It’s nice to get away from the subject of Bryson DeChambeau for a few seconds and enjoy some lovely seaside golf. The question of whether DeChambeau’s victory signals the end of golf as we know it has become a touch exaggerated. Clearly, this is an era of heavy-hitting pugilism. But it’s not as if DeChambeau is winning every event he plays. Winged Foot just perfectly suited his protein-shake enhanced game.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
2020/2021 US PGA Tour
Corales Puntecana Resort and Club Championship
The Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship, Corales Golf Club, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
24th-27th September
The Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship, Corales Golf Club, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
24th-27th September
The Corales Puntecana was last staged in March last year. It was an opposite event alongside the WGC Match Play. It would have been an alternate event again this year had it not been for the pandemic. This will be the 5th edition of this event (though only the 3rd on the PGA Tour proper). It is still a relatively poor field despite having top billing in America this week.
Don’t let the length of this Tom Fazio design fool you. This 7,670-yard par 72 behemoth is no Winged Foot. The Paspalum course has wide, flat fairways (the complete contrast of those narrow corridors from last week). The slow greens will also run at around 11 on the stimp- a veritable snail’s pace in comparison to the USGA speedways. The only defence that this course possesses is the wind. But only light winds are forecast this week, which should result in an absolute birdie-fest. It may basically boil down to a putting contest. Corollary events include the likes of the Sony Open and RSM Classic (both coastal, wind-affected tracks). El Camaleon- home of the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico- is also a wind-affected Paspalum track that may hold the key to success here.
This will be the first time in this event’s history that 500 FedEx Cup points will be on the line. Defending champion Graeme McDowell currently sits at 66/1, a reflection of his poor recent form. Korn Ferry alumni Will Zalatoris is going off as the favourite after a commanding top 10 finish at Winged Foot. I would hesitate at making easy associations between such different tests. Grizzled veterans such as Henrik Stenson and Charles Howell III will look to capitalize on the relatively low-calibre field.
Past Winners
2019: Graeme McDowell (-18)
2018: Brice Garnett (-18)
2017: Nate Lashley (-20)
2016: Dominic Bozzelli (-24)
Betting Favourites (To Win)
Will Zalatoris (12/1)
Mackenzie Hughes (14/1)
Will Zalatoris (12/1)
Mackenzie Hughes (14/1)
Corey Conners (16/1)
Sam Burns (22/1)
Emiliano Grillo (25/1)
Sam Burns (22/1)
Emiliano Grillo (25/1)
Value Bets
Pat Perez
To Win (33/1), To Place (7/1)
Though this is the first look for Perez at this course, I still think he has the quality to tame it. The 44-year-old has plenty of strong form in events that correlate well with this one. Perez is a specialist at the Mayakoba Classic, with a victory back in 2016 (he has finishes of 6th and 8th in the last two years). He also triumphed at the CIMB Classic in 2017 (also a Paspalum test). Perez just putts brilliantly on these Paspalum greens. He finished 2nd in strokes gained putting last time out, picking up a morale-boosting top 10 at the season-opening Safeway Open.
Seamus Power
Though this is the first look for Perez at this course, I still think he has the quality to tame it. The 44-year-old has plenty of strong form in events that correlate well with this one. Perez is a specialist at the Mayakoba Classic, with a victory back in 2016 (he has finishes of 6th and 8th in the last two years). He also triumphed at the CIMB Classic in 2017 (also a Paspalum test). Perez just putts brilliantly on these Paspalum greens. He finished 2nd in strokes gained putting last time out, picking up a morale-boosting top 10 at the season-opening Safeway Open.
Seamus Power
To Win (90/1), To Place (19/1)
This is one of those events that can defy form. I decided to rather focus on course form and opt for a slight wild-card: Seamus Power. Power missed his last cut but may find more joy in this type of field. He currently ranks 24th for putting average and 8th for shots gained around the green. But what really makes him appealing to me is his form in this event. A 5th and 7th place finish in his last three visits to Corales make him a nice dark-horse in the place markets.
This is one of those events that can defy form. I decided to rather focus on course form and opt for a slight wild-card: Seamus Power. Power missed his last cut but may find more joy in this type of field. He currently ranks 24th for putting average and 8th for shots gained around the green. But what really makes him appealing to me is his form in this event. A 5th and 7th place finish in his last three visits to Corales make him a nice dark-horse in the place markets.
The Man to Beat
Adam Long
To Win (25/1), To Place (11/2)
I’m opting to avoid the Will Zalatoris bandwagon. Winged Foot and Corales are such incredibly different beasts (one being a benign poodle, the other the shark from Jaws). I’m actually going for another guy who played very well at Winged Foot: Adam Long. Long finished in a tie for 13th last week. More importantly- considering this week’s event- he finished 3rd in putting average. The 2nd major selling point for Long is that he finished 8th here last year. Long represents terrific value at 25/1.
I’m opting to avoid the Will Zalatoris bandwagon. Winged Foot and Corales are such incredibly different beasts (one being a benign poodle, the other the shark from Jaws). I’m actually going for another guy who played very well at Winged Foot: Adam Long. Long finished in a tie for 13th last week. More importantly- considering this week’s event- he finished 3rd in putting average. The 2nd major selling point for Long is that he finished 8th here last year. Long represents terrific value at 25/1.
