Players Championship 2025 Sleeper Picks and Predictions: Longshots Need a Solid Round 1

While TPC Sawgrass is a course that frustrates even the best golfers in the world, several Players Championship sleeper picks have risen to the top throughout the tournament’s history. And though Scottie Scheffler headlines the field in the Players Championship odds, it’s the perfect time for a longshot to claim victory. With a full field in play, you will need to pay close attention to the Players Championship cut line, as the top 65 players, plus ties will qualify to play on the weekend.

Players Championship sleepers

Sepp Straka (+5000 at FanDuel sportsbook)

It’s hard to call Sepp Straka a sleeper this season but at these odds we must jump on board. Straka has simply been sensational all year having posted a win at The American Express, a tie for fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a tie for seventh at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, a tie for 11^th at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, and two 15^th place finishes at The Sentry and at the WM Phoenix Open. Over his career the 31-year-old Austrian missed the cut in his first attempt at the Players Championship in 2021, but he’s since followed that up with solid showings.

Jason Day (+6500 at FanDuel sportsbook)

*Withdrew

2016 Players Championship winner Jason Day appears to have found something in his game over recent weeks as he has seen his name plastered over the leaderboards all year having finished tied for third at The American Express, tied for 13^th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and then continuing the solid run with a tie for eighth last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. This will mark the 13-time PGA Tour winners’ 14^th visit to the Stadium Course where he has amassed six top 20 finishes, including four top 10 results over his terrific career.

Aaron Rai (+3300 at FanDuel sportsbook)

Making his third career appearance at the Players Championship, Englishman Aaron Rai has shown a love for playing TPC Sawgrass from the results of his first two attempts at the track. In his debut at the course in 2023 Rai shot a third round of 65 that saw him skyrocket up the leaderboard and sit in fourth place heading into the final round. Unfortunately, a closing round of 75 had him plumet back down to a tie for 19^th place come the end of Sunday. Last year he never could get things kick started and finished in a tie for 35^th place at the completion of the event.

Tom Kim (+150000 at Caesars Sportsbook)

Sitting at a career best 52^nd in the official world golf rankings, Tom Kim has been playing the best golf of his young career as he arrives at his fifth the Players Championship. It hasn’t been pretty for the 31-year-old in his previous four attempts at TPC Sawgrass as he has three missed cuts and a tie for 60^th to show for his prior appearances. It’s more about recent form to back the one-time PGA Tour winner and Kim is showing loads of that over his last five events having gone tied for second at the WM Phoenix Open, back-to-back tied for 13^th place finishes at The Genesis Invitational and the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld.

Brian Harman (+60000 at FanDuel sportsbook)

Former major champion at the 2023 British Open, Brian Harman has shown quite the affection for TPC Sawgrass over recent years. In 2021 the lefty finished tied for third place and his success continued again last year when he finished tied for second, just a stroke behind eventual champion and the favorite in the Players Championship odds in Scottie Scheffler. Sitting 39^th in the official world golf rankings the 38-year-old hasn’t had the best of starts to the season although he has recorded three top 25 finishes.

Current Favorites to win the Players Championship

Odd provided by FanDuel – accurate as of March 14

More golf insights

• Players Championship Odds
• Players Championship Projected Cut Line
• Puerto Rico Open Odds
• Puerto Rico Open Projected Cut Line
• Arnold Palmer Invitational Odds
• Arnold Palmer Invitational Projected Cut Line
• Mexico Open Odds
• Mexico Open Projected Cut Line