Okay, so I decided to tackle the Corales Puntacana Championship for 2024 today, trying to figure out who might play well.
First thing I did was pull up the field list. You gotta know who’s actually teeing it up, right? It’s one of those opposite-field events, so you see a different mix of players than the big signature events. Lots of guys trying to make their mark, grab some points.
Then, I spent some time looking at the course itself, Corales. Remembered it’s coastal, can get windy, and pretty long. Paspalum greens, which can be tricky for some guys. So, I started thinking about players who handle wind well and maybe have some experience on similar greens or coastal tracks.
Looking at Player Form
Next step was checking recent form. I scrolled through the results from the last few tournaments. Didn’t go super deep into complex stats, just looked at who’s been making cuts, maybe sneaking into the top 20 or 30. Consistency is often key in these types of fields. Saw a few names pop up that have been playing steady golf lately.
I also took a quick peek at past results here at Corales. Some courses just fit certain players’ eyes, you know? Found a couple of guys who’ve played well here before, even if their recent form wasn’t spectacular. Sometimes course history trumps current form, especially at a place like this.
Putting it Together
So, I had a list forming in my head and jotted down maybe 8-10 names. Guys with decent recent results, guys with good course history, and maybe one or two long shots who fit the course profile – good drivers, maybe solid around the greens.
Then came the tougher part: narrowing it down. You can’t pick everyone. I tried to balance the factors.
- Recent Form: Who’s actually playing well now?
- Course Fit/History: Who seems to like this place or has the game for it?
- Gut Feeling: Sometimes you just get a feeling about a player for a particular week.
I weighed those things up. Dropped a few names that felt a bit too risky or whose odds didn’t seem quite right for their chances.
My Shortlist
After going back and forth a bit, I settled on a smaller group. I leaned towards guys who have shown they can score and handle potentially windy conditions. Didn’t want anyone who purely relies on bombing it, need some finesse too.
Basically, my process was:
- Check the field.
- Remind myself about the course.
- Look at recent finishes.
- Check past course performance.
- Make a list.
- Cut the list down based on form, fit, and feel.
Ended up with a few names I felt okay about. It’s never an exact science, especially in golf. Just my way of thinking through it for this week. We’ll see how they get on!
