With the bigger names in the golfing world teeing it up this week at the WGC in Florida, the alternate field Puerto Rico Open doesn’t have the splash. But it does have a highly-competitive field of golfers lower down the PGA Tour food chain looking to pick up some valuable FedExCup points and a Tour title belt. We’ll also see a number of Korn Ferry Tour stars try and make the leap. Eight of the past 12 champions made the Puerto Rico Open their initial Tour victory, including Viktor Hovland last year. Hovland moved on to the WGC leaving four-time European Tour champion Thomas Pieters as the betting favorite. But guess what? The Belgian has yet to win on the PGA Tour. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of updated betting odds and to place your wager.
Puerto Rico Open Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
Thomas Pieters -105 vs. Matt Wallace -115
Thomas Pieters -115 vs. Ian Poulter -105
Matt Wallace -120 vs. Ian Poulter +100
Branden Grace +140 vs. Emiliano Grillo -160
Branden Grace -135 vs. Andrew Putnam +115
Emiliano Grillo -175 vs. Andrew Putnam +155
Tom Lewis +115 vs. Patrick Rodgers -135
Brandon Wu -150 vs. Justin Suh +130
Lucas Glover -125 vs. Jhonattan Vegas +105
Josh Teater +115 vs. Stephan Jaeger -135
Greyson Sigg -135 vs. Sam Ryder +115
Tim Wilkinson +100 vs. Peter Uihlein -120
David Hearn +115 vs. Vincent Whaley -135
Davis Riley +100 vs. Vaughn Taylor -120
Adam Schenk -120 vs. Kristoffer Ventura +100
Brandon Hagy -105 vs. Joseph Bramlett -115
Brice Garnett -125 vs. Padraig Harrington +105
Kramer Hickok -110 vs. Cameron Percy -110
Need to Know
Since its inception in 2008, the Puerto Rico Open has been played at the same venue, though it goes by a different name now. The Grand Reserve Country Club, formerly known as the Coco Beach Golf and Country Club, will look the same to players who have visited Rio Grande in the past. Though it stretches to 7,506 yards, the course isn’t difficult. A good chunk of the yardage comes on a pair of par 5s that play over 600 yards, and the three-shot holes take away any advantage big hitters have. Also, the par-4s measure 460 yards or less making them all potential easy scores. There are a number of man-made water hazards and plenty of bunkers to provide obstacles. Steer clear of those and the rest is easy with wide fairways and large greens. Favorable conditions are in the forecast, however, nestled along the coast wind is always a factor.
Puerto Rico Open Matchup Picks
Thomas Pieters -105 vs. Matt Wallace
These are the two betting favorites so why not have a matchup between them. Pieters stands out in the field with his four European circuit wins and a decent stretch during that Tour’s swing through the Middle East, including a top-10 last time out in Saudi Arabia.
Padraig Harrington +105 vs. Brice Garnett
Since this isn’t the most popular field in a PGA Tour event you can always default to the brand name. Harrington is a big one, perhaps the biggest in the field, and he’s offered at plus odds, which is a benefit. He missed the cut in his last two starts, but there is a reason for that. Harrington was sequestered after testing positive for the virus, forcing him out of the Pebble Beach tournament. He’s anxious to get back at it and expect him to be hungry.
Kristoffer Ventura +100 vs. Adam Schenk
Looking at Ventura’s recent results one question comes to mind: why are you backing him? He enters this week on the heels of missing seven cuts in eight starts. Yeh, it’s been a grind. Even through all that he’s remained a solid putter gaining strokes through his first 18 measured rounds. He has a pair of KFT wins under his belt and secured two top-10s on the PGA Tour last season. There’s no reason to think a little tweak to his approach can resuscitate a career that’s been on life support.
Greyson Sigg -135 vs. Sam Ryder
One of the up and comers on the Korn Ferry Tour is Sigg, who is poised to make the jump after a strong start on the KFT. He has yet to claim a victory on the lower level tour but he’s been consistently good with 15 top 25s in 21 KFT starts. Sigg is coming off a T7 at last week’s KFT event where he hit 82 percent of his greens and closed with a bogey-free round. This is a PGA Tour event, but the field and the course should be to Sigg’s liking.
Justin Suh +130 vs. Brandon Wu
Sometimes you just have to take a leap. Although with this matchup it isn’t very long. Suh is still fighting for full-time status on Tour and he’s making a good case. He tore up the Latinoamerica Tour and acquitted himself quite well in four PGA Tour starts. He was T8 at the Shriners and T14 at Puntacana before a MC in Bermuda. He bounced back with a respectable T37 at the Farmers and has quickly climbed the ranks. In a field of unknowns it’s hard to pass on Suh’s price after what he’s done in a short time.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu. The Puerto Rico Open is scheduled for February 25-28, 2021, and can be seen on Golf Channel.
