With a Win at THE PLAYERS: Bryson, Westwood, JT…

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L to R: Bryson DeChambeau. Lee Westwood, and Justin Thomas will enter the final round of The PLAYERS at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL as the top-3 favorites. (PGW Graphics/Getty Images)

Lee Westwood (-13) enters the final round of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass, holding a two-stroke advantage over reigning U.S. Open champion, and world No. 6 Bryson DeChambeau (-11).

Two off the pace was world No. 3 Justin Thomas (-10), who shot a low-round 64 to reach 10-under par, alongside Doug Ghim (68).

Westwood is a former world No.1, as is Thomas, while DeChambeau is in the best form of the world’s best. In short, the winner will most likely come from one of these three players. (Although keep an eye on world No. 2 Jon Rahm, who is four back at 9 under.)

With that, here are the storylines, and things to know, for your rooting (and betting) pleasure.


Lee Westwood

Lee Westwood Leads The PLAYERS Championship
Lee Westwood smiles as he walks off the 11th green during the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on Mar 12, 2021, in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

Enters off a solo second at Bay Hill. Playing the best golf since his days as world No. 1 a decade ago.

Odds: +200 (W), -335 (T5), -1430 (T10)
Rounds: 69-66-68 (-13)
Driving: 288.8 (T75)
Fairways: 54.76%, 23/42 (T97)
Greens: 85.19%, 46/54 (1st)
SG: Putting: 4.360 (5th)
SG: T2G: 9.569 (4th)
SG: Total: 13.929 (1st)

With a win on Sunday at The PLAYERS…

  • At 47 years old, would become the second oldest winner (Fred Funk, 2005/48 years, 9 months).
  • Would come in his 15th start, matching Funk and Tom Kite (1989) for most starts before maiden win.
  • Would also come 23 years after making his first start (1998) at The PLAYERS – a tournament record.
  • Would be the best performance of his career, according to official World Golf Rankings (80 points); Current best is solo 2nd at both 2010 Open and 2010 Masters.
  • Said would be the greatest of his career, “undoubtedly.”

Bryson DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson DeChambeau walks to the 17th green during the third round of THE PLAYERS Championship on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on Mar 13, 2021 in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. (Photo by Chris Condon/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

Enters off win at Bay Hill. Winner of U.S. Open earlier this season. Current form is the best of the world’s top-10 ranked players.

Odds: +250 (W), -295 (T5), -1250 (T10)
Rounds: 69-69-67 (-11)
Driving: 305.5 (6th)
Fairways: 52.38%, 22/42 (T114)
Greens: 68.52%, 37/54 (T56)
SG: Putting: 3.898 (10th)
SG: T2G: 8.031 (7th)
SG: Total: 11.929 (2nd)

With a win on Sunday at The PLAYERS…

  • Already the Tour’s only two-time winner in 2021, a victory would give him three, including a two majors – albeit one unofficial.
  • Would further cement his status as No. 1 in the FedExCup standings, while bumping him to No. 3 in the world rankings.
  • Would join only Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods with career wins at Bay Hill, TPC Sawgrass and the U.S. Open.
  • Would become the 10th player in history to win both a U.S. Open and PLAYERS title, and the first to do it in the same season.
  • Would join Raymond Floyd (Doral), Tom Kite (Bay Hill), and Tiger Woods (Bay Hill) as the only golfers to have won PLAYERS titles after a PGA Tour victory the prior week.

Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas
Justin Thomas putts on the 14th green during the third round of THE PLAYERS Championship on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on Mar 13, 2021 in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Shot tournament low 64 on Saturday. 13-time winner on the PGA Tour. Ranked No. 3 in world, but has been up and down most of the season following a media-driven, and cancel culture-induced, uproar at Kapalua.

Odds: +500 (W), -175 (T5), -500 (T10)
Rounds: 71-71-64 (-10)
Driving: 293.9 (T39)
Fairways: 52.38%, 22/42 (T114)
Greens: 64.81%, 35/54 (T86)
SG: Putting: 3.686 (13th)
SG: T2G: 7.243 (8th)
SG: Total: 10.929 (T3)

With a win on Sunday at The PLAYERS…

  • Would be his first win on the 2020-21 season, and 14th of his PGA Tour career, moving him to No. 65 all time.
  • Would move him to No. 2 in the world rankings and No. 2 in the FedExCup race (possibly No. 1 depending on DeChambeau’s finish).
  • Would become the fourth players in history to win a PLAYERS, FedExCup, World Golf Championship, and Major (Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, and Henrik Stenson).
  • Would become the 14th player in history to win both a PGA Championship and PLAYERS title.
  • Would mark sixth straight PGA Tour season with a win, and seventh straight calendar year with a win. Only winless season thus far was rookie year of 2015.
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