PGA Betting Guide for the Puerto Rico Open
Picking winners of a golf tournament is hard. Doing it consistently is downright impossible. But finding value is something all bettors must practice in order to give themselves the best chance to make hay when the day finally comes that they ping a champion.
Below, we will cover the best bets for the Puerto Rico Open based on current form, course fit, and -- of course -- the value of their odds.
In addition to the WGC event this week, PGA aficionados are gifted a second opportunity to invest their time and attention with the alternate field Puerto Rico Open. Here we have some rising stars, some more well-known names that have fallen outside the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, and some old-timers who have been grinding out a living on Tour but can't seem to breakthrough.
Last year's winner, Martin Trainer, was one of the most shocking victors on Tour on the season. He has just one other finish inside the top 30 in his career, and his T47 at Riviera last week was his first made cut in 20 events. With a weak field and potentially windy conditions, just about anyone can win this event. A few golfers are well above the field in terms of class, but we'll look for plenty of long shots this week as well.
At the Top
Viktor Hovland (+1100) - The favorite this week comes in searching for his first professional victory. Hovland is one of the brightest prospects in the game and could use a get-right spot after a few lackluster performances overseas and on the West Coast. In this field, he is first in total strokes gained, strokes gained on par 4s, strokes gained: tee to green, strokes gained: off the tee, birdies or better gained, and bogeys avoided over his last 50 rounds, according to statistics from Fantasy National Golf Club. Some in this field have accomplished more than Hovland, but the future is bright and he figures to contend here and bound into the Florida swing with confidence.
Value Spots
Beau Hossler (+3500) - Hossler has contended at full-field events in the past, and just a few weeks ago he managed a T9 finish at the Farmers Insurance Open. It was the first of three consecutive made cuts, and we know Hossler has one weapon that can carry him. While the putter won't always help golfers find consistency, it can help them find the winner's circle. In a field with loads of ballstrikers who can't get the ball in the hole, Hossler stands as a proven, elite scorer who can find his way into contention at almost any event.
Adam Schenk (+4500) - Schenk is a high-level ballstriker who has flashed for decent finishes in the past year, notably a T7 at the Valero Texas Open and a T6 at the John Deere Classic, two events that feature a below-average field and undiscriminating putting surfaces.
Long Shots
Xin-Jun Zhang (+6000) - Xhang banked two early top 10s in the swing season at the Safeway Open and the Houston Open, and while he has struggled against stiffer competition since then he'll be a bigger fish in this field but isn't priced like it. No doubt he'd be less than half these odds if the event was held three months ago, and the form hasn't been all bad with a T25 in Phoenix between made cuts at Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach. Over his last 50 rounds, he ranks third in this field in birdies or better gained, eighth in strokes gained: approach, and ninth in strokes gained: tee to green.
Bo Hoag (+11000) - Hoag flashed some decent form in the fall, with three top 20s over a four-event stretch, including T11 at the alt-field Bermuda Championship and T9 in Hawaii. He gained strokes in all four metrics at the Sony Open -- off the tee, approach, around the greens, and putting -- and survived with a Sunday 69 in windy conditions. If the forecast looks grim, Hoag could gain steam as the week goes on.
Josh Teater (+12500) - Teater popped off for strong finishes in the summer and fall, including a T6 at the Wyndham Championship and a T11 at the Bermuda Championship. He has major upside with his irons, gaining over four strokes via approaches in three events last year. It could be four events given how he placed in Bermuda, but without ShotLink data we can't say for sure. He is offered at a terrific price this week given his talent and history of spike weeks.
