Puerto Rico Open Tip 2013: Richard H Lee

The Puerto Rico Open is not a tournament to be backing short-price players. The majority of the field find it difficult to win yet you could make a case to back almost any of them.

In these types of tournaments, I am looking to cash in on the fancy prices, especially as there isn’t a Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods in the field. At 200/1 (bodog) Richard H Lee fits the bill nicely.

In his first season on the PGA Tour the 24-year-old is still an unknown quantity and that helps make the price. This player has much more promise than the also-rans who populate his price bracket. After finishing 37th on the 2011 Nationwide Tour money list, he earned his tour card through Q-school, playing the last five holes in 5-under to sneak a tie for 24th. That sort of run takes bottle and talent.

A straight driver of the ball, he ranks 27th for driving accuracy, he is also a clutch putter ranking a stratospheric 15th for strokes gained putting. The stats haven’t translated into consistent results but he did finish T15 at Pebble Beach. Considering the strength of the field, that was an excellent result for a rookie.

Fortunate to be playing on the main tour, Richard H Lee can treat anything he earns this season as a bonus. With the pressure off, he could spring a big surprise at 200/1. Back him each way with bodog and get ¼ odds for a top-six finish.