2025 Players Championship betting tips: Specials

Our resident tipster has picked out his potential winners at TPC Sawgrass, now he’s turning his attention to a couple of Players Championship specials.

Right, you’ve seen my outright picks and hopefully you’re all trusting me with your winner at TPC Sawgrass this week. But what about the other markets? Here are some Players Championship specials I really like the sound of.

Players Championship specials: First-round leader

Wyndham Clark

66/1 each-way (7 Places, Unibet 1/5) 

Wyndham Clark came agonisingly close to winning The Players last year, and he was in that position because he opened with back-to-back rounds of 65. Clark led or co-led after the first two rounds last year, and he’s been in fantastic scoring form on the opening day in recent weeks as well.

Clark has led on day 1 in two of his last three starts (Phoenix and Arnold Palmer) and he was 4th after day 1 of the Genesis Invitational as well, so there’s seemingly no player better prepared on Thursday’s right now.

In addition to his opening-day lead here last year, he was 12th after day one here two years ago, confirming that last year’s effort was no fluke and that he can navigate his way round TPC Sawgrass in low-scoring fashion.

We know Clark has reached a level where he can win this event, and he’s always been in a position to lead after round 1, having 5 times as a individual on the PGA Tour.

Keith Mitchell

100/1 each-way (7 Places, Ladbrokes 1/5)

Keith Mitchell doesn’t win as much as his talent suggests he potentially could, but he is a fast starter, who on 24 occasions has finished inside the top 7 after round 1. That is all we need from him here to lock in an each-way payout, and I think there’s a very realistic chance he tops the leaderboard on day 1, based on his favourable tee time.

At TPC Sawgrass specifically, Mitchell has twice sat inside the top 7 after round 1, with opening rounds of 67 in 2018 and 2022 leaving him just one stroke back of the opening-day lead on both occasions.

Twice he’s hit the bar on Day 1 here at the Players, so while he’s only held one outright first-day lead on the PGA Tour so far, he looks more than capable of posting the lowest score here. In addition to the two 67s he’s shot here on Thursday to make a run at First Round Leader, Mitchell also posted a 65 on day 2 back in 2019, which was again the second-best round of the day.

Last time out at the Cognizant Classic, Mitchell opened with a 64 to sit 5th after round 1, and it took a miraculous 59 from Jake Knapp to set the pace.

Mitchell ranks 10th in Round 1 Scoring Average so far in 2025, averaging 67.80, and if he can repeat his best round at this golf course, he will certainly be in with a shout of the first round lead on day 1 this week.

Two of the three players tied for the lead last year teed off in the morning, and the four outright leaders before that all teed off in the AM wave, so Mitchell’s 7:51am tee time from the 10th tee certainly looks advantageous.

Players Championship specials: Top GB and Ireland

Justin Rose

14/1 each-way (Betfred 3 places, e/w ¼ odds)

I was very close to backing Justin Rose in the outright market, so I think there’s certainly value in betting him to be the top player among the GB&I contingent. There is an argument to back him in the Top English market at 6/1, to avoid Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, but I am going to give the veteran a chance to come out on top against the very best.

Rose talked quite openly on Full Swing about his desire to prove himself on the biggest of stages despite his advancing years and pointed to his success at the Ryder Cup and then his run at the 2024 Open Championship, finishing 2nd in the latter at Royal Troon.

He’s showed some early signs already in 2025, finishing T3 at Pebble Beach and T8 last week at Bay Hill, both times striking his irons well and putting nicely – a lethal combination. I personally believe Rose still has it in him to win a big event, and while this isn’t a major, it would be another profile boosting win for a legend of the game.

On top of his decent run of form in 2025, Rose also has a strong record at TPC Sawgrass to lean on. Three top-8 finishes in his last 9 starts at The Players are eye-catching, and while he’s certainly been boom or bust of late here, I am willing to bet on the upside of the veteran.

Players Championship specials: Top American

Doug Ghim

66/1 each-way (Bet 365 5 places, e/w ¼ odds)

I have backed Collin Morikawa in the outright market, but rather than doubling down on the two-time major winner and my shortest priced outright of the week, I think it’s worth throwing a Hail Mary at Doug Ghim.

Ghim has a wonderful record at the Players Championship, as he’s finished 6th, 16th and 29th here, missing just one cut in four starts in one of the biggest events of the year. Given he’s made very limited starts in majors, Ghim will circle this event as his biggest each year, and he tends to make it count.

Another 6th-place finish could certainly put him in the mix for Top American honours, and this is a chance to back a long shot, while taking the likes of Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Hideki Matsuyama, and Tommy Fleetwood out of the equation.

Winning looks a tough ask for Ghim, but he’s twice been inside the top 3 going into Sunday and that is enough encouragement to back him in this market. It helps that he finished 11th last time out at the Cognizant Classic, and his SG: Approach numbers have been very good, leading the field last time out.

Like Rose, I was close to placing a bet on Ghim in the outright market, but just felt there was better value elsewhere. This provides another way to get involved with a course horse.

Players Championship specials: Hole-in-one

The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass is one of the highlights of The Players, and every year a huge crowd is there to either go mad for a great shot at the pin, or groan when another ball finds the water.

Bookmakers will typically offer odds on a hole-in-one being recorded at the iconic par-3 specifically and both Paddy Power and Sky Bet have priced up this market:

• Yes (13/8)
• No (4/9)

You might think based on these odds, that holes-in-one are unlikely at the 17th, but we have seen 5 here over the past three years, which offers encouragement to you ‘Yes’ backers.

Here are the stats behind a hole in one being scored at the 17^th:

Over the 42 completed renewals of The Players at TPC Sawgrass, there have been 14 aces recorded, but three of those were made in 2022 and there have been 8 in total over the past eight years. There has been one in six of the past 8 years overall, and with the average sitting at one-per-year, the odds could appeal to those who like a bet in this market.

• A brief history of EVERY hole-in-one at TPC Sawgrass during The Players

So what about the other holes?

Of course there is also the par-3 3rd, 8th and 11th where players could record an ace, and there have been 38 in total since this tournament moved to Sawgrass.

Bet365 are also offering odds on a hole in one to be scored on any hole this week – you can find these odds below:

• Yes (8/15)
• No (11/8)

Adds to the excitement, doesn’t it?

Don’t forget to check out my outright winner picks!