2024 Puerto Rico Open Odds, History, Picks: Bet Ben Griffin, Sam Stevens, Nate Lashley
The tropics are calling for some of the world’s best golfers. Let’s take an early look at The 2024 Puerto Rico Open odds and review some tournament history.
2024 Puerto Rico Open Odds, History, Picks
The 2024 Puerto Rico Open tees off this week at the Grand Reserve Golf Club in Río Grande, promising a week of thrilling competition, stunning scenery, and the signature Puerto Rican charm. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, the field is packed with talent all vying for their share of the purse and a coveted PGA Tour title.
This year’s edition holds particular significance, as defending champion Nico Echavarria returns to the island hoping to become the first player to win back-to-back titles in tournament history. With the pressure on and the competition fierce, expect to see electrifying golf under the Caribbean sun.
2024 Puerto Rico Open: Tournament History & Trends
The Puerto Rico Open has a long history dating back to the mid-50s, when it was first played as part of the PGA-sponsored Caribbean Tour. It was played annually until it was discontinued in 1967. The tournament’s revival happened in 2004 when it became part of the Tour de las Américas, leading to its eventual addition as a PGA Tour event in 2008.
The Puerto Rico Open is the only PGA Tour event ever held in Puerto Rico and includes a couple of very familiar names on its list of past champs. Those champions are Tony Finau and Viktor Hovland, whose wins in this event were their first ever on the PGA Tour.
Each of their wins fit the mold for how competitive the Puerto Rico Open has been. With 12 of 15 tournament champs having either scored 20-under or better, or won by 1 stroke or playoff. This event always produces fun and excitement along with uber-competitiveness. So, grab your favorite beverage, and find a comfortable spot on the couch. Let’s take a look at the 2024 Puerto Rico Open odds and make some picks.
2024 Puerto Rico Open Odds
2024 Puerto Rico Open Favorite: Rasmus Hojgaard +1400
Rasmus Hojgaard isn’t a household name on Tour but has been playing very well on the DP World Tour. There, he’s placed T11 or better in all five events he’s participated in. The last three all resulted in top-10 placements. He made his PGA Tour debut last week in the Cognizant Classic, and played pretty well, just missing the cut by 1-stroke. Rasmus is 75th on the OWGR and is the 2nd highest-ranked player playing in the 2024 Puerto Rico Open.
2024 Puerto Rico Open Odds: Best Bets
Check out who the experts are betting on this week from Grand Reserve Golf Club with some Best Bets from the guys at Betsperts Golf.
Ben Griffin T20 +170 (DraftKings)
According to my model, Griffin ranks as the third-best player in this field. A strong threat to win this week, he ranks in the top 5 in past performance on coastal courses, on long courses, and in tournaments with weak fields similar to this week’s event. – Ron Klos
Sam Stevens T20: +250 (FanDuel)
Sam Stevens entered the final round of last year’s Puerto Rico Open tied for third place after firing a field-best 65 in the third round. An uneven fourth round led to a T15 finish, but Stevens’ profile fits well for this course. Some of his best PGA Tour finishes have come on coastal layouts like the one he’s facing again this week.
Distance matters here, and Stevens ranks second in the field in driving distance over the past 50 rounds played. When looking specifically at island or coastal courses, Stevens ranks 10th in SG: T2G. If he can navigate these native paspalum greens like he did last season, he should find himself in the mix again this week. – Ryan Noonan
Nate Lashley Top 30 +105 (DraftKings)
A bit simpler of a (composite of several courses) course in Puerto Rico has me looking firmly at great ball strikers with good scoring numbers, relative to this larger, but much, much weaker field. Lashley checks all the boxes: good irons, good greens in regulation percentage, good metrics on coastal courses, and on top of it all has always played well here, finishing inside the top 10 all three times he’s attended.
