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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Chances to three-peat don’t come around often in sports, let alone professional golf. In fact, the opportunity has never presented itself at The Players Championship before this year. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler enters as two-time reigning champion seeks a third straight win at TPC Sawgrass.

Scheffler became the first golfer to successfully defend his Players title last year when he miraculously caught Wyndham Clark and Xander Schauffele in the final round. Now, he seeks to add another chapter to his historic three-year stretch.

One of just seven players to win more than once at the PGA Tour’s flagship event, Scheffler has set his sights on the record. If achieved, he would sit alongside the most decorated major champion of all time, Jack Nicklaus.

“I would say, last year, this whole tournament was one of the best performances I’ve had in my career, for sure,” Scheffler recalled. “I think the way I played injured Friday and Saturday to just keep myself in the tournament took a lot of fight, a lot of heart. Definitely did not play golf the way I normally would, but I was so comfortable with my swing at the time that I was able to chip it around and play weird shots and somehow make pars and make some key birdies when I needed to.

“I think about late on Saturday birdieing the last three holes to give myself just an outside chance and getting off to a good start the front nine the next day to put myself up near the lead. I fought really hard all week to have a chance and was fortunate at the end of the week to get it done.”

Multiple-time winners at Players Championship
PLAYER NO. OF WINS
Jack Nicklaus

3

Fred Couples

2

Steve Elkington

2

Hal Sutton

2

Davis Love III

2

Tiger Woods

2

Scottie Scheffler

2

Scheffler arrived at the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament this week in a decidedly different spot compared to the last two years: winless. He’s gone through the first two and a half months of the season without a victory — largely due to a Christmas Day dinner accident that delayed the start of his season. Not only has Scheffler been shut out of the winner’s circle, even his tee-to-green greatness has been caught by his peers.

In 2023 and 2024, Scheffler entered The Players roughly one stroke better per round from tee to green than the second-best respective players, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele. It is not as if the falloff is that noticeable — Scheffler still comes in ranked No. 2 on the year behind Collin Morikawa — but that separator isn’t separating himself from the field … at least not yet.

“Last year is last year,” Scheffler said. “I’m not trying to replicate it. I’m not trying to look back on it. At the end of the day, it’s in the past. It was a great year. I’m tremendously thankful. I lived a full lifetime in a year. A lot of great things happened, and I’m very thankful for that.

“But when it comes to this year, I’ve never been a guy that sets long-term goals. Like in terms of a season, I have what I would think of as dreams and aspirations, but my goal is to be as prepared as possible when I step up on the first tee and then I want to have a good attitude when I go out and play over each shot. And that’s how I view success.”

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As each week passes, Scheffler shows more signs of breaking out. He led the field in strokes gained off the tee at the Arnold Palmer Invitational following a relatively middling performance with the big stick across the PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing. His iron play remains solid, and his short game has shined the last two tournaments. While the greens at Bay Hill may have frustrated the world No. 1, the putter had been in perfect sync before a poor showing at Arnie’s Place.

Some numbers are trending; others are working against him. Not only has no one gone back-to-back-to-back at TPC Sawgrass, but no one has done it at any tournament on the PGA Tour since Steve Stricker completed a three-peat at the 2011 John Deere Classic. There have only been six three-peats since 2000, and four of those belong to one man. You guessed it: Tiger Woods.

Three-peats on the PGA Tour since 2000
PLAYER TOURNAMENT YEARS
Steve Stricker

John Deere Classic

2009-11

Tiger Woods

WGC-Cadillac Championship

2005-07

Tiger Woods

WGC-Bridgestone Invitational

2005-07

Stuart Appleby

Sentry Tournament of Champions

2004-06

Tiger Woods

WGC-Bridgestone Invitational

1999-2001

Tiger Woods

Memorial Tournament

1999-2001

Opportunities like this are rare, conversions even more so. Then again, Scheffler has proven to be the exception to most rules during this run. He was able to win while injured at this event last season. He has been able to come back from astronomical deficits like at the Olympics. And maybe, he’ll be the first to pull off a three-peat at The Players much like he was the first to pull off the two-peat.

“It doesn’t suit one type of player,” Scheffler said of TPC Sawgrass. “I think some of the results you see here over time for guys where it’s not a horses-for-courses-type place, it’s just the guys that are playing the best are going to be on the leaderboard on Sunday. That’s plain and simple.”

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The 2025 PGA Tour continues to ramp up as the 2025 Players Championship is set for Thursday at TPC Sawgrass with the first tee times coming at 7:40 a.m. ET. Known for its iconic 17th hole “Island Green,” this course will host a vast majority of the top players on tour this week, including 48 of the top 50 players in the OWGR. The latest 2025 Players Championship odds list Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion, as the +360 favorite.

Rory McIlroy (+800), Collin Morikawa (+1600) and Xander Schauffele (+1600) are some of the other top Players Championship contenders teeing it up. In addition to picking the outright winner, there also PGA odds for top-five, top-10, head-to-head and more to consider this week. Before making any 2025 Players Championship picks, check out the PGA picks from SportsLine’s proven golf model.

Built by DFS and betting pro Mike McClure, this model is up nearly $9,000 on its best bets since June of 2020 and has called 13 majors winners heading into the weekend.

Now that the 2025 Players Championship field is locked in, SportsLine simulated the tournament 10,000 times. Here are the three best bets, according to the model:

Tommy Fleetwood to win (30-1 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Fleetwood has been efficient this season, finishing T22 or better in all three events he’s played, all against strong fields. His best finish was a T5 at the Genesis Invitational. Slow starts have held him back as he’s shot 71 or higher in the first round in all three events. Otherwise, he has just one round over 70 in Rounds 2-4 all season. He has elite strokes gained metrics this season, including ranking fourth in in both tee-to-green and approach-the-green, and the model has identified him as a top-five contender this week, making him a value at 30-1 at FanDuel Sportsbook:

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Justin Thomas to finish top 5 (+500 at Caesars)
The 15-time PGA Tour winner has been in a win drought since 2022, but he’s getting close to a return to the top of a leaderboard. Though he took a slight step back with a T36 last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he’s also finished T9 or better three times already this season. If you’re not ready to back him as an outright winner (+2000) yet, the top-five market still brings a big return for Thomas this week at +500, which you can get at Caesars Sportsbook.

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Hideki Matsuyama to finish top 20 (+110 at FanDuel)
The top-20 market has some more wiggle room and is a good fit if you’re looking to go more conservative than winner or top-five. Here, the model is very comfortable with Matsuyama, who returns +110 and finishes ninth on the projected leaderboard. Matsuyama won the The Sentry to open the season and also recorded top-20s at the Sony Open and the Genesis Invitational. He ranks sixth on tour in strokes gained, making him a strong choice for the plus-money return.

Full Players Championship 2025 picks
You’ve seen the latest best bets from the model. Now, see the full Players Championship leaderboard, including forecasted finishes for Scheffler, McIlroy and more. Visit SportsLine to see the projected leaderboard, all from the model that’s nailed 13 golf majors, including the last three Masters and three majors in 2024.

2025 Players Championship odds, field, golfers
Scottie Scheffler +360
Rory McIlroy +800
Collin Morikawa +1600
Xander Schauffele +1600
Ludvig Aberg +2000
Justin Thomas +2000
Hideki Matsuyama +3000
Patrick Cantlay +3500
Tommy Fleetwood +3500
Shane Lowry +4000
Russell Henley +4500
Sungjae Im +5500
Sepp Straka +5500
Keegan Bradley +5500
Sam Burns +6000
Wyndham Clark +6000
Corey Conners +6500
Jason Day +6500
Maverick McNealy +6500
Tony Finau +7000
Viktor Hovland +7000
Si Woo Kim +7000
Daniel Berger +7000
Min Woo Lee +7500
Robert MacIntyre +7500
Jordan Spieth +8000
Tom Kim +8000
Will Zalatoris +8000
Brian Harman +9000
Taylor Pendrith +9000
Adam Scott +9000
J.T. Poston +10000
Sahith Theegala +10000
Denny Mccarthy +10000
Aaron Rai +10000
Kurt Kitayama +11000
Davis Thompson +11000
Doug Ghim +11000
Rickie Fowler +11000
J.J. Spaun +11000
Michael Kim +11000
Matt Fitzpatrick +11000
Akshay Bhatia +11000
Ben Griffin +11000
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +11000
Keith Mitchell +11000
Rasmus Hojgaard +12000
Max Greyserman +12000
Thomas Detry +12000
Byeong Hun An +12000
Samuel Stevens +15000
Stephan Jaeger +15000
Cameron Young +15000
Justin Rose +15000
Joe Highsmith +15000
Alex Smalley +15000
Seamus Power +15000
Billy Horschel +15000

The PGA Tour Florida swing continues this week with the 2025 Players Championship set to begin on Thursday, March 13 at 7:40 a.m. ET at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. The 2025 Players Championship field features 48 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, with No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and No. 2 Rory McIlroy leading the way. Eight past champions are in the field for ‘golf’s fifth major,’ including Scheffler (2023, 2024), Justin Thomas (2021), McIlroy (2019), Si Woo Kim (2017), Jason Day (2016), Rickie Fowler (2015), Matt Kuchar (2012) and Adam Scott (2004).

Scheffler is listed as the +360 (risk $100 to win $360) betting favorite in the latest 2025 Players championship odds. Other top contenders include McIlroy (8-1), Collin Morikawa (16-1), Xander Schauffele (16-1), Ludvig Aberg (20-1), Justin Thomas (20-1), Hideki Matsuyama (30-1), Patrick Cantlay (35-1) and Tommy Fleetwood (35-1). The total 2025 Players Championship purse is $25 million, with the winner’s share coming in at $4.5 million. The winner will also earn 750 FedEx Cup points.

With this week’s tournament having a massive purse, it is imperative to nail your 2025 Players Championship one and done picks. Should you use this event to target a favorite like Scheffler, McIlroy, or Aberg? Would it make sense to take a long shot like Jason Day (65-1), Tony Finau (70-1), or Jordan Spieth (80-1)? Before locking in your 2025 Players Championship one and done picks, you need to see what SportsLine DFS pro and PGA expert Mike McClure has to say.

The One and Done format is growing in popularity. It has several noticeable similarities to NFL Survivor pools, with the main difference being entries are not eliminated with a bad week. Players pick one golfer per week and earn points based on their selected golfer’s prize money for that tournament. Golfers can only be used once per season, and the point format makes nailing majors and big money tournaments critical.

McClure is a DFS legend with over $2 million in career winnings, and he’s been red-hot on his PGA picks dating back to the PGA Tour restart in June of 2020. McClure uses his proprietary simulation model to analyze the field and crush his golf picks. In fact, the model is up more than $9,500 on its best bets since June 2020, nailing tournament after tournament.

This same model has also nailed a whopping 13 majors entering the weekend, including the 2024 Masters — its third Masters in a row — and last year’s PGA Championship and U.S. Open. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting apps like FanDuel, DraftKings and Fanatics.

McClure has been nailing his One and Done picks for the last two years, correctly calling Nick Taylor’s epic win at the RBC Canadian Open, as well as Scottie Scheffler’s and Jon Rahm’s victories as the Masters.

More recently, at last week’s Genesis Invitational, a Signature PGA Tour event, McClure’ top One and Done pick, Ludvig Aberg, outlasted the field for an outright win. The 26-year-old took home a massive $3.6 million payday for himself and gave his OAD backers a huge bump in their pool’s standings.

Now, McClure has dialed in on the 2025 Players Championship golf tournament and just locked in his one and done picks and PGA predictions. They are a must-see for any player looking for an edge in their One and Done pool. You can only see McClure’s Players Championship one and done picks at SportsLine.

Top 2025 Players Championship One and Done picks
One of McClure’s top One and Done picks for the 2025 Players Championship is Collin Morikawa. The 28-year-old has two major championships and a total of six career PGA Tour victories on his professional resume. Morikawa has been red-hot in 2025, posting two second place finishes and another pair of top-20 finishes in four total starts.

Morikawa has been one of the most talented golfers on the PGA Tour since turning professional, and is widely considered to be one of the best irons players in the world. He currently ranks second on the PGA Tour in both total strokes gained (1.856) and strokes gained tee-to-green (1.341). He also ranks 10th in strokes gained on approach (0.908) and 37th in strokes gained off-the-tee (0.341). With his recent form and his status as one of the most accomplished players in the field, McClure is expecting Morikawa to be in contention until the end this weekend. You can see who else to back at SportsLine.

How to make Players Championship 2025 One and Done picks
McClure is also targeting another golfer for his 2025 Players Championship one and done picks who was outstanding throughout the 2024 season and is a 90-1 longshot. This player has championship pedigree and has the ability to win any tournament he enters. You can find out who it is, and check out all of McClure’s Players Championship one and done picks at SportsLine.

Who wins the the Players Championship 2025, and which golfers should you target for your PGA one and done picks this week? Visit SportsLine now to get Mike McClure’s Players Championship 2025 one and done picks, all from the DFS pro who nailed Ludvig Aberg’s outright win at the Genesis Invitational, and find out.

Where to bet on PGA Tour golf
Here are some of the sportsbooks to bet on PGA Tour tournaments, along with the various golf sportsbook promos they currently offer.

“The Pacers have had a tough start to the season,” Leiva said.

“Things haven’t quite clicked for them, and with a couple of rough stretches, it’s clear they’re looking to make some moves.”

Guys like Tyrese Haliburton are off-limits in trade discussions, but Indiana might be willing to trade any of their many valuable role players if the price is right.

One player who could interest the Grizzlies is former Knick and former Dayton Flyer, Obi Toppin.

“Obi Toppin, who they signed to a four-year, $60 million deal this past summer, has been decent—averaging 10.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game,” Leiva said.

“But with their current struggles, the Pacers are reportedly looking to shake things up and could be moving Toppin to make a deal that helps them out.”

“This is where the Grizzlies could step in. Toppin is an athletic, versatile player who could add some serious energy to their lineup.”

Leiva proposed a deal that would send Luke Kennard, Jay Huff, and a 2030 second-rounder to the Pacers for Toppin.

“For the Pacers, moving Toppin would open up the door to some changes. They’d get Luke Kennard, a guy who can shoot the lights out from deep and would instantly provide floor spacing, something the Pacers need with Tyrese Haliburton struggling to create for himself. They’d also get Jay Huff, a big who can come in and contribute with shot-blocking, rebounding, and floor spacing.”

Leiva’s proposal isn’t a good trade for the Grizzlies, as it can be argued that both Kennard and Huff are more valuable players than Toppin. That being said, Leiva’s idea is useful in that it points to how all of these assets are moveable and could be traded in other deals before the deadline.

Toppin was selected at No. 8 overall by the Knicks in the 2020 NBA draft. The 26-year-old has career averages of 8.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game on 52.2 percent from the field.

“Here is a blockbuster that could shake the NBA to its core,” Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar wrote Thursday.

“Dame Time for King James. The Bucks, fresh off their daring acquisition of Damian Lillard last year, would be rolling the dice again by flipping him for LeBron (James).”

“On paper, this trade pairs LeBron with Giannis Antetokounmpo, creating an absolutely terrifying duo that would have the basketball world buzzing.”

“The thought of LeBron as the maestro and Giannis as the unstoppable force is enough to make every team in the East quake.”

“For the Lakers, getting Damian Lillard is a gift. Dame is still in his prime posting 25.8 points and 7.6 assists per game, and his elite scoring and leadership would bring fresh energy to Los Angeles.”

“Pairing him with Anthony Davis gives the Lakers a lethal inside-out combo that could keep them firmly in contention. Lillard doesn’t address the Lakers’ depth issues, but when you’ve got Dame dropping 30 a night, they will figure it out.”

“This trade screams “all-in” for both sides. Milwaukee betting on LeBron to deliver another ring while the Lakers snag one of the best closers in the game—it’s the kind of high-stakes deal that makes the NBA endlessly exciting.”

Lillard has performed well for the Bucks all season, but his stellar play didn’t result in many wins for Milwaukee early on.

After prevailing in their season-opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Bucks lost their next six games and appeared to be on a downward spiral.

Since Nov. 4, however, Lillard and company have gotten their act together, securing 12 wins in their last 17 contests and proving they can hang with any team in the league.

Lillard, an incredible stop-and-go ball handler who keeps defenses on their toes, averages 25.8 points and 7.6 assists on 45.4% field goal shooting and 37.2% three-point shooting this season.

James, who guided Los Angeles to six consecutive wins between Nov. 8 and Nov. 18, hasn’t been a happy camper lately as a member of the Lakers.

The 20-time All-Star and human freight train averages 23.0 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game, but the Lakers have experienced two three-game losing streaks since their Nov. 19 victory over the Utah Jazz.

While landing Lillard could solve some of the Lakers’ woes, trading a durable superstar with serious championship aspirations wouldn’t be the wisest decision for Los Angeles.

“The Lakers are sitting at 13-11, holding the 8th spot in the West, and it’s been a rollercoaster season so far,” Fadeaway World’s Fran Leiva wrote Thursday.

“LeBron James is still doing his thing, but the supporting cast hasn’t been consistent enough to elevate the team into true contender territory.”

“Adding Jerami Grant could change that. Grant would give the Lakers an immediate upgrade at forward, someone who can provide scoring, defend multiple positions, and fit seamlessly alongside LeBron and Anthony Davis.”

“The proposed trade would send Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and a 2029 first-round pick to the Blazers.”

“Hachimura has been decent this year, averaging 12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, but he hasn’t quite matched the impact he had during last season.”

“Vincent, on the other hand, has struggled to find his rhythm in L.A., contributing just 3.8 points, 0.8 assists, and 1.1 rebounds per game, while dealing with injuries.”

“The 2029 pick adds future value to the deal, which the Blazers would surely prioritize as they rebuild.”

“For the Lakers, Grant fills a lot of gaps. His defensive versatility would help take pressure off AD in the paint and give the team a better option to match up against bigger wings.”

“Offensively, he’s capable of creating his own shot, something this roster desperately needs outside of LeBron.”

“Pairing Grant with the current core would make the Lakers far more balanced and dangerous in the playoffs, where depth matters less, and star power takes over.”

“The downside? The Lakers would lose depth on the bench, and trading another first-rounder puts them further into “win now” mode, leaving little room for error.”

“But for a team trying to maximize what’s left of LeBron’s prime, it’s a move worth considering. Adding Grant gives them a legitimate shot to compete with the West’s elite, and that’s the kind of swing they need to take.”

Grant, a 2014 second-round pick, has taken a step back in the scoring and efficiency departments this season, averaging 15.3 points per contest on 38% shooting from the field and 35.5% shooting from three-point land on a struggling Trail Blazers squad.

Still, the two-way forward who can adjust on the fly could help the Lakers make positive strides offensively and toughen up on the defensive end of the floor.

On the other hand, Hachimura isn’t an asset the Lakers must retain to reach the promised land, so it would be acceptable for Los Angeles to swap him for Grant this season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the best team in the Eastern Conference this season, but they don’t have a wing that can keep up with the Boston Celtics’ duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. While James is past his prime, he is still an elite player who would help the Cavs’ title chances while having one of the most poetic ends to a career in NBA history.

If the Lakers are serious about re-tooling around Anthony Davis, they would want a win-now player who can compliment their All-NBA big man.

In theory, a mock trade where the Cavs send Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, a first-round pick in 2031 and a swap in 2030 might be enough for the Lakers to send both Bronny and LeBron back to Ohio.

While losing Garland would certainly hurt, Donovan Mitchell has some experience running the point guard position, and James has emerged as an elite passer in recent years. The Cavs could start Mitchell, Caris LeVert, the senior James, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley without sacrificing much of their depth.

The Lakers, meanwhile, bolster their perimeter defense with Okoro and land a starting-caliber point guard to pair with Davis in the pick-and-roll. On top of that, by holding onto all their draft picks (and adding even more) and retaining D’Angelo Russell, they could make even more moves as the trade deadline approaches.

Irwin’s second step for the Lakers is to sign a player who was once considered a huge bust but has since experienced a career resurgence with the Orlando Magic.

“If the Lakers do manage to convince the (Washington) Wizards to take both (Gabe) Vincent and (Christian) Wood (in a trade) for Valanciunas soon-ish, they will open $4.1 million in space under the second apron.”

Irwin believes the Lakers could use that cap space to sign Markelle Fultz to a minimum contract.

“With seven years of service under his belt, Fultz’s veteran minimum contract would come in at $3.28 million,” Irwin said.

“Prorated to this point of the season, it would probably sit right around $3 million.”

Irwin also claimed that the Lakers have reportedly been considering Fultz.

“Per sources, the Lakers have had internal conversations about Fultz, the former first-overall pick who hasn’t lived up to his draft position but was solid last season playing for the Orlando Magic,” Irwin said.

“Fultz would step into the role Vincent was playing and could serve as guard depth should the Lakers decide to trade D’Angelo Russell. Standing 6’4″ with legitimate athleticism, Fultz would provide physicality on the perimeter the Lakers have sorely missed defensively. Yes, the shot is still very much a concern, but in the right lineups, it can be made up for.”

“Depending on his market, the Lakers could wait to sign Fultz after the next step so that the prorated amount they owe him can fit into whatever space they have left after executing this next, bigger deal.”

Should the Lakers actually pursue Fultz, or is Irwin way off base here?

To no one’s surprise, the Nets are open to trading away most of their roster this season. Brooklyn officially began a rebuild in the offseason after trading away Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks.

With the Nets open for business, they will likely be asking for young players and draft capital, but the Sacramento Kings could offer them a star point guard that they can build around for the future in De’Aaron Fox. Fox and the Kings have yet to agree on a contract extension, which has entered him into many trade rumors.

In a possible trade, Brooklyn could send Johnson, Finney-Smith and Schröder to Sacramento for Fox and Kevin Huerter. It is likely that the Nets would also have to include some picks in the deal for the Kings to agree to it.

This trade works well for both sides. Sacramento completely reloads their roster with more talent that could help them try and salvage a poor season so far. Schröder could become their new point guard while Johnson and Finney-Smith would likely light a spark off the bench.

Brooklyn would gain a young player to build around for the future by adding a superstar like Fox. While the Nets do have some young talent in Cam Thomas and Nicolas Claxton, neither of them is a superstar-level player like Fox.

Of course, if the Nets did pull off this trade, their first order of business would be to sign Fox to an extension. The 26-year-old is signed through the 2025-26 season, but it would be better for Brooklyn to extend him as soon as possible.

By making this trade, the Nets would set themselves up well for the future. They could build around their young trio of Fox, Claxton and Thomas and whoever they draft in the loaded 2025 class thanks to their four first-round picks.