The Players Championship 2018: Preview, predictions and picks

The top 5

It’s almost impossible not to start with the top five players in the world, especially seeing as how any one of the next five names could be ranked number one in the world when this tournament is over. Yes, it’s that close at the top. So let’s get to it.

1. Dustin Johnson

You don’t get to the top of the world rankings and stay there for 64 consecutive weeks, the fifth-longest reign in history, by not staying consistent and there are few golfers more consistent than Dustin Johnson. With his win at the Tournament of Champions earlier this year, Johnson became just the third player in history to record a win in each of his first 11 seasons on the PGA Tour. Only Jack Nicklaus (17) and Tiger Woods (14) had done it prior to Johnson. One would think that DJ certainly isn’t done winning this year and adding Players Champion to his list of accolades certainly isn’t out of the question. He’s improved his finish in this tournament in his last two outings and tied for 12th a year ago. If he can keep the driver in the bag a bit and maintain his positioning, he’s going to be right in the mix.

2. Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas is going to be the top-ranked player in the world at some point and there’s a strong chance that happens this weekend. He’s finished ninth or better in four of his last six tournaments, including a win at the Honda Classic and a runner-up at the WGC-Mexico Championship where he lost a playoff to Phil Mickelson. He tied for third at The Players in 2016 and almost seems destined to take over the top spot on a big stage. TPC Sawgrass could be that stage.

3. Jon Rahm

Jon Rahm is on a very short list of players that is coming into this golf tournament with a win in his last outing. That came a few weeks ago on the European Tour at the Open de España, a tournament in which he finished at 20-under and won by two. The field certainly wasn’t the strongest that week but a win is a win and momentum is momentum. It’s always nice to enter a big tournament like The Players with confidence and Rahm certainly always has plenty of that. The fourth-place finish at The Masters certainly doesn’t hurt either. The 23-year-old Spaniard doesn’t have much experience at Sawgrass — he made his debut last year and finished tied for 72nd — but he’s got the game to win here.

4. Jordan Spieth

Of the top 15 players in the world, Jordan Spieth is the only person not to have won a tournament since the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last August. Of course, that tournament came just two weeks after he won his third major championship (and third leg of the career Grand Slam) by capturing The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale so don’t read too much into that. However, he has had some struggles at The Players over the last three years. Following an impressive debut in 2014 — he came into the final round that year tied for the lead and eventually finished tied for fourth — Spieth has missed the cut three consecutive times. He’ll need to get off to a hot start to get some confidence back and get it a good spot for the weekend. Playing alongside his good friend Justin Thomas should keep him at ease.

5. Justin Rose

There are few players in the world more consistent than world No. 5 Justin Rose. Since last year’s PGA Championship, an event in which he surprisingly missed the cut, Rose has made 17 official starts and made the top 10 in 13 of them and the top five in eight of those, including three wins. That’s why it’s so surprising that he’s missed the cut at The Players twice in the last five years. He did finish tied for fourth here in 2014 and had a top 20 in 2016. He stumbled to a tie for 65th a year ago but he’s in position to make a good run here.