THE PLAYERS Championship Predictions, Free Picks, Odds: Ricky Castillo Long Shot Pick

Why should the PGA Tour players be the only ones who get to make money this week? They may be playing for millions, but that doesn't mean we can't be taking our chances at glory as well! THE PLAYERS Championship is one of the premier events for the PGA Tour, and presents a great chance for us to be successful in our own right and take home our own prize!

Let’s have some fun of our own and see if we can make some as well with The Players Championship predictions! 

The Players Championship 2026 Predictions

TPC Sawgrass is a positional Pete Dye course that places an extreme emphasis on being in the right spots and being as accurate as possible. Ball-striking is key, as not only does being accurate on approach factor heavily into success at this venue, but even missing in the right spots is important. For example, missing most holes on the left side of the fairway as opposed to the right averages an increase of nearly a quarter stroke. Play around the greens factors in heavily as well, given that the rough here tends to be less forgiving than most. As for the putters, well, basically just don't lose strokes on the greens, and you have a chance, you can look at 2021 Justin Thomas as a prime example, as he ranked outside the top 50 in the field in putting that week. 

The Players Championship Free Pick Featuring Si Woo Kim finishing Top 20 (+112 at DraftKings)

Si Woo Kim has been playing incredibly to start the 2026 season. He's recorded 5 finishes of 13th or better, and even when he struggles, it tends to exclusively be the putter that falters. Si Woo leads the field in Ball-Striking this year, and ranks top 10 in bogey avoidance, birdie or better percentage, Strokes Gained on Pete Dye courses, strokes gained on Par 4s, and scoring opportunities created from 101-150 yards. This doesn't even mention how strong he's been off the tee or around the greens as well. He's a previous winner at this venue and has recorded multiple top 10 finishes here as well. He makes a ton of sense at this price, as plus money feels like a gift for someone with his recent success and course history.

The Players Championship One and Done Pick: Collin Morikawa

Morikawa has finally won again! That isn't the only reason he's here, but it certainly factors in as he's gotten that weight off his shoulders. Past that, he's only behind Si Woo Kim in terms of ball-striking this year, and has been great off the tee as well. The greens are always going to be the question with Collin, but he's shown more spike potential this year with the flat-stick than he has in recent seasons. He's scoring well overall and is top 12 on both Par 4's and Par 5's. As long as he keeps swinging the club the way he has this year, he should have a ton of success this week, and he lines up better here than at most major venues.

The Players Championship: Ricky Castillo (+11000) - Long Shot Pick

Sitting at +11000, Ricky Castillo's odds are clearly not a favorite in any Players Championship predictions, but I think he presents the best +EV play in the field. His overall game is in a great spot, with a win last week in Puerto Rico (with a stronger field than we normally see in an alternate event), and a 5th-place finish at the Cognizant Classic. 

Castillo's irons have been a big factor in this, as this went from being a negative club for him most weeks to gaining him nearly a stroke per round on average over the last few starts. Factor in the uptick in scoring that we've seen from him this year as well, and the fact that he's avoiding big numbers at a high rate, and it certainly shows us that he's got the upside to win an event, even one of this caliber.

How To Watch The 2026 Players Championship

The 2026 PLAYERS Championship tees off on March 12 and runs through March 15 at TPC Sawgrass. Fans can catch the action live on the following channels and platforms:

• Thursday-Friday: Golf Channel, 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT
• Saturday-Sunday: NBC, 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT
• Streaming: Peacock and PGA Tour Live will offer extended coverage, including featured groups and holes.

Check local listings for exact times, as weather delays are always a possibility at this event.

The Players Championship Odds & Betting Lines via DraftKings Sportsbook

Here’s a snapshot of the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook:

• Scottie Scheffler: +430
• Rory McIlroy: +1350
• Collin Morikawa: +2050
• Si Woo Kim: +2400
• Ben Griffin +6200

These lines are subject to change as betting volume picks up closer to the first round. DraftKings also offers prop bets like Top 10 finishes, head-to-head matchups, and whether there’ll be a hole-in-one on the 17th (currently listed at +200 for "Yes"). 

Keep an eye on course conditions—wind and rain could shift the value toward players with strong short games.