Puerto Rico Open golf tips and betting preview

Starts 11am Thursday

The Puerto Rico Open field is an eclectic mix of struggling youngsters and washed-up veterans, with class acts in short supply, and Daniel Berger gets the nod from bookmakers as favourite.

Berger, a two-time US Tour champion who finished sixth in the US Open and 12^th in the US PGA last year, has a Presidents Cup cap under his belt. The 25-year-old ended last term labouring with wrist problems, though, and has arrived in Puerto Rico after missed cuts at Torrey Pines and TPC Scottsdale.

Former world number one amateur Peter Uihlein and 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell come next in the betting.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Scott Brown 25-1

It is debatable whether anyone in the Puerto Rico Open field can approach the Coco Beach assignment with more confidence than 2013 champion Scott Brown.

The Augusta-born 35-year-old's only US Tour triumph came when he fended off the challenge of Jordan Spieth with a 20-under-par total in this event. And it is a venue which Brown has always relished.

The Carolina-based pro made his Puerto Rico debut as a nervous rookie in 2012. He had started life on the US Tour by missing six cuts, but rocked up at the Caribbean island and played superbly, finishing fifth. Ryder Cup stars Henrik Stenson and Boo Weekley were among the quartet who beat him.

Brown went on to miss his next four cuts, his Puerto Rico effort standing out like a beacon, so even when in terrible nick he was able to contend on this track. Victory came 12 months later to restore his US Tour status, and his last three visits have yielded form figures of 10-5-17.

Brown is no mug – he has qualified for the FedEx Cup playoffs every year since 2013 – and he lost a playoff for the 2017 Zurich Classic alongside Kevin Kisner a couple of months after finishing second to Dustin Johnson in the Genesis Open.

Four under-par rounds for ninth place in the Farmers Insurance Open at the end of last month is an encouraging recent effort in high-class company – Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Billy Horschel comprised seven of the eight who beat him – and this immense downgrade to his favourite event provides a tremendous opportunity.

Next best bet

Matt Jones 40-1

Like Brown, Matt Jones can take great heart from his performance in the Farmers Insurance Open – a closing 67 for 13th place – and the Aussie can build on that healthy cheque in Puerto Rico. The 2014 Houston Open champion, who beat Spieth in a duel for the 2015 Australian Open, is a quality player well suited to Coco Beach.

When Jones has needed to drop down to Puerto Rico Open level, lowly in the rankings and unable to qualify for WGCs, he has applied himself well. As world number 255 in 2012, having missed 13 of his last 16 US Tour cuts, he finished fifth in Puerto Rico. He was 14th a year later when teeing up as world number 311. Back at 255 this week, the 38-year-old, a big-hitter who scrambles well, should outclass much of the field.

Other selections

Wyndham Clark 66-1
Julian Etulain 80-1

Coco Beach is more than 7,500 yards long and some moisture is forecast for the weekend, so giving your ball a healthy ride off the tee is advantageous and few in the field can get close to matching 25-year-old Denver boy Wyndham Clark for raw power.

Clark started last year ranked 1,271st in the world, but fourth place in the Great Abaco Classic on the Web.com Tour got his season off to a flyer. That effort came in The Bahamas – north-west of Puerto Rico – and by the end of his 2018 campaign he was up to 322nd in the rankings.

Promotion to the US Tour has been steady, with seven cuts made from nine starts, including his last three. A tie for 18th in the Desert Classic a month ago has been his best finish, but this Puerto Rico debut can yield something better.

Complete a four-pronged attack with Julian Etulain, a 30-year-old Argentinian who has won eight times on the Latinoamerica Tour, including one close to Puerto Rico in the 2014 Panama Classic. Etulain got off the mark on the Web.com Tour last year – a two-shot success in the Louisiana Open – and he has made five cuts from eight starts since promotion to the US Tour.

Etulain was seventh in the 2013 Puerto Rico Classic on the Latino circuit and he closed with a 64 for 17th place in the 2017 Puerto Rico Open. Confidence appears to be growing and this venue should suit.

Players to note

Aaron Baddeley
The Aussie won the 2016 Barbasol Championship when his career was faltering and a similar scenario could unfold this week. The four-time US Tour champ deserves respect.

Corey Conners
The Canadian, third in the Sony Open last month, was second in the Sanderson Farms Championship in October and could contend in another weak gathering this week.

Cameron Davis
The Australian youngster, a winner on the Web.com Tour last May, is improving and dangerous in this grade.

Curtis Luck
Another Aussie blessed with great natural talent, Luck won the 2016 US Amateur Championship and is another to consider for a wide-open Puerto Rico Open.

Sebastian Munoz
The 26-year-old Colombian, tenth in the Sony Open last month, won on the Web.com Tour in his homeland and should enjoy performing relatively close to Colombia this week.

Charl Schwartzel
The former Masters champion is arguably the best player in the field but is seeking to stop the rot. He has dropped to 99th in the world rankings.

Staking plan
S Brown
2.5pts each-way 25-1 Coral, Ladbrokes, Sky Bet
M Jones
1.5pts each-way 40-1 general
W Clark
1pt each-way 66-1 Betfair, Power
J Etulain
0.5pt each-way 80-1 Betfair, Boyles, Power

The lowdown

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 132

Course records - 72 holes 267 Chesson Hadley (2014) 18 holes 63 Derek Lamely (2010), James Driscoll (2011 and 2014), Chris Tidland (2011), Scott Brown (2013), Trey Mullinax (2017), JJ Henry (2017).

Course winners taking part Derek Lamely, George McNeill, Scott Brown, DA Points.

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 11th appearance on the US Tour, having been crafted in 2004.

The last edition was two years ago, before Hurricane Maria forced a period of recovery. This is a composite course with holes taken from two 18-hole layouts on the luxury leisure and residential complex.

The 15th is 600 yards and typically into the wind, while the 18th is 630 yards, so those two par-fives provide a late test of power. There are 18 water hazards and the most difficult hole has traditionally been the 459-yard 14th.

Weather forecast Hot, sunny, with light breezes for the most part, with a threat of storms throughout the weekend.

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 back-to-back in 2015 and 2016. Weekend rain could swing conditions in favour of bigger hitters this week.

Key attribute Power

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