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 over at Golf odds.
The field for this alternate event runs the gamut between Euros looking to kill time before the Florida swing, Korn Ferry studs hoping to break through, and PGA also-rans who may have their best shot at a victory in the past year. While this field is weak overall we've seen both class and huge surprises emerge at Coco Beach Resort and Club over the years. With that in mind let's dive in to see who looks like a good value this week.
At the Top
Ian Poulter (+1600) - Poulter is just the type to win at this event, a decent scrambler whose lack of major distance is mitigated by the elevation. He was third here in 2016 so he knows the course at least a little bit, and after missing consecutive cuts, it was a big confidence boost to see him T18 in Saudi Arabia. He's accomplished more than most of this field combined, and in our eyes, he's the man to beat this week.
Emiliano Grillo (+1600) - While having a good record at the Puerto Rico Open isn't exactly something that gets put on many Hall of Fame plaques, Grillo is the type of fringe player who has loads of talent but not quite the total package to rise to the level of the elite players on the PGA Tour. His ballstriking skill is even more pronounced in weaker fields, and two top-fives at Coco Beach show us Grillo has the goods at this track.
Value Spots
Brandon Wu (+2700) - Wu would be considered a top prospect at his age, but with the rise of young stars who have already achieved legitimate PGA Tour success at such young ages -- Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa, Matthew Wolff, Sungjae Im, and Joaquin Niemann -- Wu is the odd man out, toiling away on the Korn Ferry Tour and getting a real shot at PGA action (at least for now) only in alternate field events like this one. He can make the most of his opportunity and break through onto the Tour with a win here, in a field where he is among the most talented. He is the reigning Korn Ferry Tour Champion and with recent finishes of T15, T2, and T10 on the junior circuit.
Ollie Schniederjans (+3400) - Schneiderjans is something of a "quadruple A" player, not nearly consistent enough to earn a regular spot on the PGA Tour but often in the mix against inferior competition. He's played just once so far in 2021 so rust could very well be a factor, but he's one of the best putters in the field and, in fact, has led the Korn Ferry Tour in putting average and was 9th in scoring.
Long Shots
Ted Potter (+6000) - Once upon a time Ted Potter chased down the great Dustin Johnson at Pebble Beach to snatch a victory away from an all-time great. As we see time and again there are certain golfers who have what it takes to win and many, many more who do not. Potter was sixth here last year and has struggled to contend on the full PGA Tour circuit. A drop down in field strength and course difficulty should suit him this week.
Grayson Murray (+12000) - Murray can hit it a mile and brings at least one elite skill to the table every single week with his driver. If he can blitz the field and show off the form that made him a winner in an alternate field at the Barbasol Championship back in 2017, he's a worthy nod at long odds against a weak field.
