Dan Roebuck’s PGA Tour preview – Puerto Rico Open

Course rather than current form seems to be the key when assessing potential winners of this week’s Puerto Rico Open at Trump International Golf Club. This is very much the secondary event on the PGA Tour and one that can baffle those looking for clues in recent performances.

Each of the last three champions of this tournament in Rio Grande have won off the back of truly dreadful current form, with plenty of missed cuts and no top ten or 20 finishes.
Of course the nature of the event – which runs alongside the WGC Cadillac Championship – means it will never attract the best players, but a trap many punters have fallen into in the past is to simply back those golfers who have just missed out on the tour’s main shindig in Miami.

Good numbers at Trump International has, in the past, pointed to future winners. George McNeil claimed success last year after finishing fifth 12 months previously, while Michael Bradley is a two-time champion.

Graham DeLaet finished ninth in this event in 2012 and, after an eye-catching performance in the Honda Classic last week, when he battled back from a poor start in his final round to claim a second top ten of the year, he can be backed with confidence at 25/1.

Long off the tee, which is handy at this track which stretches out to almost 7,600 yards, the Canadian is now injury free after struggling with a back problem, and looks primed for a first tour win.

Of the rest, Brendan de Jonge has form figures of 3-14-48 at Trump International and on late 2012 form has to be included on the staking plan at 25/1. As does Brandt Jobe at 40/1, who is one of only two players to have finished inside the top ten at this week’s layout in the last two seasons.

My three to follow – DeLaet, de Jonge and Jobe.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.