BlogReno-Tahoe Open Preview and Picks

The Buzz:

Many will read this and wonder on the viability of this event.  No top players in the field, an event that takes second stage to the Bridgestone.  In a way it’s a shame.  This was Finchem’s grand idea back in 1999 to keep the bottom-feeders off his back about limited field event.  Unfortunely it’s been a struggle, this event has always had sponsor problems and over the years the tour has sunk some cash to keep it alive.

One of the reasons they have kept it alive, those that play in it love it.  The weather is great, the course is great with players raving about it. Now in it’s 15th year, the field for this year’s Reno-Tahoe is the best it’s ever been with former major champions such as Davis Love III, Padraig Harrington, David Toms, David Duval, Mike Weir, Trevor Immelman, Lee Janzen, Rich Beem, Shaun Micheel, Ben Curtis and Chad Campbell playing.  If that wasn’t enough some other marquee players are in the field, guys like Aaron Baddeley, Camilo Villegas, Stuart Appleby, Robert Allenby, Chris Di- Marco, Jesper Parnevik, Woody Austin, Charlie Wi, Ben Crane, Rory Sabbatini, Pat Perez, Billy Mayfair are in Reno in what is there best field ever.

So what looks like nothing is really something, especially since the event has gone to the Modified Stableford system which is a change of pace for a PGA Tour event.  Honestly this event has gotten me more excited than a dozen other events that have big time sponsorship but struggle to get a good field and are played the same way, 72 hole stroke play.

I know because of the format I will be watching on Sunday, something of a rarity for me.

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the Reno-Tahoe Open:

Key stat for the winner:

Aggressive play, that’s the name of the game this week at the Reno-Tahoe.  This will be the 2nd year that the Reno-Tahoe has gone over to this scoring system making it one of the most distinctive events on the PGA Tour.  Along with the Accenture Match play, the two are the only tournaments on tour that aren’t stroke play events.  The modified version of the Stableford method is one that makes for a lot of excitement as points are awarded for low scoring and points taken away for poor scoring.  Nothing is given for par, with 2 points given for a birde, 5 points given for a eagle and for the rare double-eagle, 8 points.  For those that make a bogey they have to subtract 1 point and for a double bogey or worst 3 points are deducted.  So instead of the lowest number of strokes winning the tournament like the rest of the tour stops, the player making the most points wins.

Here are some more key stats to look to for this week:

• Putting is always a key, you can’t make a lot of birdies without some decent putting.
• Patience is a virtue, Weather in August in the high country of Lake Tahoe and Reno can be very unstable especially in the afternoon.  Thunder is to be expected and comes more time than the tournament would like.
• Judgement of yardage is key, in a way it’s always a challenge to hit the right club.  A 200 yard shot to the ninth green at Montreux is a bit of an adventure compared to a 200 yard shot at Torrey Pines.  With the attitude being so high a 200 yard shot could be an 8-iron at Montreux while the same shot at Torrey Pines could be a six or five iron.
• Pick your holes to gamble on, there are several holes were par is the score you should look for and if a player tries to force the issue it could lead very easily to a double bogey.
• Never give up, you never know when a holed fairway shot could lead to an birdie and 2 points.  A player could be ten points down with nine holes left to play and can make up the difference very quickly.
• The winner will be the player that hit’s it a ton, makes lot’s of eagles and birdies and finds away to not make worst than a double on any hole.
• Interesting to look at the winners of the International, a tournament that was played between 1986 and 2006 and used the same Stableford system.  Some of the marquee names of winners of the International were Phil Mickelson (twice), Greg Norman, David Toms, Jose Maria Olazabal, Brad Faxon, Retief Goosen, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Davis Love III (twice).  So look for a person that has a name for himself and who knows, maybe a David Toms or a Davis Love III can claim the modified double by winning this week.