There’s no need to worry for those who didn’t qualify for The Open Championship. That’s because the PGA Tour is holding an alternate field tournament this week. The Barracuda Championship returns to Tahoe Mountain Club for the third straight playing with the full-field consisting of young players looking to make their mark, veterans trying to stockpile valuable FedEx Cup points, and for the first time an influx of DP World Tour talent. As a reminder that since this is the only event on Tour that uses the Modified Stableford scoring system a plus score is good. Points are awarded for how players perform on each hole. The field lacks big names but it won’t be short of matchup wagering options. BookMaker.eu has a complete updated list of matchup odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Barracuda Championship Matchup Odds
Maverick McNealy -125 vs. Cameron Davis +105
Maverick McNealy -120 vs. Alex Noren +100
Cameron Davis -105 vs. Alex Noren -115
Nick Hardy -120 vs. Mark Hubbard +100
Nick Hardy +100 vs. Taylor Pendrith -120
Mark Hubbard +121 vs. Taylor Pendrith -145
Doug Ghim -120 vs. Rasmus Hojgaard +100
Doug Ghim -130 vs. Martin Laird +109
Rasmus Hojgaard -115 vs. Martin Laird -105
Andrew Putnam -135 vs. Chez Reavie +113
Vince Whaley -110 vs. John Huh -110
Matthias Schwab -115 vs. Taylor Moore -105
Hurly Long -120 vs. Greyson Sigg +100
Hank Lebioda -110 vs. Scott Piercy -110
Joe Highsmith +117 vs. Chesson Hadley -140
Ryan Moore -110 vs. Austin Cook -110
Matthias Schmid +105 vs. Stephan Jaeger -125
Johannes Veerman -115 vs. Michael Gligic -105
James Hahn +110 vs. Justin Lower -132
Kelly Kraft +105 vs. Doc Redman -125
Michael Thompson +109 vs. Ryan Armour -130
Rafael Cabrera Bello +113 vs/ Niklas Norgaard Moller -135
Julien Brun -110 vs. Yannik Paul -110
Sean O'Hair -115 vs. Sean Crocker -105
Callum Tarren -125 vs. Matthieu Pavon +105
Need to Know
After two decades being played in nearby Reno, the Barracuda relocated in 2020 to the Tahoe Mountain Club. Not far from the previous course there is one familiar theme between the two layouts. Both are at high elevation allowing golf balls to fly through the atmosphere. The Old Greenwood Course at TMC stretches to 7,480 yards, which is roughly 50 yards longer than last year, but it really doesn’t matter since elevation zero-factors most tee shots. And those familiar with the course say it’s perfect for the Stableford scoring system. The Jack Nicklaus design has three par 5s and as many as three reachable par 4s. Those are important with eagles worth five points and birdies worth two points. Remember, players want to be on the plus side this week. The scoring allows and almost requires players to be more aggressive, creating a fun and interesting tournament.
Barracuda Championship Matchup Picks
Maverick McNealy -120 vs. Alex Noren
I backed McNealy for the outright so I better throw down on him in this matchup, right? He’s clearly one of the top players in the field evidenced by his favorite status and we’ve seen six straight first time Tour winners at this event. McNealy is a good bet to continue that trend with several hot streaks in tow. He’s gone 7-T18 at the Tahoe Mountain Club and T8-T16 in his previous two starts. A scoring machine on par 5s, McNealy can break from the pack on those holes, which I’m betting on.
Rasmus Hojgaard +100 vs. Doug Ghim
As with McNealy travel could be a concern. Hojgaard is another of the 20 or so that played in Scotland last week, but at this point the guys are used to it. And of those who competed at the Renaissance Club, Hojgaard had the best finish among them. He’s adapted well to the PGA Tour with strong showings in similar events. Hojgaard was solo sixth at the Puntacana Championship and T18 at the Texas Open before his T10 last week in Scotland.
Matti Schmid +105 vs. Stephan Jaeger
I really like Schmid’s game and was disappointed in last week’s finish. Not as pissed as he was, though, I’m sure. The 54-hole leader at the Barbasol after scoring 22-under, he faded to a closing 77 dropping him to T8. Still, last year’s DP World Tour’s rookie of the year showed signs his last two starts of why he won the honor. The start of this season was a struggle, but the kid showed game with four top-15s in five starts to close last season. He’s strong off the tee allowing him to score on the par 5s, and with a little more consistency he could be a weekly contender.
Taylor Pendrith -120 vs. Nick Hardy
I was anxious to see how Pendrith would play last week after months of inactivity due to injury and COVID. And he picked up right where he left off, literally. He closed with a flurry to finish T13 at the Barbasol Championship, matching his finish from his previous start at THE PLAYERS in March. Pendrith is making a strong move to salvage his 2022 and returns to a venue that yielded him a ... you got it ... T13 last year.
Matthias Schwab -115 vs. Taylor Moore
Schwab had a nice run in the DP World Tour before making the transition to the PGA side. And with the strategic alliance between Tours this has a feel of a Euro circuit event giving Schwab a level of comfort. His success this season has come in like-field events with top-10s in the Honda Classic, Puerto Rico Open and Texas Open. He is coming off a strong T16 last time out at the Deere Classic and finished T3 in his only Barracuda start in 2020.
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