Players Championship 2016 Predictions: Top Golfers to Watch at Sawgrass

Outside of the PGA majors, there are few events more anticipated than the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. And with 600 FedEx Cup points and a share of the $10.5 million purse at stake, more than just pride is on the line.

Let’s break down some of the favorites at this year’s event. 

The Obvious Favorites

There’s one question on everybody’s minds heading into the Players Championship: How will Jordan Spieth recover from his Masters meltdown?

Maybe we should be more specific: How will Spieth recover from his meltdown on the 12th hole in the final round of the Masters, when he inexplicably finished with a quadruple-bogey?

Because the thing about Spieth’s “final-round meltdown” was that it was actually just a one-hole meltdown. Take away the 12th hole, and Spieth shot a three-under the rest of the round. After he cost himself the Masters on the 12th, he still was one under over his next six holes. 

Most players, had they shot a quadruple-bogey to blow their Masters lead, probably would have crumbled the rest of the way. And while Spieth didn’t play tremendously down the stretch, he still played respectably. Which is why it’s hard to imagine him dwelling too long on that fateful hole or allowing it to affect his confidence going forward. 

That isn’t to say that Spieth will play great at this tournament, of course, as Jason Sobel of ESPN.com noted:

While I don’t think Spieth is going to suffer any sort of Masters hangover, I don’t believe TPC Sawgrass suits him all that well. Even though he contended here two years ago, he missed the cut last year. If he plays poorly this week, some will try to connect the dots from the Masters to the Players, but I …

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