Scotty Scheffler was the player who survived the week at Bay Hill, sporting the red cardigan given to the champion of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. It didn't bode well for Schaeffler, but he has repeatedly shown the skill to handle difficult situations.
The Tour will be in Florida this week as it moves from TPC Sawgrass to its signature event in the Players Championship. It is now the biggest purse in the game and will continue to attract the best field of the year.
All the top players in the world are set to start it, with 47 of the top 50 sets ready to play, when Bryson DeChambeau was forced to withdraw due to protracted injuries.
There won't be any Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods either, and Ricky Fowler is looking on the outside now, but it will still be one of the best weeks of the year, with the best of the game.
Numbers have been in the books for a while now, which gives us a rare week to choose something with odds. Here I am, buying the title in the "Fifth Major" of the season.
Hideki Matsuyama +2800
One of the best final rounds of the entire day on Sunday at Bay Hill came from Hideki Matsuyama, who fired 2-under 70. Because he was out early enough without a chance to win, it would be overlooked.
Matsuyama has been the best player on the Tour so far this season, with two wins since the fall, with the most recent win at the Sony Open. The defending Masters champion will be looking to roll his good form at TPC Sagaras into a big week where he is seeing a boom or bust in his career.
Hideki's last five appearances in The PLAYERS show he has two missed cuts, but also two top-10 finishes in that period. I don't mind that an absolute market volatility where just one win will pay us a solid number like +2800 coming week.
Brooks Koepka +4000
It's a name I was told over the weekend and after some research, I can tell you I'm going for the players at Brooks Koepka. He is coming into form with his game, as evidenced by his 5.3 strokes received throughout the week at the Honda Classic, including 3.3 shots received on approaches.
Koepka is finally looking healthy this year and has been a player throughout his career at TPC Sagaras. He is not looking for a win, but with the combination of his form and illustrious history on the course, I would take the talent of a player like Koepka down to a level where his skills are.
Alex Noreen +10000
I'll go well beyond the specific board for my final purchase at Players Week, as I go back to Alex Noreen's own Honda Classic pick.
The Swede finished T5 for me a couple of weeks ago though make no mistake about it, he was never looking to win. Despite his lack of birdies, he played really well; It was this par that kept him in the top 10 from start to finish.
Noreen will have to score better to have any hope of topping the TPC Sawgrass, but he has the skills to compete. Noreen has a T17 and singles 10th to add to his resume at this event, and he is now the player he was back in those appearances.
I really believe in Noreen's overall brilliance and these odds being a player well below that level, I'm interested in taking a long stand with him this week. He's actually a better bet for solid odds on top-10 type finishes, but I'd sprinkle him for the win as well.