Puerto Rico Open
With a limited field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational “Signature Event,” the PGA Tour full-field event is the Puerto Rico Open.
While twin brother Nicolai tees it up at the Arnold Palmer, Rasmus Højgaard (18-1) also seeks his first PGA Tour win this week in Puerto Rico.
Aaron Rai (20-1) follows in the market as does Daniel Berger (25-1) and Ryo Hisatsune (25-1).
Chris Gotterup (28-1) finished seventh here in 2022. Ben Griffin (30-1) and Brandon Wu (33-1), who finished third in 2022 and seventh in 2021, start the 30-1 range.
At 35-1, Michael Kim, fifth here last year, and Nate Lashley, with three top-10 finishes here, including a third last year, also have positive experience on this course.
Nico Echavarria is back to defend last year’s title at 70-1.
The Event
The Puerto Rico Open began as an alternate tour event in 2008 and has maintained that status ever since. From 2008-2015, this event was opposite the WGC event at Doral before going opposite the WGC-Dell Match Play in 2016 and 2017. Last year, it was the alternate event to the WGC-Workday Championship and this year it is held opposite the Arnold Palmer Invitational. There was no event in 2018 because of Hurricane Maria, so a Puerto Rico Open Charity Day one-day event was held in its place.
While the winner does not earn an invitation to the Masters, he does earn a two-year PGA Tour exemption and a spot in the PGA Championship.
The Field
Field Updates:
- Ted Potter Jr. replaces Dylan Frittelli (playing in DP World Tour/Sunshine Tour’s Jonsson Workwear Open).
- Kramer Hickok and Zach Johnson withdrew — George McNeill in on sponsor exemption and D.J Trahan in off the alternate list.
- David Lipsky withdrew — Greg Chalmers in off the alternate list.
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout remains in the Arnold Palmer Invitational field — Ben Crane in off the alternate list.
- K.H. Lee withdrew — Kyle Stanley in off the alternate list.
- Michael Gligic, Ryan Cole, Jeff Overton and Evan Harmeling were the Monday open qualifiers.
- Callum Tarren withdrew — Sangmoon Bae in off the alternate list.
- Greg Chalmers and Jimmy Walker withdrew — Derek Ernst and Derek Lamely in off the alternate list.
The Course
The Grand Reserve Country Club in Rio Grande, on the northern coast of Puerto Rico and about a 40-mile drive northeast of San Juan, has hosted the Puerto Rico Open since its inception in 2008. The course is a typical coastal resort track that was designed by Tom Kite in 2004. It is a par-72 of 7,506 yards and is an exposed parklands that can be susceptible to windy conditions. There are also eight lakes and 62 bunkers, but wind is the primary defense. The fairways and greens are both Paspalum and those greens are relatively large (6,500 square feet) and slow (10.5 stimpmeter).
Recent History/Winners
2023: Nico Echavarria (-21/267); 125-1
2022: Ryan Brehm (-20/268); 80-1
2021: Branden Grace (-19/269); 22-1
2020: Viktor Hovland (-20/268); 12-1
2019: Martin Trainer (-15/273); 125-1
2018: No tournament due to Hurricane Maria
2017: D.A. Points (-20/268); 175-1
2016: Tony Finau (-12/276); 50-1*
2015: Alex Cejka (-7/281); 125-1**
2014: Chesson Hadley (-21/267); 50-1
2013: Scott Brown (-20/268); 50-1
2012: George McNeill (-16/272); 55-1
2011: Michael Bradley (-16/272); 135-1***
2010: Derek Lamely (-19/269); 110-1
Playoff win over Steve Marino – *
Playoff win over Jon Curran, Emiliano Grillo, Tim Petrovic and Sam Saunders – **
Playoff win over Troy Matteson – ***
Selections
Robert MacIntyre (33-1, BetMGM)
MacIntyre was T-6 two weeks ago for us in Mexico.
He struck the ball well last week at PGA National but finished T-60 being a horror show on the greens. Slower Paspalum greens should be what the doctor ordered as he has finished sixth (Qatar Masters) and sixth (Mexico Open) on the last two occasions he has competed on them.
Ben Silverman (40-1, Bet365)
Silverman was T-16 last week at PGA National but ranked fifth in the field for Strokes Gained: Tee-To-Green.
He led the field two weeks ago for Strokes Gained: Putting on the Paspalum at the Mexico Open where he finished T-13.
Cameron Champ (45-1, BetMGM)
A 7,500-yard course with wide fairways should suit the long-hitting Champ very nicely.
He has two career top-10 finishes on the Paspalum at the Mexico Open.
Harrison Endycott (80-1, BetRivers)
Endycott was the champion of the PGA Tour Q-School last winter; however, he gets limited opportunities to get in certain fields, so he went to the DP World Tour and made the cut in Bahrain and Qatar.
Although he missed the cut in Mexico, the Australian has plenty of experience on Pasaplum.
Kevin Dougherty (90-1, FanDuel)
Dougherty is a player who should really fit here because of his length off the tee.
He was fourth for Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee two weeks ago in Mexico.
Rico Hoey (110-1, Bet365)
Hoey broke a streak of five missed cuts last week at PGA National (T-56).
He ranks top 10 in this field for Strokes Gained: Approach and Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee per round over the last 16 rounds.
Placement markets, matchups, and any other futures will be posted Wednesday at VSiN.com/picks.
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