BlogBarracuda Preview and Picks

Barracuda Championship

July 31 – August 3, 2014

Montreux G. & C.C.

Reno, Nev.

Par: 72 / Yardage: 7,472

Purse: $3 million

with $540,000 to the winner

Defending Champion:
Gary Woodland

by Sal Johnson

Founder, Chief Data Officer, GOLFstats

E-mail me at:
sal@golfstats.com

This week’s field includes:

There is nobody in the top-50 of the world rankings playing in Lake Tahoe.  The field includes 3 of the top 100 in the latest Official World Rankings, #69 George Coetzee, #76 Ben Martin and #80 Nick Watney.

The field includes nobody in the top-42 on the FedEx point standings for 2014.  The highest rank player is #43 Brian Stuard.

The field includes nobody in the top-43 on this year’s PGA Tour money list. The highest rank player is #44 Brian Stuard.

The field includes five past champions: J.J. Henry (2012); Matt Bettencourt (2010), John Rollins (2009), Steve Flesch (2007) and Chris Riley (2002).

A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the Barracuda Championship field is our performance chart listed by average finish.  Another way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at the Barracuda Championship field in the last five years or check out our sortable 8-year glance at the Barracuda Championship field.

A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.

Another cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmaker in Las Vegas.

Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:

Who’s Hot in the field for the Reno-Tahoe Open

Player RBC Canadian Russian Open British Open John Deere Scottish Open The Greenbrier French Open Quicken Loans BMW Inter. Travelers Irish Open U.S. Open FedEx St. Jude
Michael Putnam
(130 pts)
T4
(80)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T35
(10)
DNP T24
(17.33)
DNP T11
(26)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Justin Hicks
(99.67 pts)
3
(90)
DNP DNP T27
(23)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T57
(0)
DNP DNP DNP
Jhonattan Vegas
(85.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP T3
(90)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T31
(12.67)
DNP DNP T32
(6)
Johnson Wagner
(77 pts)
T34
(16)
DNP DNP T7
(55)
DNP T26
(16)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T57
(0)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Andres Romero
(75 pts)
T20
(30)
DNP DNP T45
(5)
DNP T45
(3.33)
DNP T5
(46.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Joe Durant
(73.33 pts)
T12
(38)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T11
(26)
DNP DNP DNP T31
(12.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Brendan Steele
(73.33 pts)
DNP DNP CUT
(-20)
DNP DNP 88
(0)
DNP T5
(46.67)
DNP T5
(46.67)
DNP DNP DNP
Will Wilcox
(72 pts)
T25
(25)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP T4
(53.33)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP T19
(10.33)
Brad Fritsch
(65.33 pts)
T9
(45)
DNP DNP T13
(37)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Scott Langley
(61.67 pts)
DNP DNP DNP T27
(23)
DNP T26
(16)
DNP DNP DNP T11
(26)
DNP T54
(0)
CUT
(-3.33)
George Coetzee
(59.67 pts)
DNP DNP 18
(64)
DNP T41
(9)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP
Chad Campbell
(58.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP T13
(37)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP T7
(36.67)
DNP DNP T46
(1.33)
Retief Goosen
(54.67 pts)
T12
(38)
DNP DNP T59
(0)
DNP DNP DNP T39
(7.33)
DNP T51
(0)
DNP T45
(3.33)
T32
(6)
Aaron Baddeley
(54.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP 4
(53.33)
DNP T23
(18)
DNP
Jamie Lovemark
(47.33 pts)
T12
(38)
DNP DNP T74
(0)
DNP 85
(0)
DNP DNP DNP T31
(12.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Kevin Chappell
(46 pts)
T20
(30)
DNP DNP T52
(0)
DNP T16
(22.67)
DNP T55
(0)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP
Steve Marino
(44.33 pts)
T29
(21)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP T11
(26)
DNP DNP DNP T51
(0)
DNP DNP T28
(7.33)
Nick Watney
(44 pts)
T12
(38)
DNP CUT
(-20)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T30
(13.33)
DNP T11
(26)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
David Toms
(43 pts)
DNP DNP DNP T13
(37)
DNP T26
(16)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
Charlie Beljan
(38 pts)
T64
(0)
DNP DNP T23
(27)
DNP T11
(26)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP WD
(-1.67)
Tim Wilkinson
(34.67 pts)
T53
(0)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP T57
(0)
DNP T24
(17.33)
DNP T18
(21.33)
DNP DNP T32
(6)
Tommy Gainey
(33.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP T27
(23)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP T18
(21.33)
DNP DNP T32
(6)
Davis Love III
(32.67 pts)
DNP DNP DNP T37
(13)
DNP T35
(10)
DNP T39
(7.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T43
(2.33)
Kyle Stanley
(31.33 pts)
T12
(38)
DNP DNP T63
(0)
DNP T35
(10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Ricky Barnes
(25.67 pts)
T43
(7)
DNP DNP T68
(0)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T11
(26)
DNP T46
(2.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)

How Player Rankings are Computed

Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Reno-Tahoe Open

Player RBC Canadian Russian Open British Open John Deere Scottish Open The Greenbrier French Open Quicken Loans BMW Inter. Travelers Irish Open U.S. Open FedEx St. Jude
Y.E. Yang
(-56.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-20)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
David Duval
(-43.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-20)
WD
(-5)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP WD
(-1.67)
Alex Aragon
(-36.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Daniel Chopra
(-36.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Tag Ridings
(-36.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Kevin Foley
(-36.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Scott McCarron
(-35 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP WD
(-1.67)
Mark Wilson
(-33.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP T63
(0)
DNP T86
(0)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
Chad Collins
(-33.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP T70
(0)
DNP T68
(0)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
John Daly
(-30 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-20)
DNP DNP T79
(0)
DNP DNP T66
(0)
T57
(0)
DNP DNP 71
(0)

How Player Rankings are Computed

The Buzz:

For many years many wondered on the viability of this event.  No top players in the field, an event that takes second stage over the Bridgestone.  In a way it’s a shame.  This was Finchem’s grand idea 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.  But that is all over as the folks that ran this event found California base Barracuda Networks to sponsor the event for four years.  This is a great thing for this event.

One of the reasons this event was kept alive was the love the players had for it.  The weather is great, the course is great with players raving about it. Now in it’s 16th year, the field for this year’s Barracuda is good and  we will have this event for a while.

Making this event very different is going to the Modified Stableford system which is a change of pace for a PGA Tour event.  With this change it’s gotten many more excited than a dozen other events that have big time sponsorship but struggle to get a good field.  I feel that more casual golf fans will tune in because it is totally different and fun to watch.

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the Barracuda Championship:

Key stat for the winner:

Aggressive play, that’s the name of the game this week at the Barracuda Championship.  This will be the 3rd year that the Barracuda (sounds strange, doesn’t it) 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).

 

Who to watch for at the Reno-Tahoe Open

Best Bets:

Nick Watney

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
T43 T5 T36 T10

Been a while since he played here, look for a good week out of him.

Andres Romero

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
T2 3 CUT

Was T-2nd last year, 3rd the year before so maybe this is his strong point, the Stableford system.

Brendan Steele

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
4 T8

Does well under this format being in the top-ten the two times he has played in it

Best of the rest:

Retief Goosen

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
First time playing in this event

Playing for the first time, this could be a very good event for him to shine again.

Jonathan Byrd

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
T2 T17 T14 WD T68

Was runner-up last year, seems to do well on this course.

Stuart Appleby

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
T16 T16 T18

Was T-16th last two years, could he be in the running for a big surprise this week?

Ricky Barnes

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
62 T21 CUT CUT

Has the game to do well, just has to do it.

Solid contenders

Johnson Wagner

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
10 T39 T12

Was 10th last year and showing that he is playing good right now.

Rory Sabbatini

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
T7 CUT

Still has some game, this is a good place for him to do well.

Kevin Chappell

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
T14

Someone that could hang around all week and do well on Sunday.

Martin Laird

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
T2 T4

Has a 2nd and a 4th in his two previous starts, yes it was almost a decade ago but he can still do it again.

Long shots that could come through:

Brad Fritsch

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
T20

Playing well and has the experience to do well this week.

J.J. Henry

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
CUT Win T26 T9 T4 T29 T16 T3

If he can get his putting going, could have another great week.

Brian Gay

2013 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03 ’02
T43 T21 T21 T41 T45 T16 5

He surprises you when you least expect it.

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