Third edition of the Corales Championship PGA Tour kicks off in Punta Cana
The prize purse will be 4 million dollars, one million dollars more than last year and the highest in the history of Dominican sport.
The third edition of the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship PGA Tour officially began at the Corales golf course, and within the framework of the 50th anniversary of Grupo Puntacana, the tournament’s host organization.
The event will be held without general public, nor on the course and with the most rigorous sanitary security measures.
The prize purse will be $4 million dollars, one million more than last year and the highest in the history of Dominican sport, the FedExCup score has been increased to 500 and the winner will obtain a place for the Masters in April 2021.
Grupo Puntacana President and CEO Frank Rainieri said, “Since 2018, the tournament continues to position the Dominican Republic as the leading golf destination in the Caribbean worldwide. We are excited to once again host a PGA Tour at Puntacana Resort & Club and, on this occasion, it will be an excellent platform to reopen our doors to the world and promote the Punta Cana destination.”
Likewise, John Norris, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for PGA Tour Tournaments, expressed that “despite the difficulties of 2020, we are excited to be back in Punta Cana for the third version of the only PGA Tour event in the Dominican Republic, and to celebrate it within the framework of the Puntacana Group’s 50th anniversary. As many of you know, we had to postpone the original March date and we appreciate the company’s flexibility in rescheduling on such short notice. We are grateful for the excellent relationship with Grupo Puntacana and look forward to an exciting Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship”.
The tournament is the first international event of the 2020-21 PGA Tour season and the only PGA Tour event during that week. This year, 144 of the best players on the golf circuit are confirmed to play, which include last year’s winner Graeme McDowell, as well as Jonathan Vegas, Ryan Armor, Emiliano Grillo, Bill Haas, Charley Hoffman, Charles Howell III and Pat Perez; among other top players from the United States, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea, to name a few.
Dominican players participating in this edition are Hiram Silfa, Willy Pumarol, Julio Santos, Juan José Guerra and Marcel Olivares.
The defending champion of the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, Graeme McDowell, added during the press conference: “I have wonderful memories of my time in the Dominican Republic and it is a privilege to return to defend my title. It is also gratifying to see that Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship this year has raised the level of play with the increase in FedExCup points for the champion.”
In addition, Henrik Stenson, 2013 FedExCup champion, added: “I am excited to visit the Dominican Republic and am excited to compete. I have heard many comments and good feedback from other players about the Corales Golf Course and the Puntacana Resort & Club.”
Live broadcasts will be Thursday, September 24 and Friday, September 25, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Golf Channel; and Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 in prime time from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on NBC. Also, there will be daily Golf Channel replays outside of the regular schedule.
Hygiene and health protocols
The event protocol includes the mandatory use of masks by volunteers and staff, frequent deep cleaning and disinfectant gel stations in all areas of the tournament, among other measures. In addition, in order to reinforce physical distancing, the different groups and teams performing a function will be divided by “bubble” mode.
PGA Tour remains in constant communication with local health authorities in each market where PGA Tour tournaments resume, and closely monitors information provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. State Department regarding the evolution of Covid-19.
