After the Honda Classic, where Chris Kirk won his fifth career PGA Tour trophy, the Tour heads to Puerto Rico. This is the 15th Puerto Rico PGA Tour. With elite golfers heading to Arnold Palmer Invitation, Puerto Rico Open will feature seasoned veterans and youngsters.
The absence of elite golfers who will be teeing off at the Arnold Palmer Invitation provides the perfect chance for upcoming players to shine.
Puerto Rico has been the breeding ground for many golfers, where nine golfers have made their first win at this PGA Tour. The course plays at par 72 and has low success history, with only a single winner hitting double digits under par.
No player has ever won the Puerto Rico Open twice in a row, and that will not change this year as the last year’s winner Ryan Brehm, will not be available. Instead, he will compete with other elite golfers at MasterCard-sponsored Arnold Palmer Invitation.
Brehm won the 2022 edition by six shots earning himself a PGA Tour card. Needing a win or a solo second to remain in the PGA Tour, Brehm hit five of the first eleven holes in the final round to topple Max McGreevy by six strokes.
Nate Lashley is the betting favourite
Nate Lashley, who boasts of one PGA Tour win, is a 16/1 favourite to win the Tour, slightly above Ben Martin (20/1), who cloaked T-5th at the Honda Classics. Lashley has participated in 120 events advancing to the cut 64 times and winning once. He will be aiming to claim his second Tour win in eight years.
However, Lashley knows it won’t be easy and has to fend off stiff competition from Ben Martin and Brandon Harkins. Other lower-ranked players will also be eager to shine at Puerto Rico and improve their FedEx Cup Standings. The Grand Reserve Golf Course winner will receive 300 FedEx Cup points.
Ben Martin is in top form
Ben Martin comes into this tournament in pretty good form, and it may not be a surprise if he wins the Tour. He emerged fifth at the Honda Classic last week and T-13th at Pebble Beach, gaining 18.5 strokes over his opponents in the two tournaments. We expect him to put on a good show in Puerto Rico.
Ben Martin’s Last 12 Rounds Gained Stats
| Total | Tee-to-Green | Approach | Short Game | Ball Striking | Putting |
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
The above stats reveal Martin’s solid form, which explains why he has a strong second 20/1 odd. In most cases, the odds would have been very low. The fact that most competitors have low rankings makes things look rosier for Martin.
Scott Piercy (25/1) Continues to Struggle
The four-time Tour winner has had a rough 2022-23 season, where he has cut on just six occasions in 13 events. In his last outing at the Genesis invitational, Scott finished at a disappointing T-50 and was outside the top 30 in his last seven tournaments.
Piercy bowed out of WM Phoenix Open in early February. His experience in big PGA Tour events puts him among the favourites in Puerto Rico and redeems his dwindling standings.
Erik van Rooyen (25/1) has a Better Chance
The 33-year-old is another strong favourite to win the Puerto Rico Tour and is a good pick for anyone looking for handsome returns. He has even higher chances than the 25/1 odds suggest.
Erik has had a good run in his last outings, playing at elite fields. He finished sixth at the American Express in January. He also played at last week’s Honda Classics and WM Phoenix Open at the start of February.
Puerto Rico is a much weaker field than those he has participated, providing Erik van Rooyen with a chance to shine.
2023 Puerto Rico Odds, Picks, Field
| Golfer | Odds |
| Nate Lashley | 16/1 |
| Ben Martin | 20/1 |
| Brandon Harkins | 22/1 |
| Scott Piercy | 25/1 |
| Erik van Rooyen | 25/1 |
| Akshay Bhatia | 28/1 |
| Cameron Percy | 30/1 |
| Andrew Novak | 30/1 |
| Sam Stevens | 35/1 |
| Ryan Gerard | 35/1 |
| MJ Daffue | 35/1 |
| Michael Kim | 35/1 |
| Harry Hall | 35/1 |
| Dylan Wu | 35/1 |
| Harry Higgs | 40/1 |
| Erik Barnes | 40/1 |
| Matti Schmid | 45/1 |
| Carl Yuan | 45/1 |
| Vincent Norrman | 50/1 |
| Ryan Armour | 50/1 |
| Roberto Diaz | 50/1 |
| Rafael Campos | 50/1 |
| Josh Teater | 50/1 |
| Henrik Norlander | 50/1 |
| Harrison Endycott | 50/1 |
| Hank Lebioda | 50/1 |
| Brice Garnett | 50/1 |
| Augusto Nunez | 50/1 |
| Tano Goya | 55/1 |
| Paul Haley II | 55/1 |
| Noah Goodwin | 55/1 |
| Kevin Roy | 55/1 |
| Chris Stroud | 55/1 |
| Vaughn Taylor | 60/1 |
| Fabian Gomez | 60/1 |
| Brian Stuard | 60/1 |
| Austin Eckroat | 60/1 |
| Austin Cook | 60/1 |
| Zecheng Dou | 65/1 |
Puerto Rico’s Last Five Winners
| Year | Winner |
| 2022 | Ryan Brehm |
| 2021 | Branden Grace |
| 2020 | Viktor Hovland |
| 2019 | Martin Trainer |
| 2017 | D.A Points |
It’s an action-packed weekend for golfers and bettors. We hope the above analysis will help you pick the best odds and get good returns. In the meantime, click here to check out even more Golf content.
