Following The Masters last weekend in Augusta, the PGA Tour swiftly moves on to the Corales Puntacana Championship at the Corales Golf Club in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – one of two tournaments this week.
Many of the game's big names, including Masters winner Scottie Scheffler – who we tipped for success last week - are taking part in the RBC Heritage event, meaning players from down the world rankings will be in play for the $4million dollar prize fund in the Caribbean.
What awaits them is a 7,670-yard, par 72 course which has a middling rank in terms of PGA Tour course difficulty. According to the field list, only nine of the world's top 100 ranked players will be in attendance with world number 34 Nicolai Højgaard the lone member of the top 50.
2023 runner-up Højgaard, unsurprisingly, is among the favourites to lift the Corales Puntacana Championship at 12/1 (each-way to 1-6 places). The Dane has yet to claim a PGA Tour title in his career but did finish a creditable T16 at last week's Masters.
Results-wise, the 23-year-old boasts a single top 10 finish, and only two top 25 finishes, in eight tournaments played this season, and has missed the cut on two occasions. His scoring average, performance on par fours, shots gained and putting average all rank outside the top 100 statistically.
We consider there to be much better options in the field with Sweden's Alex Norén as well as Americans Billy Horschel and Mark Hubbard showcasing impressive numbers so far this season.
Swedish veteran Norén has made eight cuts out of eight on the PGA Tour in 2024 and made the top 25 on five occasions – an impressive level of consistency. Statistically he ranks ninth in shots gained (1.194), second in scoring average (68.84), 14th on par fours (3.96) - although his putting has left a lot to be desired in 2024.
Horschel is a riskier proposition – he has four top 25 finishes, two top 10 finishes and four missed cuts in nine events this term. It's a case of feast or famine with 37-year-old, but with many of the world's best missing, it's easy to plump for the American.
Statistically he is 10th on the PGA Tour in shots gained (1.171), seventh in scoring average (69.34) and hits 70.73% of greens in regulation – eighth best on the Tour. Again, his putting ranks lowly, with a one-putt percentage of just 36.32%.
Another option is fellow American Hubbard who has made 10 cuts out of 10 in 2024 with three top 25 finishes and one top 10 result. He's 14th on the PGA Tour in scoring average
(69.54), 18th in birdie average (4.41) and 17th in putting average (1.719). A solid approach game makes Hubbard a strong candidate for consideration.
Looking further down the odds, Canadian Ben Silverman looks a tantalising 66/1 (each way 1-6) or 50/1 (each way 1-12) for a small wager. He has three top 25 finishes this season and has solid, if unspectacular, statistical rankings.
He's 33rd in scoring average (69.89), 21st in par fours (3.98) and 38th in greens hit in regulation (68.08%).
Those looking for a former winner to back have the choice of Chad Ramey (60/1), Joel Dahmen (50/1) and Nate Lashley (33/1).
Best Bets
· Mark Hubbard to win each-way to 10 places - 18/1
· Ben Silverman to finish top 30 – 6/4
