Joe Idone noted Christiaan Bezuidenhout's strong recent record at THE PLAYERS Championship, with back-to-back top-15 finishes, and his solid recent showing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (22nd). However, Idone expressed concerns that Bezuidenhout relies too heavily on his putting and thus lacks the ball-striking upside typically required to win. While Idone likes Bezuidenhout as a DFS option or for top-20 or top-40 bets, he's firmly against betting him as an outright winner given the low likelihood of him actually capturing the trophy.

Joe Idone advised strongly against betting Sam Burns this week, highlighting Burns' dire ball-striking struggles last tournament, where he lost 10 strokes tee-to-green. Idone emphasized that TPC Sawgrass is not the type of course where players can quickly find their lost form, expressing doubts about Burns' current state, especially given his recent tendency to hit significant numbers of balls into water hazards. Despite Burns' tempting outright odds, Idone is off him due to his severe ball-striking issue right now.

Joe Idone strongly advocated wagering on Justin Thomas to win THE PLAYERS Championship. Idone highlighted Thomas' elite recent approach play, describing him as the best iron player currently on the PGA tour, consistently placing around the top 10 in major fields. He also stressed JT's improved putting form and his excellent scrambling and sand play, emphasizing how critical those skills are on Sawgrass's treacherous closing holes. JT's ability to hit clutch shots under pressure further instills confidence for bettors according to Idone, marking him as a top betting selection due to recent form and course fit.

Joe Idone views Russell Henley's recent Arnold Palmer Invitational victory as validation of sustained elite-level play, especially with his iron game. Henley, a consistently accurate ball-striker, had been close repeatedly but came up short multiple times previously due to nerve-induced mistakes. Last week, Henley finally broke through, playing aggressively off the tee and overcoming multiple setbacks (par-5 bogeys caused by aggressive play). Joe highlighted Henley's maturity in embracing risk, a departure from previously cautious tendencies. Joe anticipates that this breakthrough at a prestigious event signals continued strong performances and momentum moving forward for Henley.

Joe Idone remains optimistic about Collin Morikawa rebounding soon despite recent issues closing tournaments on Sundays, including the Arnold Palmer Invitational where Morikawa surrendered a multi-shot lead. Idone acknowledged Morikawa's early career success, which included two major championships before age 28, was unsustainable over the long term, causing inflated expectations. Irrespective, Idone highlighted Morikawa's elite accuracy off the tee and world-class iron play as highly controllable skills that translate well consistently on tour. Though Idone raised concerns about Morikawa playing overly conservative, particularly on reachable par-5s, he argued these struggles aren't indicative of a concerning long-term trend. Instead, he projects Morikawa will capitalize on his skillset very soon, labeling recent events as natural variance rather than any psychological inability to win.

Joe Idone is enthusiastic about Wyndham Clark as an attractive bet at around 80-to-1 odds for THE PLAYERS Championship. He highlighted Clark's solid recent performances, including shooting impressive rounds and gaining considerable confidence playing in TGL. Idone emphasized Clark's prior success at TPC Sawgrass, mentioning Clark played notably well last year at Sawgrass. Idone believes Clark has the requisite 'big dog energy' and comfortability on this course, attributes that make him a proven event winner. He contrasted Clark positively versus players like Russell Henley, noting Clark's mentality and winning capability especially significant for outright betting markets.

Joe Idone is high on Max Homa as an impressive early-season betting choice for THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Despite only having one round of data from recent play, he noted Homa has shown encouraging signs of form and confidence, making him a potential option poised to have a solid performance at a course that rewards accuracy and consistency. Given TPC Sawgrass's nature of rewarding diverse skill types rather than exclusively long hitters, Idone believes Homa's balanced game could align for a winning week at favorable betting odds.

Joe Idone cautioned bettors about Will Zalatoris leading into THE PLAYERS Championship due to his recent struggles following injury setbacks. Zalatoris has battled substantial iron-play problems, as confirmed by regular updates from his inner circle. Idone recommended steering clear in the upcoming event considering Zalatoris' compromised state, despite his attractive betting odds.

Joe Idone strongly recommended backing Scottie Scheffler for the 2025 THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass, primarily highlighting Scheffler's elite strokes gained metrics as crucial factors. Scheffler ranks number one strokes gained total in Florida over his last 36 rounds played, even despite his ongoing putting woes, showcasing his dominance in ball-striking conditions. Idone emphasized Scheffler’s outstanding off-the-tee play, which is heavily weighted in his model as the most critical factor at TPC Sawgrass, a setup rewarding aggressive driving and precision positioning. He noted that the overseeded conditions in March lead to softer, more predictable lies, further benefiting top-tier ball-strikers like Scheffler who tend to excel in favorable fairway conditions. Joe also discussed Scheffler's proven track record at TPC Sawgrass with multiple recent wins, underscoring his overall number one strokes gained total performance in his last 36 rounds played in Florida despite sub-par putting metrics. Given this statistical backing, he views Scheffler as a prime selection despite recent struggles on the greens.

Joe Idone made a compelling case for backing Justin Thomas at 20-1 for THE PLAYERS Championship, highlighting his excellent track record at TPC Sawgrass and current form. Thomas missed the cut just once here in the last nine appearances but posted strong approach stats even in that event. He's currently in great form, having carded three top-10 finishes in his last four tournaments and recently ranking third at Bay Hill during the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Idone emphasized that Thomas led the field in strokes gained tee-to-green through two rounds at Bay Hill, was tied for third place before the final round, and ranks number one in bogey avoidance. Additionally, Thomas leads the field in ball-striking at TPC Sawgrass, gaining strokes in ball striking for six straight years. Idone strongly believes Thomas presents significant betting value and labeled him as a key piece of his betting card.

Joe Idone strongly considered Collin Morikawa at 20-1 for THE PLAYERS Championship, emphasizing that Morikawa's precision and accuracy off the tee are well-suited for TPC Sawgrass. He cited Morikawa's 11th ranking in total driving as evidence of elite accuracy, noting he excels from both wedge distances and with long irons. Morikawa also ranks in the top 10 for proximity from the edge of the fairway, making him particularly appealing for a layout like Sawgrass. Additionally, Idone mentioned Morikawa led the field in strokes gained tee-to-green over the first two rounds at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He sees Morikawa as an ideal candidate to contend due to his sharp current form and strong statistical profile.

Joe Idone discussed Ludvig Aberg's potential at TPC Sawgrass, positively highlighting his local connections and recent practice sessions at Sawgrass to prepare specifically for this event. While acknowledging Aberg's significant upside and skill level, Idone raised concerns about his inconsistency off the tee, noting multiple wide misses at Bay Hill and his occasional tendency to chunk wedges under pressure, including a glaring approach shot into the water on Saturday. Idone suggested that Aberg's extremely fast-playing style might exacerbate issues in high-pressure situations, recommending he slow down slightly during crucial moments to avoid errors. Despite these concerns, Idone still seriously considered betting him at the 18-1 odds because of his overall potential and talent.

Joe Idone touted Russell Henley at 55-1 odds as a strong betting candidate for TPC Sawgrass, highlighting several metrics and recent performance trends as strong indicators. He pointed out Henley's efficiency on Bermuda greens, where he ranks number one in the field in putting over the past 36 rounds. Henley is seventh overall in strokes gained total in Florida and second in approach proximity from 50 to 150 yards behind only Scottie Scheffler. Despite poor rankings in par-five scoring, Idone clarified that Henley has skewed numbers from very lengthy par fives in past tournaments, while Sawgrass features three reachable par fives comfortably under 600 yards. Focusing on accurate driving and previous performances in Florida, Henley's skillset makes him appealing at odds of 55-1, especially as a high-floor player who repeatedly finds fairways and excels in Bermudagrass conditions.

Joe Idone identified Sam Burns as a strong candidate at around 60-1 for TPC Sawgrass given his capability to dominate off the tee. Pointing out how past TPC Sawgrass winners like Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and Scottie Scheffler leveraged elite off-the-tee play, Idone highlighted Burns's recent form, gaining at least 2.5 strokes off the tee in three of his last five starts. Burns notched a top-25 finish at the Genesis and has strong Bermuda grass putting numbers, ranking fifth overall in strokes gained total in Florida recently. Idone referenced his standout round at last year's Genesis Invitational, where Burns impressed on-site with an elite driving performance and approach game. He emphasized Burns' high upside and strong efficiency with wedges, plus his comfort with Bermuda greens that will aid him at Sawgrass.