Players Championship 2024: Early Predictions for Top Prize Money

The Players Championship serves as the biggest tune-up for the Masters on the PGA Tour.

A who's who of the PGA Tour, led by reigning champion Scottie Scheffler, will attempt to play the best at TPC Sawgrass and come away with the $4.5 million winners' purse.

Scheffler comes into The Players off a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. That was the first win by a top golfer on the PGA Tour in 2024.

Until last week, a majority of the PGA Tour winners were long shots. Scheffler's win could swing the pendulum back in favor of the typical major contenders.

The last five Players Championship winners were major champions as well. In fact, only Si Woo Kim in 2017 and Rickie Fowler in 2015 were the only non-major champions to win the Players in the last decade.

Scottie Scheffler Is in Contention to Repeat

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 12: Scottie Scheffler of the United States chips on the 11th green during a practice round prior to THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 12, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Expecting Scheffler to contend at a notable golf tournament is one of the more boring predictions you can make.

But time and time again Scheffler proved he must be included in that conversation because of how consistent he has been.

Scheffler's win at Bay Hill last week came after two straight top-10 finishes and five consecutive top-20 placings to begin 2024.

Scheffler won The Players last season and finished in the top five at three of the four majors. His worst finish at those five tournaments was a tie for 23rd at The Open.

Other golfers could come away with the title, but they most likely have to fend off Scheffler to reach the top of the leaderboard.

Justin Thomas Contends for Title

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ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 10: Justin Thomas of the United States hits a tee shot on the 14th hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 10, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Brennan Asplen/Getty Images)

Justin Thomas' struggles turned into one of the biggest stories on the PGA Tour last season.

The American appeared to turn things around at the start of the 2024 campaign. He finished in the top 15 in four of his five PGA Tour appearances.

Thomas, the 2021 Players Championship winner, is fifth on the tour in scoring average, a list topped by Scheffler.

Thomas has not shot worse than 73 in a single round this season and he owns a decent track record at TPC Sawgrass.

In addition to his 2021 win, Thomas placed third in 2016 and 11th in 2018. He had three other finishes inside the top 40.

A high finish this weekend would confirm Thomas' turnaround and likely put him in the conversation to win one of the season's four majors.

Min Woo Lee Could Be Top Darkhorse Title Contender

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ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 09: Min Woo Lee of Australia plays his second shot on the first hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 09, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Min Woo Lee dropped two of the lowest rounds at last year's Players.

The Australian carded a first-round 68 and third-round 66 that helped him finish in a tie for sixth.

A final-round 76 cost Lee an opportunity to make up a two-shot deficit to Scheffler after 54 holes.

Lee is only two weeks removed from a tie for second at the Cognizant Classic in which he shot three rounds of 66 or 67.

He finished outside the top 50 once in five PGA Tour appearances this season and recorded nine rounds in the 60s.

The decent early-season form combined with last year's success at TPC Sawgrass should make Lee one of the top darkhorse candidates to win.