Golf picks: The Players Championship best bets from Diane Knox Balas

It was great to see Kurt Kitayama get his debut PGA Tour victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational over the weekend – what a display on Sunday with the world's biggest names all around him. After seeing Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler win the other three designated events we've had on the Tour schedule (ie. the tournaments with lots more money up for grabs), it was really refreshing to watch a rising star reach the top.

This week is a big one. It's the PGA Tour's flagship event, The Players Championship, at TPC Sawgrass. The purse has been accelerated to a whopping $25 million with the winner taking home $4.5 million and 600 FedExCup points (but who really cares about points when the dollar amount is that ridiculous).

Last year, Cameron Smith put on a clinical display on the greens in his hometown of Ponte Vedra Beach to clinch the title, but he won't be back to defend having ventured to LIV. He did say he might walk around as a fan this week, however. Wouldn't that be a treat!

After his runner-up finish last week in Orlando, 2019 champion Rory McIlroy is the favorite this week, alongside World No. 1 Jon Rahm, at +900.'This is also my hometown event and I'm excited to spend the week out on the course.

  
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