Puerto Rico Open: Steve Palmer' best bets, free golf tips & course guide

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach Country Club on the PGA Tour.

When does it start?

11.10am Thursday

Best bets

Patrick Rodgers
3pts each-way 25-1 Sky Bet
Back this tip with Coral
Cameron Davis
2.5pts each-way 28-1 Sky Bet
Back this tip with Coral

Preview

Viktor Hovland is favourite for the Puerto Rico Open, the 'alternate-field' event running alongside the WGC-Mexico Championship, and the Norwegian youngster will be competing for the relatively measly first prize of $540,000.

Hovland is one of the most promising players on the planet and will probably go on to become a multiple PGA Tour champion and Ryder Cup star, but he has been struggling to find top gear in recent weeks and is making his course debut in Puerto Rico.

The short odds against Hovland's name are unappealing given his lack of experience at Coco Beach Country Club. In contrast, Scott Brown, who tied for second place in the Genesis Invitational on Sunday, has Puerto Rico form figures of 5-1-64-10-5-17-10 and is a tempting option.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Patrick Rodgers 25-1

Four rounds of par or better for 30th place in a top-class Genesis Invitational last week should provide Patrick Rodgers with renewed belief as he takes a massive downgrade for the Puerto Rico Open.

The low-key, 120-runner gathering at Coco Beach appears a superb opportunity for Rodgers to land an overdue PGA Tour breakthrough. The Indiana man was a superstar at Stanford University, measuring up well against illustrious alumni Tiger Woods, and it seemed like PGA Tour silverware was an inevitable progression.

Rodgers has won on the Korn Ferry Tour, but PGA Tour success has remained elusive, with three runner-up finishes his best results. Rory McIlroy beat Rodgers in the 2015 Wells Fargo Championship, Bryson DeChambeau finished strongly to pip him in the 2017 John Deere Classic, then despite shooting weekend rounds of 61 and 62, the maiden ended up losing a playoff for the 2018 RSM Classic to Charles Howell.

Rodgers is still only 27, so has time on his side, and some bright form this year – including ninth place in the Farmers Insurance Open – hints that he could hit the jackpot on the Rio Grande. He has played in the Puerto Rico Open just once before and finished in a respectable share of 21st place.

Next best bet

Cameron Davis 28-1

Another maiden who has played in the Puerto Rico Open once before is Cameron Davis, who finished 16th last year as a PGA Tour rookie, matching the weekend score of the victorious Martin Trainer with closing rounds of 69 and 67. Twelve months later, the Australian youngster is starting to establish himself on the circuit, with PGA Tour form of 9-29-36-38.

Prior to this Stateside improvement, Davis finished third in the Australian PGA Championship, and there are signs that he is ready to realise his potential at the age of 24. He won his national Open in 2017, then triumphed on the Korn Ferry Tour and a PGA Tour victory could be on the horizon.

Australians are enjoying an amazing spell of success – there have been seven Aussie winners in the last two months – and Davis could keep the streak going. He turns 25 on Friday and may give himself the best possible birthday present two days later.

Players to note

Maverick McNealy
The former world number one amateur finished fifth in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am last time out and appears close to a PGA Tour breakthrough, but he is making his Coco Beach debut.

Chesson Hadley
The 2014 Puerto Rico champion, a four-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour, finished 18th at Pebble Beach last time out and could threaten a repeat success.

Tom Lewis
The Englishman finally makes use of his PGA Tour card in 2020, having started his campaign in the Middle East. He could take a shine to Coco Beach on his debut.

Beau Hossler
The Californian is one of several talented youngsters tackling this course for the first time. Ninth place at Torrey Pines last month makes him worthy of consideration.

Coco Beach course guide

Course Coco Beach Golf & Country Club (Championship Course), Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
Prize money $3m ($540,000 to the winner)
Length 7,506 yards
Par 72
Field 120
Course records- 72 holes 267 Chesson Hadley (2014) 18 holes 63 Derek Lamely (2010), James Driscoll (2011, 2014), Chris Tidland (2011), Scott Brown (2013), Trey Mullinax (2017), JJ Henry (2017)

Course winners taking part George McNeill, Scott Brown, Chesson Hadley, Alex Cejka, DA Points, Martin Trainer

When to bet By 11am Thursday

Time difference Puerto Rico is four hours behind the UK and Ireland

Course overview This long Tom Kite layout with spectacular views of the El Yunque rainforest and the Atlantic Ocean makes its 12th appearance on the US Tour, having been crafted in 2004. The track reverted to its original name after a spell known as Trump International. This is a composite course with holes taken from two 18-hole layouts on the luxury leisure and residential complex. There are four par-five holes, but the 15th is 600 yards and typically into the wind, while the 18th is 630 yards, so those two beasts provide a late test of power. There are 18 water hazards and the most difficult hole has traditionally been the 459-yard 14th

The story of last year Martin Trainer claimed a maiden PGA Tour title with a comfortable three-shot triumph

Weather forecast Sunny and hot with light breezes for the vast majority of the event

Type of player suited to the challenge Steady plodders and powerhouses alike have triumphed at this venue, underlined by Alex Cejka and Tony Finau winning in consecutive years. Little wind is expected this time, so attacking players may flourish

Key attribute Power

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