Four sleepers for the 2026 Players Championship

Superstars typically win the Players Championship due to the complete game needed to conquer TPC Sawgrass, but longshots also find their way into contention nearly every year. With that in mind, here are four sleepers who could make some noise at the PGA Tour's flagship tournament. 

Aaron Rai

You don't need to be a bomber to compete at TPC Sawgrass. It's much more important to hit as many fairways and greens as you can while avoiding the watery graves lurking on 17 of the 18 holes. Luckily for Rai, that's where he thrives.

Rai has ranked sixth or better on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy in each of the last three seasons, and he's gained strokes with his irons in all four of his starts this year. The Englishman has finished T14, T35 and T19 in his three career starts at TPC Sawgrass.

Ryo Hisatsune

Hisatsune has quietly been one of the best players on the PGA Tour in 2026. The 23-year-old already has three top-10 finishes this season thanks to his stellar ball-striking. He ranks 10th on Tour this year in strokes gained from tee to green, 17th in driving accuracy and 22nd in greens in regulation percentage. 

Hisatsune has missed the cut in each of his two career starts at TPC Sawgrass, but he's a much better player now. As long as the youngster believes he has what it takes to compete with the big guns, he can contend this week. 

Austin Smotherman