2025 Puerto Rico Open PGA – Best Bets and Tournament Preview
The PGA Tour heads to the Caribbean this week for the 17th edition of the Puerto Rico Open. This tournament promises a mix of emerging talent, seasoned veterans, and a scenic coastal backdrop. This year, it is scheduled for March 6-9, 2025, at the Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande. Today, we’ll break down the latest event in professional golf in this tournament preview with our best bets for the 2025 Puerto Rico Open.
2025 Puerto Rico Open – PGA Tournament Preview
The Puerto Rico Open is a tournament that serves as an alternate-field event running opposite the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational, a Signature Event on the PGA Tour calendar. While the big names battle it out in Orlando, the Puerto Rico Open offers a golden opportunity. Specifically, for lower-ranked players and up-and-coming stars to shine, earn FedExCup points, and potentially secure a spot in The Players Championship the following week. Continue reading for our tournament preview and best bets to target.
The Course – The Grand Reserve Golf Club
The Grand Reserve Golf Club, designed by Tom Kite, is a par-72 layout stretching 7,506 yards. Known for its wide fairways and paspalum greens, the course is exposed to coastal winds that can shift the challenge from day to day. Notably, with five par-5s and a handful of reachable par-4s, it’s a birdie-friendly track that rewards aggressive play and strong ball-striking.
However, there are some key factors that could cause golfers some trouble. Notably, the wind and strategically placed hazards ensure that precision and adaptability are key. Historically, this event has been a shootout. Last year’s winner, Brice Garnett, claimed the title in a playoff after finishing at 19-under-par. Additionally, previous champions like Viktor Hovland (2020) and Tony Finau (2016) have used this event as a springboard to stardom.
The Field
With a purse of $4 million and a field of 132 players, the 2025 Puerto Rico Open lacks the star power of its concurrent Signature Event. However, it is brimming with hungry competitors. Defending champion Brice Garnett returns to defend his title after his playoff victory over Erik Barnes in 2024, marking his second PGA Tour win. Other notable names include young prospects like Michael Thorbjornsen, a highly touted rookie who showed promise with a T39 at the Cognizant Classic.
Furthermore, we have Henrik Norlander, who’s been trending with strong approach play and a T13 at the Mexico Open. Veterans like Aaron Baddeley and Jason Dufner add experience. Meanwhile, Korn Ferry Tour graduates and conditional-status players like Adrien Dumont de Chassart look to capitalize on the weaker field.
Local hero Rafael Campos, the only Puerto Rican with a PGA Tour card, won’t be teeing it up this year, opting instead for his debut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational via a sponsor exemption. His absence opens the door for another player to etch their name into Puerto Rico Open lore.
2025 Puerto Rico Open – PGA Tournament Best Bets
In this article, I’ll use the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook as of Wednesday, March 5th. Past winners like Brice Garnett (2024, +3500 at the time) and Nico Echavarria (2023, +12500) highlight the value in long shots. Continue reading as we break down the best bets for this year’s 2025 Puerto Rico Open.
Outright Winner Best Bets
Henrik Norlander (+5500)
Why: Norlander’s a ball-striking standout (8th in strokes gained: approach this season) with T15 finishes here in 2023 and 2024. His T13 at the Mexico Open two weeks ago shows form, and he’s 11th in this field for putting on paspalum. At 55-1, he’s a steal in this weaker field.
Risk: Missed the cut last week at the Cognizant Classic. However, his irons stayed sharp.
Michael Thorbjornsen (+4000)
Why: Impressively, the rookie’s trending up, with a T39 at the Cognizant Classic (+1.03 SG: approach per round). Past Puerto Rico Open winners like Viktor Hovland (+2800 in 2020) and Tony Finau (+2500 in 2016) broke through here as young talents. Ultimately, at 40-1, he’s got breakout potential, and these odds are juicy.
Risk: He’s Still green on the PGA Tour, so he’s not a lock for four rounds.
Rico Hoey (+3400)
Why: Hoey’s a tee-to-green monster. Notably, he is 2nd in SG: off-the-tee and 7th in total SG over his last 50 rounds. His T25 last week led the field in SG: tee-to-green, though putting faltered. Finally, he is 1st in SG: putting on paspalum over his last 20 rounds, making 34-1 a solid play.
Risk: Unfortunately, his hot-and-cold putter could derail him if it doesn’t click.
Pierceson Coody (+3500)
Why: Coody’s on fire with three straight Korn Ferry top-10s. Additionally, his length suits this 7,506-yard track. At 35-1, he’s a popular pick with upside in a thin field.
Risk: Limited PGA Tour reps might show in crunch time.
Aaron Baddeley (+7000)
Why: Baddeley’s a putting wizard (3rd in this field) with a T8 (2016) and T2 (2019) here. Recent T32 (Farmers) and T34 (Mexico) finishes are decent for a 70-1 shot in an alternate event.
Risk: Age (43) and shaky ball-striking limit his ceiling.
Top-20 Finish Bets
Chan Kim (+140)
Why: Kim’s T9 at the Farmers and paspalum prowess (6th at Corales Puntacana last year) make him a lock for a top-20 at plus money.
Ricky Castillo (+210)
Why: Castillo’s aggressive style fits this birdie-fest. Additionally, his Korn Ferry form adds upside. Overall, +210 is a bargain for a placement.
Ben Kohles (+200)
Why: Kohles was 6th here last year and 16th in 2022, ranking top-10 in this field for paspalum putting. All things considered, +200 is a solid value.
Best Bets – Strategy and PGA Betting Tips
Value Hunting: DraftKings lists Niklas Norgaard (+1800) and Ryan Gerard (+2500) as favorites. However, only one winner since 2016 was under 25-1. Look at 30-1 or higher for outrights—history backs it.
Scoring Conditions: Light winds and soft greens should push the winning score to -19 or better. Notably, favoring bombers and hot putters.
Placement Safety: Top-20 bets balance the field’s unpredictability—perfect for hedging.
These picks lean on DraftKings Sportsbook’s current odds, blending form, course fit, and statistical edges. Odds can shift, so lock in early if you like a number. Be sure to tune in to the 2025 Puerto Rico Open and follow along with our best bets.
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