Derek Clements advised skepticism toward Scottie Scheffler ahead of THE PLAYERS Championship. Despite winning the tournament the past two years, Scheffler has displayed recent vulnerabilities. Since coming back from a hand injury, he's struggled with driving accuracy and putting, resulting in inconsistent finishes. He recently tied for 25th at the Phoenix Open, 9th at Pebble Beach, and third at the Genesis despite a 'scrappy' third-round 76. At Bay Hill, he again appeared out of sorts. Given these concerning trends, Clements does not expect Scheffler to achieve the rare feat of a championship three-peat at Sawgrass.

Derek Clements pinpointed Collin Morikawa as a strong contender at THE PLAYERS Championship, highlighting his consistent results coming into the event. Morikawa has started the year solidly, finishing second at the Sentry, T-17 at both Pebble Beach and the Genesis Invitational, and most recently was runner-up by a single stroke at Bay Hill to Russell Henley. Clements believes Morikawa's near-miss at the Arnold Palmer Invitational adds extra motivation, signaling he's nearing his top form again after a relatively lean period following his Open Championship victory in 2021.

Derek Clements suggested Ludvig Aberg as a golfer to strongly consider at THE PLAYERS Championship, largely due to his disciplined approach and patient playing style. Fresh off a recent victory this season, Aberg's deliberate, measured style of play aligns ideally with TPC Sawgrass, a course infamous for requiring patience and strategic execution. Clements emphasized that Aberg's approach significantly increases his likelihood of performing well on this challenging layout.

Derek Clements tagged Russell Henley as a golfer to back at THE PLAYERS Championship, due to his underrated reputation and recent stellar play. Henley is currently seventh in the world rankings and earned a notable victory at Bay Hill. He also impressively contended at recent events, including a tie for sixth at the Cognizant, fifth at Pebble Beach, and tenth place at the Sony Open. Given this strong form, Clements sees Henley maintaining momentum at Sawgrass, highlighting him as a top betting and DFS selection.

Derek Clements recommended paying close attention to Shane Lowry at THE PLAYERS Championship due to his exceptional short-game skills. With a 'glorious' short game, Lowry has already shown strong form early in the season and narrowly missed victory. Clements emphasized that TPC Sawgrass rewards strong wedge play and precise putting, areas where Lowry traditionally excels, positioning him well to contend in this event.