The one predictable thing about the Players Championship is that it is a very unpredictable tournament.
Sure, you can round up the usual suspects: Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, defending champion Rickie Fowler and the rest of the guys at the top of the world rankings.
Today, we’re going outside the box.
Danny Willett hasn’t played any golf since he won the Masters in April, capitalizing on the Jordan Spieth collapse at the 12th hole. No one is expecting Willett to be sharp enough to conquer the TPC Sawgrass. Willett was pushing hard on McIlroy last season to determine the best player in Europe. This year, thanks to McIlroy’s putting problems, Willett could emerge as the best in Europe. He already has a leg up with the Masters victory.
Willett is sort of a Jordan Spieth with length off the tee. Willett is not big but can pound drives accurately past the 300-yard mark. He is a complete player with accuracy, a good iron game and is a dangerous putter.
Henrik Stenson may be the best player in the world if no one was allowed to use a driver. This golf course sets up well for him due to the fact that the tall Swede can three-metal his way around the TPC to his heart’s content. The other factor that keeps him from winning majors is his putting. If his putter cooperates this week, he could win the title for a second time.
Kevin Na is our darkhorse pick. Here’s a guy who quietly goes about his business and is a virtual ATM machine. This guy makes a LOT of money playing golf. Again, this is a target course where Na and maneuver his way around the layout and won’t be handicapped by his lack of power.
Sergio Garcia has shown that he can play this golf course. He lost in the playoff to Fowler last year. His ball striking is without a doubt good enough to win here. It is his putting that, as always, remains the X-factor. Putting is about confidence and Sergio is not a confident putter. Simple as that.
Branden Grace is a world-class player. This week he is flying totally under the radar. Has a complete game and has been sniffing around the lead in majors. Maybe this “pseudo-major” is the one he bags.
This is a tournament that has produced surprising winners like Fred Funk, the oldest, Craig Perks, the biggest surprise and Adam Scott, the youngest at the time he won.
Who will step up this week?
It will be the player who can handle firm greens and the player who won’t back down at 16, 17 and 18.
