It was a sun-splashed day with relatively little breeze for the opening round in the Dominican Republic. It was also a prime opportunity for several players to jockey for early position as they contend for what would be a watershed win.
The Corales Punta Cana Resort & Club Championship is no longer an opposite event, rescheduled from March to September because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But many of the game's biggest names have opted to rest this week in the wake of a grueling U.S. Open, opening up the door for some of the Tour's rank-and-file to compete for lucrative prizes that extend beyond the $720,000 check.