Corales: The PGA Tour's home venue in the Dominican Republic

Editor's Note: Updated March 2022

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic - While the world's best players battle at the Austin Country Club in the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship, there are still plenty of quality Tour pros in action in the Caribbean this weekend.

The Corales Punta Cana Championship has become a staple on the PGA Tour schedule since 2018 at one of the Tour's most scenic courses - Corales - a private Tom Fazio course known for its immaculate conditioning.

Hurricane damage took a swipe at the 7,650-yard course in 2017, forcing reconstruction of the eighth and ninth holes. Tom Fazio returned to make both holes more challenging and protect them from future storm surges off the Caribbean Sea. The eighth fairway was raised several feet, and the green at least 10 to 12 feet. Two bunkers, one to the left of the fairway and one right of the green, were added as well. The green on the par 3 ninth was raised more than 15 feet.

Two other changes were made - 27 new palm trees planted to the left side of the par-4 13th fairway and new cutting patterns creating closely mown collection areas around the greens. The championship, a Web.com (now the Korn Ferry Tour) event from 2016-17, is always played opposite the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at the Austin Country Club.

Playing Corales, blanketed in Paspalum grass since opening in 2010, guarantees a memorable day. Only a handful of resort guests at a Punta Cana Resort & Club property (like the Westin or Tortuga Bay) are allowed access each day, ensuring golfers a solitary, exclusive experience guided by mandatory caddies. Two par 4s - no. 3 and no. 15 - feature two separate greens that rotate regularly. It will be interesting to see which greens tournament officials use more.

Keep an eye on how the pros attack the Devil's Elbow, the finishing three-hole stretch on the sea. The 416-yard 16th hole heads toward the water with a bunker blocking the middle of the fairway. Tournament organizers can also get creative on the 214-yard 17th hole, changing the angle of attack and the impact of the wind by choosing to use the tee boxes along the rocky seaside cliffs or the other tee boxes located further inland that play directly toward the shore. The striking 501-yard final hole, featuring an expanded back/black tee, ends with dramatic forced carry over the cliff-lined Bay of Corales. What a final tee shot with a multi-million purse on the line.