2020 Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship Sleepers and Longshot Picks

• 154 players tee it up on Thursday (Sept. 24) at the Corales Golf Club in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 
• Doug Ghim has racked up two top-18 finishes in his last three starts
• Read below for analysis of the event and our favorite sleepers and longshot plays

Fresh off the heels of the U.S. Open, the PGA Tour heads to the Caribbean this week for the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. As you’d expect, the first tournament after a gruelling Major isn’t exactly loaded with elite talent, as only one of the top-50 players in the world (Henrik Stenson) will be teeing it up on Thursday.

Despite the lack of star power, there’s still plenty of young talent in the field, and we’ll look to target a trio of longshots who present serious value in the outright, top-10 and top-20 markets.

Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship Odds

Odds taken Sept. 21st at DraftKings.

The Ghim Reaper

First up on our list is the former top amateur in the world golf rankings, Doug Ghim. The 24-year-old has had an underwhelming start to his PGA Tour career, but has picked it up recently. He’s finished top-18 in two of his last three events, including at the Safeway Open two weeks ago.

67-66 to start the @SafewayOpen. Big weekend coming up! pic.twitter.com/rTrdQ2bqjd

— Doug Ghim (@DougGhim) September 12, 2020

Ghim was in prime position to make a run at the title, but a final round 71 on Sunday left him in a tie for 14th. Nevertheless, he’s gained strokes ball striking in four straight tournaments and ranks sixth in this field in bogey avoidance.

With a trophy case full of impressive victories in the amateur ranks, I like Ghim’s chances of closing out the tournament if he finds himself in contention again this Sunday.

Pick: Dough Ghim to Win (+7000)

Gordon is a Scoring Machine

The winning score in Punta Cana in each of the last two years has been -18, making it one of the easier events on the calendar. You know who likes himself a good birdie fest? Will Gordon.

Sponsor exemption Will Gordon is making the most of his opportunity this week at the @TravelersChamp. pic.twitter.com/sDgj7kZTVc

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 27, 2020

Since the June restart, Gordon ranks first in this field in birdie or better percentage and he destroys Par-5’s. That last stat is important, because this course features four long Par-5’s and each of the past two winners have played those holes in 10-under par for the tournament.

Will Gordon just hit this 340 yards. 😳

He leads the @TravelersChamp by one.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/ATYUrMk4d1

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 26, 2020

Gordon ranks second in the field in strokes gained off-the-tee, eighth in strokes gained tee-to-green, and has two top-10 finishes in his last eight starts.

Pick: Will Gordon Top-10 (+800)

Bhatia Breaks Through

After missing the cut in his first seven events, highly touted rookie Akshay Bhatia finally broke through two weeks ago at the Safeway Open. The 18-year-old fired three rounds of 68 or better to finish T-9 and collect his first PGA Tour paycheque.

18-year-old Akshay Bhatia finished T9 at the Safeway Open.

He's the youngest player to finish in the top 10 of a stroke-play event on the PGA TOUR since Justin Rose finished 4th in the 1998 Open Championship.

— Sean Martin (@PGATOURSMartin) September 14, 2020

Like Gordon, Bhatia is extremely long off the tee and scores very well on Par-5’s. He averaged 326 yards per drive two weeks ago, and played the Par-5’s in 11-under par. He gained strokes across the board, flashing a soft touch around the green and steady form with the putter.

Akshay Bhatia Safeway Open Stroke Gained Stats

He racked up 21 birdies and an eagle at the Silverado Resort and that kind of scoring prowess will serve him well this week.

Pick: Bhatia Top-20 (+500)