 17 pays +250, with two holes-in-one on 17 priced at +800. But birdies can also pay: you can bet on all three players in the same group making a birdie during either of the first two rounds at -180.
Scoring props
Will the course record fall this week on the Stadium Course? The magic number here has historically been 63, including Hideki Matsuyama last year in an opener that tied the course record and was summarily erased from the history books. It’s hard to go much lower on the par-72 layout, and conditions can sometimes get tougher in March than May. But the weather looks like it should cooperate this week, so low numbers could be in play.
Lowest single round of the week
+115: 64 or higher
+160: Exactly 63
+300: 62 or less
Additionally, you can bet on how many players will finish the week under par. Two years ago McIlroy won at 16 under with 69 players ending the week in red figures. The year before, when it was played in May, Webb Simpson won at 18 under and another 69 players finished under par. The lines this week indicate conditions could stiffen a bit:
Total players under par for the week
+175: 44 or fewer
+175: 45-58 inclusive
+175: 59 or more
Top prop play
Time to pay attention to the cut line. Only the top 65 and ties will play the weekend, and usually that cutoff hovers around even par. But this week, don’t be surprised if it drifts into red figures this week. Typically there are 144 players in this field, but this year because of the pandemic that’s been bumped up to 154. Throw in the lower cut rule that went into effect a couple years ago (top 65 instead of top 70) and consider the fact that the cut has been under par three of the last four years at this event (including last year). It’s enough evidence to get me to bite on the cut line score of 143 or less (+190), which means the cut will be somewhere under par.
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