Players Championship 2024: Predictions for Top Prize Money Before Opening Round

The 50th edition of the Players Championship could bring a first-time occurrence.

Over the first 49 iterations of this prestigious tournament, there has never been a repeat champion. Scottie Scheffler, who won the 2023 Players Championship, will be looking to make history with a victory this week, when the event will again be held at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Scheffler is among the expected front-runners for the tourney. But the field for the "fifth major" is loaded, per usual, and there are plenty of other golfers who can finish at the top of the leaderboard (and receive the record $4.5 million of the $25 million purse) come Sunday.

With the Players Championship set to begin Thursday, here are predictions for the top three finishers of this year's tournament.

3. Shane Lowry

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ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 10: Shane Lowry of Ireland Ireland plays his second shot on the first 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 David Cannon/Getty Images)

Few golfers have been playing as well as Shane Lowry in March. The 36-year-old opened the month by tying for fourth at the Cognizant Classic, then he finished third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week.

It would be quite the moment for Lowry, a native of Clara, Ireland, to win his first Players Championship trophy on Sunday, which is St. Patrick's Day.

Lowry has never been victorious at TPC Sawgrass, but he's made the cut at the Players Championship each of the past three years. That includes the 2021 tournament, when he finished a career-best eighth by shooting a 69 or better in three of the four rounds.

The prediction here is that Lowry won't win this weekend. But he'll continue his hot streak by having his best showing yet at the event.

2. Max Homa

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 13: Max Homa of the United States plays his shot from the sixth tee during a practice round prior to THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 13, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Another golfer who has been playing well of late is Max Homa, who has placed 16th or better in four of the six tournaments he's appeared at this year. The 33-year-old is coming off his best showing of 2024 so far, as he tied for eighth at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Homa missed the cut at his first Players Championship in 2021, but he's fared much better the past two years.

In 2022, Homa ended up 13th at the event, finishing with a 66 in his final round. Then, he performed even better in 2023, when he placed sixth by shooting a 67 in the third round and then a 69 on the final day.

Expect Homa to continue his upward trajectory at TPC Sawgrass by finishing as the runner-up in 2024, falling just short of his first championship win at the event.

1. Scottie Scheffler

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 13: Scottie Scheffler of the United States plays his shot from the sixth tee during a practice round prior to THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 13, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

For the first time in Players Championship history, there will be a repeat champion.

Scottie Scheffler is fresh off a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and aiming to continue his strong year. The 27-year-old (who is the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world) hasn't finished worse than 17th in his past six tournaments, placing sixth or better four times in that span.

Before last year, Scheffler had played at TPC Sawgrass only twice, missing the cut in 2021 and finishing 55th in 2022. But he's become a much better golfer since then.

If anybody can become the first back-to-back champion in Players Championship history, it's Scheffler at this moment. He'll get the job done this weekend.