The Corales Puntacana Championship 2023
Away from the allure of the WGC this week, I’ve put most of my efforts into the alternate event. Although we might see none of our golfer's shots this week, plenty of options are available in terms of value this week. We came second last year with Alex Smalley when he fell a shot short to Chad Ramey. This year I hope we can go a step further and secure our first win of the year. I know I’ve been typing that sentence week after week, but I believe our time is coming.
Again, I'm keeping this short and sweet since I know many of you are focusing on the WGC and have already set your sights on the first major in two weeks' time.
Ben Martin 1.5pts ew 28/1 (8 places Powers)
One of my picks from last week survives. I would have loved to repeat a preview on Wyndham Clark, but at 12/1 (best price) I couldn’t justify it this week. Ben Martin is my survivor this week. Last week, despite a bright start, Ben stumbled to a T45 finish because of an ice-cold putter. A return to more familiar grounds could reignite that flat strick this week. In his previous two appearances at the Corales Puntacana, Ben finished 9th and a runner-up finish last year. I’m giving him another chance this week to secure his second win on the PGA Tour.
Santiago Ben Tarrio 1pt ew 60/1 (8 places Boyles)
One of my favorite players on the DP World Tour and I’m delighted to see him make the trip here this week. The 32-year-old Spaniard made the jump from the Challenge Tour to the main European roster last year and failed to really impress despite some glimpses of brilliance. Short and straight off the tee define his game and that’s exactly what’s required here as former champions Joel Dahmen and Chesson Hadley prove. Santiago makes his debut here this week but arrives with a couple of impressive results to show for his efforts. A T3 in Kenya last time out followed a T13 in India. Despite being short off the tee, his long irons are electric and if he can replicate those performances again this week I firmly believe he can be in the closing conversation come Sunday evening.
Cody Gribble 1pt ew 66/1 (8 places Powers)
The winner of the 2016 Sanderson Farms has overcome several injuries since his breakthrough win. Most recently, a neck injury halted Cody’s efforts. Still, Gribble arrives here this week on the back of back-to-back T7 finishes on the PGA Tour. The first of these was in the Puerto Rico Open, another Caribbean course where the wind plays a huge part. The other was last week's Valspar Championship, where he fought back from a horrendous five over thru six beginning to his round. Given the weakened field this week, I think the bookies may have overpriced Cody this week.
Andrew Novak 1pt ew 66/1 (8 places Powers)
I tipped Andrew for the Puerto Rico Open earlier in the month, but he failed to impress, finishing T44. I’ve decided to give him another chance this week. A missed cut at the PLAYERS came as no great shock, but he played well at the Valspar last week finishing T27 only shooting a single round over par. I believe he warrants a selection this week as Novak finished T11 here last year on debut following a missed cut at the Valspar last year. Overlook him at your peril this week, as I believe there is more to come from the man from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Jason Dufner 1pt ew 100/1 (8 places Powers)
How the mighty have fallen. The five-time PGA Tour winner was as high as 6th in the world in 2012 and was also the winner of the 2013 USPGA Championship. Jason failed to make the weekend in his first nine events of the season this term, which is shocking to see. But he arrives here on the back of four straight paydays, an encouraging sign to say the least. He made the cut on the number last week and climbed to T36 over the weekend and was one of the few golfers to break 70 in the final round. Duff Daddy finished T28 here on debut last year and I believe it’s time for him to add to his tally of wins this week at a course that should suit him perfectly. More of a hopeful punt than anything but stranger things have happened on tour.