A diminished field heads to the Grand Reserve Country Club this week for the the 2024 edition of the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open. Damien Kayat previews.
2024 US PGA Tour – Puerto Rico Open
Grand Reserve Country Club Rio Grande
7-10 March
These so-called opposite-field events really have no leg to stand on these days. They obviously have always played second-fiddle to the big-boy events taking part in some other part of the world (that is their purpose). But the knock-down effect of LIV just makes them feel even more diminished and perfunctory.
Still, these events have often provided players with the platform to revitalise their careers (whether they are an up-and-coming prodigy or down-on-his-luck veteran). Players know that a brilliant week can help elevate them to the white-marbled hallways of the designated events (I’m speaking metaphorically).
Puerto Rico Open
The Puerto Rico Open has always been played as an opposite event and it generally coincided with a WGC event. This will be the third time that it is played concurrently with the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Greg Kraft won the inaugural staging of this event back in 2008 and this will be the 16th edition thus far (the 2018 renewal was cancelled due to the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria).
Grand Reserve Country Club
Formally known as the Coco Beach Golf Club, Grand Reserve is a resort course that is actually a composite of two separate courses (which were four nine-hole courses designed by Tom Kite in 2004). The unique Paspalum grass will be familiar to anyone who has played the Mayakoba Classic at El Camaleon (now a destination of choice on the LIV Tour).
PGA Tour enthusiasts will also note that the recent Mexican Open was played at Vidanta Vallarta (also a Paspalum layout). In short, it could be beneficial to back players with experience on Paspalum layouts.
Measuring a smidge over 7,500 yards, Grand Reserve is actually a bit of a behemoth. But it has produced champions as varied as Tony Finau and Scott Brown. It’s all about finding greens in regulation this week (much like Bay Hill).
This is an exposed layout that is at the mercy of the elements and the ability to handle wind has proved helpful in the past. 2021 champion Branden Grace is a brilliant links exponent who hits the ball at a lower trajectory than most. Having said all that, early forecasts seem to indicate quite benign conditions this week.
The Contenders
This field doesn’t exactly scream excitement. But let’s not forget that Viktor Hovland won his maiden title here in 2020. Rasmus Hojgaard is coming off a year of crushing disappointments and he will be desperate for a strong showing following a missed cut last week.
Still yet to win a PGA Tour title, Hojgaard just needs one week to go his way and I think it could open the floodgates for him. He leads a formidable European contingent this week, with the likes of Aaron Rai and Robert MacIntyre looking to make hay while the real stars are away.
Defending champion Nico Echavarria returns to defend his title while the likes of Daneil Berger and Camilio Villegas look to rediscover their best form.
Past Winners
2023: Nico Echavarria (-21)
2022: Ryan Brehm (-20)
2021: Branden Grace (-19)
2020: Viktor Hovland (-20)
2019: Martin Trainer (-15)
To Win Outright:
Rasmus Hojgaard 16/1 | Aaron Rai 18/1 | Daniel Berger 18/1 | Ryo Hisatsune 22/1 | Christopher Gotterup 25/1
Value Bets
Brandon Wu- To Win 30/1 | To Place 66/10
This choice puts my emphasis on Paspalum tracking to the test. Brandon Wu has proven to be a course and Paspalum specialist over the years. He finished sevnth and third here in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Crucially, he also has brilliant form at the Mexican Open hosted at Vidanta, finishing second in 2022 and thirrd in 2023. He finished 15th there a fortnight back and his expertise in these conditions has to be worth something this week.
Nate Lashley- To Win 35/1 | To Place 7/1
This looks like an amazing price for an established PGA Tour winner. Sure, Lashley’s lone title came way back at the 2019 Rocket Mortgage Classic. But he still has it in him to compete in fields far more illustrious than this. He demonstrated that by finishing T3 at the recent Farmers Insurance Open. Granted, he has missed the cut in his last six events either side of that. But Lashley is precisely the sort of mercurial talent who can thrive in a low-scoring event such as this. He won his Rocket Mortgage title with a winning score of 25-under-par. He also has course form, finishing in the top ten here in each of his last three visits. He also won at Corales Golf Club- a Paspalum layout- when it was still in circulation on the Web.com Tour (now the Korn Ferry Tour).
The Man to Beat- Christopher Gotterup- To Win 25/1 | To Place 11/2
A big-hitting New Jersey native, 24-year-old Chris Gotterup looks like he has the game to go low this week. Gotterup is one of the longest drivers on the PGA Tour but his irons have led him astray from time to time. But he gained seven shots on the field last week on approach. That marriage of power-hitting and surgical approach play could prove critical this week. His putter failed him last week but a closing 67 will give him confidence going into this. Interestingly, Gotterup won the 2022 Puerto Rico Classic- a college event- by four shots. At Grand Reserve! He then made his PGA Tour debut in the 2022 Puerto Rico Open and he finished 7th. He almost seems destined to win this event.
