The PGA Tour also heads to the Caribbean this week for the Puerto Rico Open, the traditional opposite-field event that so often provides a breakthrough moment for an emerging talent.
While the Arnold Palmer Invitational grabs the headlines over in Florida, this tournament has built a reputation of its own by offering opportunity, FedEx Cup points and exemptions.
In recent years, it has been a platform for rising stars, none more so than last year when Karl Vilips landed at 80/1, underlining once again how these alternate-field events can reward those ready to take advantage.
Tony Finau claimed his maiden PGA Tour title here in 2016, while Viktor Hovland triumphed in 2020 before progressing to elite-level success worldwide.
With another open-looking field assembled, the 2026 edition presents an interesting betting opportunity.
Puerto Rico Open 2026 key information, prize money and how to watch
- Venue: Grand Reserve Country Club
- Dates: Thursday 5th March to Sunday 8th March
- Total Prize Purse: £3.5 million
- Winner’s Prize Money: Approximately £550,000
- TV Channel: Sky Sports+
- Broadcast Times:
Thursday and Friday – From 15:00pm
Saturday and Sunday – No times provided - Tee Times: Can be found here
What does it take to win at Grand Reserve? Key statistics and angles
Grand Reserve, formerly known as Coco Beach Golf Club, sits at the foothills of El Yunque Rainforest and is a flat, exposed, par-72 coastal layout measuring 7,506 yards. Designed by Tom Kite, it’s a composite track featuring paspalum greens – a surface commonly found on windy seaside courses.
Statistics have historically been limited at this event compared to full PGA Tour stops, so trends are often drawn more from course type and correlated venues than pure data.
Grand Reserve is wide enough off the tee and not overly penal unless the wind blows, meaning scoring can be low. In calm conditions, it becomes a birdie-fest (last year’s stroke average was just 69.61), but when exposed to coastal gusts, it becomes far more strategic. Water is in play on 13 holes, though many are visually intimidating rather than brutally difficult.
The key angle here is coastal form. Paspalum links this event strongly with venues such as Corales Golf Club, El Camaleon Golf Course, El Cardonal at Diamante, and Vidanta Vallarta Golf Course.
Beyond that, similar wind-exposed, coastal-style tests such as Waialae, Harbour Town and Sea Island have also produced crossover performances.
Over on the DP World Tour, desert and island setups such as in Bahrain and Mauritius can also show comparable characteristics.
Puerto Rico Open 2026 betting tips and predictions
As ever with this event, the betting approach leans towards upside and proven coastal pedigree, with several players bringing strong correlated-course form and encouraging recent performances.
Matti Schmid – 30/1 each-way (7 places)
Sixth here last year and 10th the year before suggests Matti Schmid has a clear affinity for Grand Reserve. He has often shown a tendency to thrive in alternate-field events, where elite depth is reduced and opportunity increases.
After a patchy start to 2026, he steadied the ship nicely with a T9 finish at the Cognizant Classic last week, mirroring last season’s trajectory, where he quietly built form before contending strongly here.
With course comfort and renewed confidence, he looks primed to go close again.
Back Schmid to win the Puerto Rico Open at 30/1 with seven places on offer at Ladbrokes or Coral
Carson Young – 45/1 each-way (7 places)
Carson Young boasts finishes of third and 10th here in his last two starts, and in a field of this nature, that form looks slightly undervalued.
A winner in Panama and a consistent performer in Mexico, including a runner-up finish at the World Wide Technology Championship, he has repeatedly shown comfort on coastal paspalum layouts.
Given the course fit and prior contending efforts, 45/1 appeals massively.
Back Young to win the Puerto Rico Open at 30/1 with seven places on offer at Ladbrokes or Coral
Sudarshan Yellamaraju – 50/1 each-way (7 places)
Sudarshan Yellamaraju has quietly impressed during his first season on the PGA Tour, making four cuts from five starts and registering two top-20 finishes already.
His Korn Ferry Tour win in the Bahamas came on a soft par-72 with paspalum greens and generous fairways. Add in a T13 at the Sony Open earlier this year, and the rookie looks the type capable of breaking through in this company.
Back Yellamaraju to win the Puerto Rico Open at 50/1 with seven places on offer at Ladbrokes or Coral
Davis Riley – 66/1 each-way (7 places)
Davis Riley missed the cut for us at the Cognizant, but did show some promising signs during his Friday round, and the drop in field strength should suit him.
He was sixth here last year and has strong coastal credentials, including top-six finishes at the Sony Open and Mexico Open at Vidanta. His runner-up finish to Scottie Scheffler at the USPGA Championship last year also underlines the sort of class he can possess when confident.
In this company, he does look slightly overpriced.
Back Riley to win the Puerto Rico Open at 66/1 with seven places on offer at Ladbrokes or Coral
Pontus Nyholm – 125/1 each-way (7 places)
Pontus Nyholm, another Korn Ferry graduate, looked good in parts at the Cognizant when finishing T17.
He is already a proven winner at PGA Tour feeder-level, which is often the perfect breeding ground for low-scoring, confidence-driven performances.
The regular sort of flat, exposed layouts suit aggressive birdie-makers, and at triple-figure odds, he represents the kind of high-upside outsider that has historically prospered in Puerto Rico.
Back Nyholm to win the Puerto Rico Open at 125/1 with seven places on offer at Ladbrokes or Coral
Lewis joined as News and Features Editor in July 2025, having previously held senior roles at Snack Media and GRV Media. He has also written extensively as a football and golf tipster for WeLoveBetting. He is also a proud Aldershot Town supporter.
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