Making up for lost time the PGA Tour makes its second stop in the Dominican Republic in seven months with this week’s playing of the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. As a stand-alone event back in September, Hudson Swafford topped the field by a stroke shooting 18-under. The champ has gone 18-under or better in all five previous editions, including the first two when it was a stop on the Korn Ferry Tour. The tournament is back in its usual place in the rotation as an alternate-field event alongside the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play. Charley Hoffman has emerged as the early betting favorite, but odds suggest a wide open field that presents a great opportunity to make some coin on tournament matchups. Check out the latest matchup odds at BookMaker.eu when you’re ready to place a wager.
Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
Ben Taylor -150 vs. Alex Cejka +120
Sangmoon Bae -120 vs. Sebastian Cappelen -110
Fabian Gomez +100 vs. Paul Barjon -130
David Lingmerth +115 vs. Nick Watney -145
George McNeill +130 vs. David Hearn -160
Kiradech Aphibarnrat -135 vs. Graeme McDowell +105
Brandon Wu -135 vs. Brandon Hagy +105
Robby Shelton -120 vs. Vaughn Taylor -110
Brian Stuard -125 vs. Troy Merritt -105
Nelson Ledesma +110 vs. Luke Donald -140
Kristoffer Ventura -120 vs. Josh Teater -110
Dominic Bozzelli -165 vs. Carl Pettersson +135
Rhein Gibson -155 vs. Shawn Stefani +125
Zack Sucher +125 vs. Bill Haas -155
John Senden +160 vs. Bo Van Pelt -200
K.J. Choi +115 vs. J.J. Spaun -145
Scott Harrington -120 vs. Scott Brown -110
Ben Martin -125 vs. Rafael Campos -105
Jonathan Byrd -120 vs. Andy Ogletree -110
Hudson Swafford +120 vs. Beau Hossler -150
Thomas Detry -155 vs. Danny Willett +125
Lucas Herbert -130 vs. J.B. Holmes +100
Rafael Cabrera Bello +135 vs. Joel Dahmen -165
Greyson Sigg +100 vs. Adam Schenk -130
Charley Hoffman -135 vs. Jhonattan Vegas +105
Need to Know
The Corales Course at Puntacana Resort stretches out to nearly 7,700 yards and is one of the longest tracks players will see. Despite its length it’s an easy course for the pros as evidenced by past scores. Swafford was the third straight winner to go 18-under and we saw 20-under or better in each of the two KFT editions. Low scores are out there if the wind doesn’t blow too hard. That’s not a guarantee, however, since the course has coastal elements sitting on the eastern edge of the island. The distance and open fairways play to big hitters, but the course will reward ball-strikers and birdie makers. The field hit more than 70 percent of fairways in the last three Tour events making this a second shot and short game sprint. To prove just how unpredictable it can get, Graeme McDowell won in 2019 after carding an opening 73. So there is hope.
Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship Matchup Picks
Charley Hoffman -135 vs. Jhonattan Vegas
As long as Hoffman doesn’t get too far ahead of himself he’s a good pick not only in this matchup but for the outright win as well. He’s hungry since it’s been five years since his last win and he comes in riding good form with three top-20s in four starts. He started the run with a T7 at Pebble Beach and was a respectable T17 a few weeks ago at THE PLAYERS. He played here in September earning a top-15 and his approach game is among the best in the field.
Hudson Swafford +120 vs. Beau Hossler
It’s been a struggle for Swafford since his victory at Puntacana in September. He enters with five straight MCs and has played the weekend just three times in his last 12 events. Not much screaming a win in this matchup. But consider this: Ahead of his September victory Swafford had three MCs and a T56, so anything can happen. Maybe a return will spark some magic in those sticks. At his current price he’s worth the risk.
Brandon Wu -135 vs. Brandon Hagy
Wu won the Korn Ferry Tour Championship last August and followed that up with three top-15s including a runner-up at another KFT event, so we know the guy has game. He also recorded a T7 at the Puerto Rico Open in February in another alternate field event. I was hesitant based on the price, but the more I studied Wu and his game the more I liked his chances since the field is more to his liking.
Scott Harrington -120 vs. Scott Brown
Recent form doesn’t stand out, but Harrington has made the cut in his last four starts, which is half the battle. Besides, how can you pass on a guy that recorded a snowman in the second round of this tournament back in September and still managed to shoot 10-under and finish tied for 14th? He had a strong opening at the Honda Classic last week going 66-67 to place among the leaders heading into the weekend. We won’t talk about what happened after that.
Thomas Detry -155 vs. Danny Willett
He’s kind of a big deal on the European Tour and Detry is one of the bigger names in the field. I was initially scared by the price, but I actually found some value in backing the Belgian. He is familiar with the layout having placed among the top-35 in two previous starts. And he’s had success on the ET with a pair of top-10s recently on long, wide tracks in the Middle Eastern desert.
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