Puerto Rico Open 2025 Tips: Hayden to Springer surprise win

As the top players on tour are in Florida at Bay Hill for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the second part of this week’s PGA Tour double-header takes an eclectic field to the Caribbean and Grand Reserve Country Club for the Puerto Rico Open.

As always, here are our star golf tipster Jamie Worsley's Puerto Rico Open 2025 tips, as well as his usual comprehensive preview featuring six players priced from 40/1 all the way out to 125/1.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The Puerto Rico Open debuted on the PGA Tour in 2008. It has always played the role of an alternate event, staged opposite a more high-profile tournament on the same week. Offering players on the fringes of the bigger events a greater chance of a potentially career-changing win.

It was in this event that Tony Finau and Viktor Hovland claimed their first PGA Tour wins. Whilst a trio of major champions, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau have each finished 2^nd here.

Last five winners:

• 2024 – Winner: Brice Garnett (-19, playoff)

Runner-up: Erik Barnes (-19)

• 2023 – Winner: Nico Echavarria (-21)

Runner-up: Akshay Bhatia (-19)

• 2022 – Winner: Ryan Brehm (-20)

Runner-up Max McGreevy (-14)

• 2021 – Winner: Branden Grace (-19)

Runner-up: Jhonattan Vegas (-18)

• 2020 – Winner: Viktor Hovland (-20)

Runner-up: Josh Teater (-19)

Last year’s renewal went the way of Brice Garnett, as he beat Erik Barnes in a playoff to record a second PGA Tour win, having won the Corales Puntacana Championship back in 2018 – another opposite-field event. He returns to defend this week.

THE COURSE

Every edition of this event has been staged here at Grand Reserve Country Club – a Tom Kite design based on the northeast coast of Puerto Rico.

This flat, exposed and open resort course plays as a par 72 and will again measure 7506yds, but they have flipped the two nines for this year’s renewal. It possesses 4x par 3s (192-236 yards), 10x par 4s (386-465 yards) and 4x par 5s (535-630 yards).

The course plays pretty simple in benign conditions, as we’ve seen with those last five editions being won with a score of -19 or lower. However, as with many coastal courses, wind is always a threat and it suddenly becomes an entirely different challenge, evidenced by Alex Cejka’s -7 winning total in 2015.

Sharing coastline with the Atlantic Ocean, there are memorable views aplenty at Grand Reserve CC.

The average-width fairways are loosely tree-lined, but with a lack of punishing rough and bunkers which aren’t especially penal, it feels like there is plenty of room out there. Which allows the players to take driver out of the bag on most holes.

The paspalum greens are predominantly large and typically slow, with the subtle breaks on them often proving hard to work out. Although they are well bunkered and have plenty of run-offs, it’s not all that difficult to get it up and down, ranking as the 13^th-easiest scrambling course on tour in recent years.

Water is a dangerous feature on 12 holes, the majority of which now comes late on, in-play on eight of the final nine. The switching of the two nines also means the easier par 5s, the 547yd 11^th and the 535yd 14^th appear over the closing holes. This should create a more exciting and dramatic finish, especially if there is any wind on the card this week.

THE WEATHER

Barring the odd passing shower from Wednesday-Friday, it’s forecast to be a largely warm and bright week in Puerto Rico. There is little wind on show over the opening two rounds, but it does pick up a touch over the weekend, with Sunday’s final round looking the breeziest, when we could see gusting winds of up to 25mph.

KEY STATS

• SG: Off-the-Tee/Driving Distance

As a reasonably lengthy course that lacks penalty for missed fairways and tempts players to hit driver throughout, it’s been no surprise to see bombers go well at Grand Reserve CC.

Seven of last year’s top nine ranked inside the top 25 in driving distance. This includes 3^rd-place finishers, Hayden Springer and Jimmy Stanger ranking 3^rd and 6^th respectively.

Nico Echavarria ranked 7^th in driving distance when taking the title in 2023; Ryan Brehm was 2^nd in the same stat when demolishing the field by six in 2022; three of the top four ranked 13^th or higher in 2021; whilst 2019 winner, Martin Trainer ranked 7^th.

• SG: Approach/Proximity from 200yds+

Quality in approach into slow, receptive greens is always going to be advantageous. Further to that, with four par 5s and three par 3s that measure 200yds+, the long irons look especially key around this setup.

• SG: Putting (paspalum)
• Par 4 Scoring

Players with a track record of positive putting performances on paspalum surfaces should also be respected and with the par 4s here looking very scorable, with most able to be attacked with a drive and a wedge, making the most of the scoring chances on these holes that looks vital.

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSE)

Corales Puntacana Championship (Corales Golf Club)

Corales Golf Club is home to the Corales Puntacana Championship, another alternate event. Located just west of Puerto Rico in the Dominican Republic, it’s an open, coastal resort course that uses paspalum throughout.

Notable correlating form:

Brice Garnett:

Puerto Rico (1^st) / Corales (1^st)

George McNeill:

Puerto Rico (1^st, 5^th) / Corales (7^th)

Martin Trainer:

Puerto Rico (1^st) / Corales (7^th)

Jhonattan Vegas:

Puerto Rico (2^nd) / Corales (4^th)

Emiliano Grillo:

Puerto Rico (2^nd, 3^rd) / Corales (6^th)

Nate Lashley:

Puerto Rico (3^rd, 7^th, 8^th) / Corales (1^st, 4^th)

Ben Martin:

Puerto Rico (3^rd) / Corales (2^nd)

Rafael Campos:

Puerto Rico (3^rd) / Corales (2^nd)

Sam Ryder:

Puerto Rico (3^rd) / Corales (2^nd)

Chad Ramey:

Puerto Rico (5^th) / Corales (1^st)

Andrew Putnam:

Puerto Rico (5^th) / Corales (5^th)

Wesley Bryan:

Puerto Rico (6^th) / Corales (2^nd)

World Wide Technology Championship (El Cardonal)

El Cardonal is a wide open course that suits longer hitters and covered head-to-toe in paspalum, we can see why it has developed strong form-ties with this event after just a couple of events.

Notable correlating form:

Nico Echavarria:

Puerto Rico (1^st) / WWTC (6^th)

Chesson Hadley:

Puerto Rico (1^st) / WWTC (7^th)

Akshay Bhatia:

Puerto Rico (2^nd) / WWTC (10^th)

Carson Young:

Puerto Rico (3^rd) / WWTC (2^nd)

Nate Lashley:

Puerto Rico (3^rd) / WWTC (10^th)

Sam Ryder:

Puerto Rico (3^rd) / WWTC (10^th)

Andrew Putnam:

Puerto Rico (5^th) / WWTC (5^th)

Joe Highsmith:

Puerto Rico (6^th) / WWTC (5^th)

Wesley Bryan:

Puerto Rico (6^th) / WWTC (6^th)

Max Greyserman:

Puerto Rico (15^th) / WWTC (4^th)

Mexico Open (Vidanta Vallarta)

Vidanta Vallarta is another open and exposed, paspalum-covered venue located by the coast. Its generous, non-penal fairways and large greens provide players with a similar ball-striking test to what they’ll face this week.

Notable correlating form:

Tony Finau:

Puerto Rico (1^st) / Mexico (1^st, 2^nd)

Akshay Bhatia:

Puerto Rico (2^nd) / Mexico (4^th)

Emiliano Grillo:

Puerto Rico (2^nd, 3^rd) / Mexico (5^th)

Brandon Wu:

Puerto Rico (3^rd) / Mexico (2^nd, 3^rd)

Carson Young:

Puerto Rico (3^rd) / Mexico (8^th)

Cognizant Classic (PGA National)

Due to its coastal location, abundance of water and large greens, PGA National is a good comp for this week. I would particularly focus on players who have gone well there in the previous two years, as the challenge has been much easier and the now non-penal driving challenge (providing you avoid the water) mirrors what we see here in Puerto Rico.

Notable correlating form:

Max McGreevy:

Puerto Rico (2^nd) / Cognizant (4^th)

Jhonattan Vegas:

Puerto Rico (2^nd) / Cognizant (4^th)

Sam Ryder:

Puerto Rico (3^rd) / Cognizant (8^th, 9^th)

Victor Perez:

Puerto Rico (3^rd) / Cognizant (16^th, 18^th)

Michael Kim:

Puerto Rico (5^th) / Cognizant (6^th)

Joe Highsmith:

Puerto Rico (6^th) / Cognizant (1^st)

Wesley Bryan:

Puerto Rico (6^th) / Cognizant (4^th)

Korn Ferry Tour & DP World Tour

This diverse field means we should also look towards events on the Korn Ferry Tour and DP World Tour for clues this week.

The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic is an event played by the coast on paspalum greens, as was The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic until this year.

Over on the DPWT and paspalum is the grass of choice for many events in the Middle East, such as the Abu Dhabi Championship at Yas Links, the Qatar Masters, Bahrain Championship and Ras Al Khaimah Championship. Whilst they’re also typically open and exposed, with wind a common factor.

In addition, the Singapore Classic is another event played on paspalum that favours strong drivers of the ball.

THE FIELD

The field is headed by world #63 Thriston Lawrence, with a trio of Europeans, Matt Wallace (#78), Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (#88) and Niklas Norgaard (#90) the only other players from the world’s top 100.

Brice Garnett returns as the defending champion and is one of four former winners in attendance, joined by Ryan Brehm (2022), Chesson Hadley (2014) and George McNeill (2012).

Talented young Spaniard, Angel Ayora returns to the event having debuted here last year; England’s Matthew Jordan tees it up in a solely PGA Tour-sanctioned event for the first time in his career; and 17-year-old Blades Brown makes his third start of the season having finished 34^th in Mexico two weeks ago.

Puerto Rico Open 2025 Odds

SELECTIONS

Market leaders (1/4 5 places): Niklas Norgaard 18/1, Ryan Gerard 25/1, Kevin Roy 25/1, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen 28/1, Bud Cauley 28/1

These alternate-field events are typically competitive and this is no different. There is little that appeals to me from the top of the betting and I’m instead going to start in the mid-range with last year’s 3^rd-place finisher, Hayden Springer.

1.25 pts Hayden Springer each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 40/1

There were plenty of positives in Springer’s rookie season last year, recording four top-10 finishes, but he didn’t quite do enough to retain his full PGA Tour card.

Chances have been sparing this year, but he has shown promise, finishing 6^th in the Farmers Insurance Open on his first start and he was also a solid 45^th in the Mexico Open when we last saw him.

That performance at Torrey Pines didn’t come as a shock as it’s a course that suits high-class and long drivers, which very much describes the American. He ranked 42^nd off-the-tee last season and 16^th in driving distance; combined with his top-50 ranking in proximity from 200yds+ the long game looks an ideal fit for Grand Reserve CC.

This certainly proved to be the case last year, as Springer fired four rounds in the 60s to finish 3^rd on debut and looking in good shape so far this year, I see no reason why he can’t go two better this week.

1.25 pts Chris Gotterup each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 45/1

Chris Gotterup won his first PGA Tour title last year in another opposite-field event – the Myrtle Beach Classic. I believe he has played better than his bare form figures suggest so far in 2025 and having gone well here before, both in the amateur and pro ranks, he made plenty of sense.

Gotterup began his season in The Sentry, finishing 46^th but he has gone on to miss five of his next six cuts. That being said his one weekend appearance did result in a 25^th-place finish in the Farmers Insurance Open and he hasn’t been far away in his last three events, shooting a 66 in round two to miss the cut by just one shot last week.

He was the fifth-longest driver on tour last season and it’s this club that often engineered his better displays, ranking 48^th off-the-tee. The ball-striking has been solid so far this year, ranking 25^th in greens-in-regulation and with this streaky putter currently firing on the greens, he stacks up well statistically.

Gotterup won here in the Puerto Rico Invitational as an amateur in 2022, before then finishing 7^th in this event less than a month later when still holding amateur status. He’s shown he can win in this type of field, and has every chance of doing so again at Grand Reserve CC.

1 pt K.H. Lee each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 55/1

K.H. Lee has experience of winning on a lengthy course that lacks penalty off the tee and with his approach play much improved over his latest starts, he’s taken to be in the mix in Puerto Rico.

Lee missed his first two cuts of the season, in which he drove the ball well but struggled in all other areas. However, he made gains across the rest of his game on his next start in the Farmers Insurance Open, helping him to a 9^th-place finish and although finishing no higher than 67^th on his three latest starts, he’s continued to show positive signs in approach.

He's gained strokes in each season on tour off-the-tee and is doing so again this season, showcasing solid levels of accuracy and power. Married with that recently improved approach play, his ball-striking is in a good place overall.

Lee hasn’t played here for five years, but has gone well on each previous visit, finishing 35^th in 2019 and 14^th in 2020. His 4^th-place finish at a less challenging PGA National last year also bodes well and as a two-time winner of the Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch – where he beat much stronger fields than he’ll encounter this week – he looks a strong fit for this test.

1 pt Jeremy Paul each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 60/1

Jeremy Paul made a decent start to his rookie season on the PGA Tour and as a reasonably lengthy driver who has won in The Bahamas, he’s an ideal type for Grand Reserve CC.

The German has made three of his five cuts this season, with his best performance coming when he finished 25^th on the paspalum surfaces in the Mexico Open.

He’s been hitting the ball well, ranking 34^th in GIR and 57^th off-the-tee, where he’s among the top-30 longest drivers on tour. Also scoring well on the par 4s and looking solid on the greens, he ticks many boxes statistically.

Paul will make his debut at the course this week but having recorded his only Korn Ferry Tour win in last year’s The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic and producing his best performance of this year in Mexico, he has correlating form that suggests the course will suit.

1 pt Garrick Higgo each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 60/1

A solid finish to 2024 wasn’t enough to stop Garrick Higgo losing his place on the PGA Tour. However, he looked good on his one start on the tour this year in the Farmers Insurance Open and having shown promise on his only start here last year, he can regain full playing privileges with a win this week.

Higgo’s largely difficult campaign last year ended with him recording two top 20s across his last three starts, finishing 6^th in the World Wide Technology Championship and 17^th in Bermuda.

He’s teed it up three times on the Korn Ferry Tour this season, finishing 26^th in Colombia when we last saw him, but I was particularly encouraged by his 42^nd-place finish in the Farmers Insurance Open.

The South African drove the ball excellently at Torrey Pines, ranking 8^th and showing much better control of the club than he did last year. When you also take into consideration his top-30 ranking in driving distance, along with solid numbers in par 4 scoring, putting and proximity from 200yds+, he has the game for Grand Reserve CC.

Higgo debuted here last year, shooting a 6-under 66 to sit 9^th after round one before eventually finishing 32^nd. His best finish in 2024 came at the correlating El Cardonal and having also finished a respectable 16^th in last year’s Cognizant Classic, he has comp form to suggest he’s capable of improving on his 2024 effort.

1 pt Davis Riley each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 125/1

Davis Riley had really struggled to get anything going at the start of this year, missing his first four cuts. However, he did show improvements in approach in Mexico two weeks ago and carrying that over to PGA National last week, helping him to a best finish of the year of 48^th, he looks worth a shot in this weak field at the price.

He has putted well for most of the season, including on the paspalum surfaces in Mexico and although largely failing to keep the driver under control, this big hitter should appreciate kinder driving conditions at Grand Reserve CC.

Riley has only played here once previously, finishing 39^th in 2021. His 5^th-place finish in the 2022 Mexico Open should serve him well and with plenty of comp form on offer in the Panama Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour – an event that he won in 2020 – we have plenty of positives in relation to his chances of performing this week.