Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – The third edition of Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship PGA TOUR officially began at Corales Golf Course, as Grupo Puntacana – Title Sponsor and Host Organization- celebrates their 50th anniversary of foundation.
The event will be held without ground spectators and under strict health and safety measures. The award purse will be $4 million dollars, $1 million more than last year’s purse and the highest in the history of any sport in the Dominican Republic. Also, FedExCup points were increased to 500 and the winner will get exemption onto the 2021 Masters in April.
During the event opening press conference, celebrated at Corales Clubhouse, the president and CEO of Grupo Puntacana, Frank Rainieri, affirmed “since 2018 the tournament continues to place the Dominican Republic as the leading golf destination in the Caribbean on a world scale. We are thrill to host once again a PGA TOUR at Puntacana Resort & Club and, in this occasion, will be an excellent platform to reopen our doors to the world and promote Punta Cana.”
Likewise, John Norris, Senior Vice President of Tournament Business Affairs of the PGA TOUR, expressed that “despite challenging times in 2020, we are thrilled to be back in Punta Cana for the third year of the only PGA TOUR event in the Dominican Republic, especially to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of Grupo Puntacana. As many know, we had to postpone the original date in March and appreciate the group’s flexibility in rescheduling for this week on short notice. We are grateful for the superb relationship with all at Grupo Puntacana and look forward to an exciting Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship.”
The tournament is the first international event of the PGA TOUR 2020-21 season and the only PGA TOUR event during that week. This year, 144 of the best players of the golf circuit are confirmed to play, including top players like last year’s winner Graeme McDowell, as well as Jonathan Vegas, Ryan Armour, 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.
Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship defending champion, Graeme McDowell, said during the press conference: “I have wonderful memories of my time in the Dominican Republic and it’s a privilege to return to defend my title. It’s also gratifying to see that the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship has an elevated stature this year with full FedExCup points for the champion.”
To conclude, Henrik Stenson, 2013 FedExCup champion, added: “I’m really looking forward to making the trip to the Dominican Republic. I’ve heard a lot of good feedback and positive comments from other players about the Corales Golf Course and the Puntacana Resort and I’m excited to compete.”
Health & Safety Protocols
The event protocol includes the mandatory use of a mask by volunteers and staff, frequent deep cleaning and disinfectant gel stations in all areas, among other measures. In addition, in order to reinforce physical distancing, the different groups and teams that develop a role in the tournament will be divided by “bubbles”.
PGA TOUR remains in constant communication with the local health authorities in each market in which the PGA TOUR tournaments are celebrated, and closely monitors the information provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Department of State regarding the evolution of Covid-19.
About the Corales golf course
Corales Puntacana Resort & Club, home to the first and only PGA TOUR Event in the Dominican Republic, was designed by world famous architect Tom Fazio. Opened in 2010, it is located next to the cliffs, bays, natural ocean inlets, inland lakes and coral quarries of the Caribbean Sea. It has 18 holes, six of them facing the sea and culminates with its last three holes known as the “devil’s elbow”, which is positioned among the most spectacular and difficult final holes in the world.
Sponsors
The third edition of the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship is sponsored by Universal, Magna (Hyundai), Citi, Texaco (GB Energy), Airport Team Solution, CCS, CEPM, CDN Deportes, Puntacana International Airport, The Westin Puntacana Resort & Club, Puntacana Resort & Club, Tortuga, Bay, Grupo Dupla, Centro Médico Puntacana, IQ Tek, Hartemontajes, Grupo Raya, Hartemanía, Constructora Llodra, Duty Free Americas, Spectro Lighting, Claro, IMCA, Grayline, JCDecaux, Tu Boleta, Estudio EG, Serviport, Coolekos, Coca Cola, Samsung, Brugal, Nestlé Impulso, Altron traiding Co, Lomo, Banreservas, Canita, Aperol Spritz, Constructora KG, United Petroleum, Nescafé Dolce Gusto, Nescafé, Club Car, PickyPlants, Inzone, Cava Alta and DBI Industrial.