BlogCorales Preview and Picks

Corales Puntacan Resort Championship

March 25th – 28th, 2021

Corales Golf Club

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Par: 72 / Yardage: 7,666

Purse: $3 million

with $540,000 to the winner

Defending Champion:
Hudson Swafford

by Sal Johnson

Founder, Chief Data Officer, GOLFstats

E-mail me at:
sal@golfstats.com

This week’s field includes:

The field includes 6 players from the top 100 in the latest Official World Rankings, #72 Lucas Herbert, #76 Danny Willett, #76 Thomas Pieters, #77 Thomas Detry, #81 Joe Dahmen, and #98 Tom Lewis.

When it was played last September there were 9 players from the top-100

The field includes nobody from the top 25 players on the FedEx point standings for 2021, the highest rank player in the field is #35 Hudson Swafford.

A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the Corales Puntacan Resort Championship field is our performance chart listed by the average finish.

A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.

Another cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmaker in Las Vegas.

Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:

Who’s Hot in the field for the Corales Puntacan Resort Championship

Player Honda Classic Louisiana Open The Players Qatar Masters Arnold Palmer Puerto Rico WGC-Workday Concession Genesis Invit. Lecom Suncoast Pebble Beach Phoenix Open Saudi Inter. Farmers Insurance
Charley Hoffman
(121.17 pts)
DNP DNP T17
(49.5)
DNP T10
(40)
DNP DNP T52
(0)
DNP T7
(36.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP WD
(-1.67)
Peter Uihlein
(107.33 pts)
DNP 2
(100)
DNP DNP DNP T39
(7.33)
DNP DNP T60
(0)
T60
(0)
DNP DNP DNP
Chase Seiffert
(106.67 pts)
T3
(90)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T15
(23.33)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP T60
(0)
Lee Hodges
(97.33 pts)
DNP T14
(36)
DNP DNP DNP T13
(24.67)
DNP DNP T7
(36.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP
Brandon Hagy
(89.33 pts)
2
(100)
DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP T42
(2.67)
Jhonattan Vegas
(87 pts)
T30
(20)
DNP T61
(0)
DNP DNP 2
(66.67)
DNP DNP DNP T50
(0.67)
DNP T41
(3)
CUT
(-3.33)
Rafael Campos
(76.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T3
(60)
DNP DNP T7
(36.67)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Thomas Pieters
(73.67 pts)
DNP DNP DNP 13
(37)
DNP T15
(23.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T10
(13.33)
DNP
Stephan Jaeger
(73.33 pts)
DNP 4
(80)
DNP DNP DNP T58
(0)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP
Nate Lashley
(71.67 pts)
T36
(14)
DNP 71
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T57
(0)
DNP T5
(46.67)
T17
(11)
DNP DNP
Charles Howell III
(71.5 pts)
DNP DNP T9
(67.5)
DNP T36
(14)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Thomas Detry
(67 pts)
DNP DNP DNP T9
(45)
DNP DNP T28
(22)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T53
(0)
DNP
Brandon Wu
(50.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T7
(36.67)
DNP DNP T14
(24)
DNP DNP DNP DNP
Zack Sucher
(50 pts)
DNP T8
(50)
DNP DNP DNP T66
(0)
DNP DNP DNP T60
(0)
DNP DNP DNP
Sam Ryder
(49 pts)
T8
(50)
DNP CUT
(-15)
DNP DNP T39
(7.33)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
57
(0)
DNP T10
(13.33)
Will Gordon
(49 pts)
T36
(14)
DNP DNP DNP T49
(1)
T27
(15.33)
DNP DNP DNP T21
(19.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP T42
(2.67)
Brice Garnett
(46.67 pts)
T25
(25)
DNP CUT
(-15)
DNP DNP T5
(46.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP DNP
Grayson Murray
(46 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T3
(60)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
T42
(2.67)
DNP 79
(0)
Tyler McCumber
(42.33 pts)
T33
(17)
DNP T22
(42)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP T52
(0)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP T75
(0)
Taylor Pendrith
(41 pts)
DNP T27
(23)
DNP DNP DNP T53
(0)
DNP DNP T23
(18)
DNP DNP DNP DNP
Emiliano Grillo
(39.33 pts)
DNP DNP CUT
(-15)
DNP T21
(29)
T11
(26)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP T22
(9.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Roger Sloan
(37 pts)
T25
(25)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T22
(18.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP T53
(0)
Fabrizio Zanotti
(36 pts)
DNP DNP DNP T14
(36)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T53
(0)
DNP
Vincent Whaley
(31.33 pts)
T36
(14)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T15
(23.33)
DNP DNP DNP T50
(0.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Rob Oppenheim
(30.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T7
(36.67)
DNP DNP DNP T39
(7.33)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Aaron Baddeley
(30.33 pts)
DNP T23
(27)
DNP DNP DNP T30
(13.33)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Tim Wilkinson
(28.67 pts)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T27
(15.33)
DNP DNP DNP T30
(13.33)
DNP DNP T73
(0)
Camilo Villegas
(28.33 pts)
T8
(50)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP WD
(-1.67)
Paul Barjon
(27.67 pts)
DNP T27
(23)
DNP DNP DNP T58
(0)
DNP DNP T43
(4.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP
Greyson Sigg
(20 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP T7
(36.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP
Josh Teater
(19.33 pts)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T22
(18.67)
DNP DNP DNP T50
(0.67)
DNP DNP DNP
Danny Willett
(19 pts)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T31
(19)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T63
(0)
DNP
Tom Lewis
(15.67 pts)
T36
(14)
DNP CUT
(-15)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP T14
(24)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP T42
(2.67)
Patrick Rodgers
(15.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP T65
(0)
DNP T57
(0)
T30
(13.33)
DNP T12
(25.33)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Wes Roach
(14.67 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP T13
(24.67)
DNP DNP 67
(0)
67
(0)
DNP DNP DNP
Justin Suh
(14.33 pts)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T35
(10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T37
(4.33)
David Lingmerth
(14 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP T53
(0)
DNP DNP T14
(24)
DNP DNP DNP DNP
Ben Martin
(13.67 pts)
DNP T23
(27)
DNP DNP DNP 73
(0)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP
Bo Van Pelt
(13.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T15
(23.33)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
T30
(6.67)
DNP DNP
Greg Chalmers
(12 pts)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T22
(18.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP
D.J. Trahan
(12 pts)
T60
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T22
(18.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP
Bronson Burgoon
(12 pts)
T67
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T39
(7.33)
DNP DNP DNP T47
(2)
DNP DNP T42
(2.67)
Bill Haas
(9.33 pts)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T30
(13.33)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP T42
(2.67)
Scott Harrington
(9.33 pts)
T53
(0)
DNP T61
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T26
(16)
DNP 66
(0)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Ryan Brehm
(9.33 pts)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T11
(26)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Pat Perez
(9 pts)
T46
(4)
DNP CUT
(-15)
DNP T36
(14)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T26
(16)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP T69
(0)
Fabian Gomez
(8.33 pts)
DNP T51
(0)
DNP DNP DNP T15
(23.33)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP WD
(-1.67)
Satoshi Kodaira
(4.67 pts)
T36
(14)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T49
(0.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
63
(0)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
John Senden
(4 pts)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 75
(0)
DNP DNP DNP T39
(7.33)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Michael Gellerman
(4 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP T58
(0)
DNP DNP T14
(24)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Joseph Bramlett
(1.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T49
(0.67)
DNP DNP DNP T63
(0)
DNP DNP T18
(10.67)
Adam Schenk
(1 pts)
T36
(14)
DNP CUT
(-15)
DNP DNP T27
(15.33)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Lucas Herbert
(0.67 pts)
T46
(4)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 70
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
Jonathan Byrd
(0.67 pts)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T39
(7.33)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP
Roberto Castro
(0.67 pts)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T39
(7.33)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP

How Player Rankings are Computed

Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Corales Puntacan Resort Championship

Player Honda Classic Louisiana Open The Players Qatar Masters Arnold Palmer Puerto Rico WGC-Workday Concession Genesis Invit. Lecom Suncoast Pebble Beach Phoenix Open Saudi Inter. Farmers Insurance
Joel Dahmen
(-38.33 pts)
DNP DNP CUT
(-15)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T60
(0)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Hudson Swafford
(-38.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-15)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP DNP
Graeme McDowell
(-35 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-15)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T66
(0)
DNP
Tyler Duncan
(-30.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-15)
DNP T57
(0)
DNP DNP T38
(8)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Robby Shelton
(-30.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-15)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP T53
(0)
DNP T16
(11.33)
Shawn Stefani
(-30 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP
Hunter Mahan
(-30 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Martin Trainer
(-28.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP WD
(-1.67)
David Hearn
(-26.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Dominic Bozzelli
(-26.67 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP WD
(-3.33)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP

How Player Rankings are Computed

The Buzz

This event was played just six months ago, rescheduled from its original date.  When it was played the week after the U.S. Open, it was supposed to be opposite the Ryder Cup.  But that didn’t happen, leaving this event the only event for the week, making it memorable, and giving players the opportunity to get a Masters invite since it was given full-point allocation.  With that winner Hudson Swafford got a Masters invite, but as in Cinderella, midnight has struck, and the girl has reverted to a pumpkin.  The same for the Corales Punta Cana Resort Championship, it’s now opposite the World Golf Championship and doesn’t get the same perks as last September’s event.  Still, the winner will get enough FedEx points to get him deep into the playoffs, and he will receive an invite to Maui for the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

On paper, this is a serious event because the second tier of PGA Tour players is on their own, able to make a splash in an event with very few marquee names.  The event is held on the Dominican Republic island, and it’s a place that people go to relax, get lots of sun, go to the beach, and play a little golf.  The course is on the ocean and gets a lot of wind, which makes it challenging.  In looking at the forecast for the week, it will be 84 each day with the wind of 15 to 20 mph coming off the ocean to bring on challenges.

One top of PGA Tour players, those inside the top-10 of the Korn Ferry Points list at the end of 2020, got a spot into this event.  So a lot of players who are looking to be future stars are in this event.  One of them is Puerto Rican Rafa Campos, who made a splash last month by finishing T-3rd in the Puerto Rico Open.  Also in the field is college stars Andy Ogletree and Justin Suh, who are starting their professional careers.

Things you need to know about the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship

The Corales Puntacana Championship started as a Korn Ferry Tour event in 2016 and ’17.  In 2018 it changed to a PGA Tour event that would be played in March opposite of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship.  This will be the fourth year as a PGA Tour event.

The course is at the eastern end of the Dominican Republic in the town of Punta Cana.  The resort has 45 holes, 27 holes built by P.B. Dye, and 18 designed by Tom Fazio.  The tournament is held at the Tom Fazio, Corales Golf Club.  The course is wide open off the tee, but the green complexes are tricky, and the wind is unpredictable. The final three-hole stretch, ‘The Devil’s Elbow,’ has a dramatic forced carry of the Bay of Corales on 18 and is one of the most idyllic runs of golf on the PGA Tour.

This event gives second-tier players who didn’t qualify for the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship opportunities for playing a tournament this week and gain FedEx Cup points.    Unfortunately, the winner gets just about every award given to a regular winner except one crucial invite to the Masters.  Augusta won’t extend an invite to the winner in the Dominican Republic this week.

Course information:
  • Corales Golf Club
  • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
  • 7,670 yards     Par 36-36–72

The course is at the eastern end of the Dominican Republic in the town of Punta Cana.  The resort has 45 holes, 27 holes built by P.B. Dye, and 18 designed by Tom Fazio.  The tournament is held on the Tom Fazio designed the course, which opened in 2010.

The course plays along the cliffs, bays, and coves of the Caribbean Sea, with six oceanside holes and the inland holes dotted with lakes and quarries. The course features ever-changing elevations, strategic bunkering, and large, elevated greens.

On the front nine, water comes into play on just the 390-yard, 3rd hole.  The nine also has plenty of other hazards in the form of enormous waste bunkers.  The nine ends with a 175-yard par-three, in which the green sits in a rather exposed position atop of a rocky headland.

The back nine has a dramatic finish.  The last three holes play toward or along the Bay of Corales and are called the Devil’s Elbow. The 501-yard 18th wraps around the water, enticing players to bite off as much of a carry as they dare on the tee shot, but it was the 214-yard par-3 17th that catches players’ attention. It plays along the coast to a narrow green guarded by bunkers on both sides.

The course has a unique grass on it, Paspalum supreme, which is a lot like Bermuda but can tolerate salt and takes a low quality of water to survive.  The course is very tough for the average player, while it’s very manageable for the pros that will play it this week.  Since the course has opened, it’s gotten the reputation as one of the best courses in the Caribbean.

The course is very private, some of its founding members are Mikhail Baryshnikov, Julio Iglesias, and President Bill Clinton.

The course played to a 71.12 average when it was played six months ago and is the 16th hardest course in the 2021 schedule.  The last time it was played in 2019, it had a 71.07 scoring average and was the 34th hardest course.  What makes the course unique is that nine of the 18 holes play over par.  The last three holes all play over par, at the par 4 16th hole played to a 4.081 average.  The par 3 17th played to a 3.129 average, and the par 4 18th played to a 3.975 average.  In past years, the full array of Shotlink stats has not been done, so in looking to find what to look for, we have to look at regular stats.  The one stat that jumps out is driving accuracy, last September, it was the 16th hardest fairways to hit, while in 2019, it was the 44th hardest of 49 courses, so that means that players don’t have to worry about hitting it long and going into rough.  So this will be a bombers course.

Last September, the course ranked the 18th hardest on tour in Greens in Regulation, while in 2019, the course ranked 23rd, so hitting greens is not very difficult.  Around the green sand is a problem as there are close to 50 bunkers around the greens.  Now the course is a resort course, but it’s still a tough test for the players.

In the previous three years it’s been played, the winning score has been the same 18 under total, so we have a benchmark to point to for this year.

DraftKings Tips

*Here are the guys that cost the most on DraftKings this week:

  • Thomas Pieters- $11,100
  • Thomas Detry – $10,800
  • Emiliano Grillo – $10,500
  • Charley Hoffman – $10,200
  • Charles Howell III – $10,000
  • Jhonattan Vegas – $9,800
  • Danny Willett – $9,600
  • Nate Lashley – $9,500
  • Brandon Wu – $9,400
  • Tom Lewis – $9,300
  • Brandon Hagy – $9,200
  • Lee Hodges – $9,100
  • Sam Ryder – $9,000

Thomas Pieters is a regular on the European Tour and at $11,100 is worth the money.  In his first five starts of the year, he has been made the cut and is getting better by each week.  At the Saudi International, he was T-10th, at the Puerto Rico Open was T-15th and at the Qatar Masters was 13th.  So he is a good choice.  Same with Thomas Detry at $10,800, he was T-9th at both the Dubai Desert Classic and Qatar Masters.  Of the top-two, I am picking Pieters as being the best, he hasn’t played in this event, while Detry has played at Corales twice, finishing T-33rd both times.  Emiliano Grillo at $10,500 is too high; he just isn’t going to get you the points needed to justify the pick.  Since the start of January, Grillo has made five of eight cuts, and his best finish was T-11th at Puerto Rico.  Charley Hoffman at $10,200 has the same problem, the cost is too high for what you can get.  He has made the cut in his last four starts, best finish was T-7th at Pebble and T-10th at Arnold Palmer.  He played this event in September and was T-14th.  Charles Howell III is at $10,000 and had the worst start of his career.  Still, when it was least expected, he had his first top-ten in eight months with a T-9th at the Players, still Howell missed the cut in September, so best to pass on him.  As for Jhonattan Vegas at $9,800 and worth the price, he was 2nd in Puerto Rico last month.  Playing at Corales, Vegas missed the cut in September and was T-26th in 2019. Danny Willett at $9,600 is a no because his price is too high.  He has never played at Corales and has made the cut lately in events, but his best finish in 2021 is T-16th at Abu Dhabi.  Nate Lashley, at $9,500, has a question mark on him, he isn’t worth the price, but he finished T-5th at Pebble, which makes you wonder, especially when he finished T-4th in September.  But the reason you want to take him, in 2017, he won at Corales when this was a Korn Ferry event.  Brandon Wu at $9,400 is a no because his price is too high.  Same with Tom Lewis at $9,300.  Now you have to consider Brandon Hagy at $9,200, he was runner-up last week at Honda.  But be careful, an great finish the week before doesn’t make him a star, especially when you see how much he has struggled this year and missed the cut at Corales in September.  Now Lee Hodges at $9,100 is worth looking at since he has finished in the top-15 in Korn Ferry and PGA Tour stops over the last month, I still think the price is too high for him.  As for Sam Ryder, at $9,000, I say yes, thanks to his T-8th last week at the Honda.

*Players in that $7,500 to $8,900 price range, which ones are worth the money?:

Luke List at $8,900 could be on many people’s list, he was T-8th at Corales last September but hasn’t played well since.  I like Justin Suh at $8,700, he was T-14th at Corales in September and has done well in LOCALiQ Series Championship of late.  Now a sneaky pick would be Stephan Jaeger at $8,200, his record at Corales is not great, T-26th in 2019 and T-54th in 2018, but like that, he was 4th last week at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open and was T-2nd at Orange County National last October.  He also had a win on the Korn Ferry in July.  Taylor Pendrith at $8,100, is worth it, was great on the Korn Ferry in July and August.  Brice Garnett is worth the $8,000, he won this event in 2018 and was T-5th last month in Puerto Rico.  Chase Seiffert at $8,000 is worth exploring, he was T-3rd at Honda last week and T-15th at Puerto Rico, his problem is consistency.  He was T-41st in September in his only Corales start.  Tyler McCumber at $7,900 is worth the price, he was 2nd at Corales in September and had his moments on the PGA Tour of late.  Greyson Sigg at $7,800 is also one to think of, he has never played at Corales, and despite missing the cut in Louisiana last week and at Puerto Rico, he was playing ok before that.  Peter Uihlein at $7,800 is also on my list since he was 2nd at Louisiana last week.  Last in this category is Fabrizio Zanotti, at $7,500.  I have been very consistent in Europe, was T-14th at the Qatar Masters and T-7th at Abu Dubai.

*Some of the “bargains” this week?

Defending champion Hudson Swafford is only $7,200, but he has missed his last five cuts and hasn’t played well since winning Corales in September.  Still, the friendly confines of Corales could help.  Kelly Kraft at $7,100 is the same story he was T-14th in September, T-5th in 2019,, and 3rd in 2018.  The only problem has missed the cut in ten of 15 events since finishing 2nd in the 2019 Barbasol.  Have to also wonder if the good vibes of Corales when he won in 2019 are worth it for Graeme McDowell, who is only $7,100 but is not playing well.  The same is true with Xinjun Zhang at $7,000, T-11th at Corales last September, and T-5th in 2018 but has struggled on the PGA Tour, missing ten of his last 14 cuts.  Last is Rafael Campos at $6,700, he has missed the cut all three times at Corrals but was T-3rd at Puerto Rico and T-7th at the Lecom Suncoast.

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the Puerto Rico Open:

The key stat for the winner:
  • So what vital stats is essential at Corales Golf Club?  Players that hit it long will do better; the course is a bomber’s paradise.  Because of the high winds that buffer the course, hitting greens is hard.
Here are some more key stats to look for this week:
  • There is no rhyme or reason to winning this event.  It’s what you can call a throwaway event in which the top-stars in golf take this week off.  So there are no real favorites because there are no real marquee players that you know of. Yes, the field does have two major champions playing (Danny Willett, Retief Goosen, and Graeme McDowell), but after that is your Mackenzie Hughes, Charles Howell III, and Pat Perez as your key guys.  But none of them will win because you do need the firepower to overpower the course.
  • Will a newcomer win this week?  Probably.  It’s more about a player being in the right place at the right time.

Who to watch for at the Corales Puntacan Resort Championship

Best Bets:

Thoams Pieters

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
First time playing in this event

Game is improving each week, was 13th at the Qatar Masters and T-15th at Puerto Rico.

Jhonattan Vegas

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
CUT T26

Like his runner-up finish in Puerto Rico.

Nate Lashley

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
4 CUT T28

Won this event in 2017 when it was a Korn Ferry event, was T-5th at Pebble.

Best of the rest:

Thomas Detry

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
T33 T33

Was T-9th at both the Qatar Masters and Dubai Desert Classic

Emiliano Grillo

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
T21 T50

Was T-11th at Puerto Rico

Brandon Hagy

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
CUT

Was runner-up last week.

Charley Hoffman

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
T14

was T-7th at Pebble and T-10th at Arnold Palmer. He played this event in September and was T-14th.

Brice Garnett

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
T61 T39 Win

he won this event in 2018 and was T-5th last month in Puerto Rico.

Solid contenders

Brice Garnett

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
T61 T39 Win

he won this event in 2018 and was T-5th last month in Puerto Rico

Stephan Jaeger

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
T26 T54

4th last week at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open and was T-2nd at Orange County National last October.

Tyler McCumber

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
2 T19

he was 2nd at Corales in September and had his moments on the PGA Tour of late.

Peter Uihlein

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
CUT T22

was 2nd at Louisiana last week.

Hudson Swafford

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
Win CUT

Defending champion who hasn’t been playing well of late

Long shots that could come through:

Chase Seiffert

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
T41

he was T-3rd at Honda last week and T-15th at Puerto Rico.

Greyson Sigg

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
First time playing in this event

He has a lot of upside, should play well at Corales.

Taylor Pendrith

2021 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09
First time playing in this event

was great on the Korn Ferry in July and August.

Speak Your Mind

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.