PGA Tour Tips & Preview
Barracuda Championship 2020 Preview
Starts - 30th July 2020
Course - Tahoe Mountain Club (Old Greenwood)
Par - 71 (36-35)
Length – 7,390 yards
2019 Champion - Collin Morikawa
Course - Tahoe Mountain Club (Old Greenwood)
Par - 71 (36-35)
Length – 7,390 yards
2019 Champion - Collin Morikawa
Course Info
Opened in 2004, Old Greenwood is a Jack Nicklaus designed course. It hosts the Barracuda Championship for the first time, the event having been played at Montreux Golf & Country Club in recent times.
Normally a par 72, the course will play as a 71 for the pros with three par 5s and four 3s. The most significant factor to be aware of is the altitude, with the course being situated 6,000 feet above sea level. The ball will fly further and players who have proven experience of playing at such elevation will be at an advantage.
Old Greenwood is a classic risk reward course with three driveable par 4s, the 8th, 11th and 16th. Eagles will very much be up for grabs this week despite there being only three par 5s.
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
Continue to exercise an abundance of caution (credit: Chase Koepka and the PGA Tour) in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals.
This event uses a modified stableford format rather than traditional strokeplay. The format rewards aggressive play with five points awarded for an eagle, two for a birdie and zero for a par. Negative points are awarded for bogey or worse.
Trends
The last three champions have been first time winners on the PGA Tour so it is very much a format to side with players looking for a first win.
Stats Analysis
With this being a new course we cannot provide any insight into the type of player suited. Aggressive types who make plenty of birdies and eagles are preferred.
In-play
We have no in-play history to draw upon. However, the format lends itself to leaders and Collin Morikawa was only the second winner who didn't hold at least a share of the 54 hole lead.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our Barracuda Championship in-play page*
Opened in 2004, Old Greenwood is a Jack Nicklaus designed course. It hosts the Barracuda Championship for the first time, the event having been played at Montreux Golf & Country Club in recent times.
Normally a par 72, the course will play as a 71 for the pros with three par 5s and four 3s. The most significant factor to be aware of is the altitude, with the course being situated 6,000 feet above sea level. The ball will fly further and players who have proven experience of playing at such elevation will be at an advantage.
Old Greenwood is a classic risk reward course with three driveable par 4s, the 8th, 11th and 16th. Eagles will very much be up for grabs this week despite there being only three par 5s.
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
Continue to exercise an abundance of caution (credit: Chase Koepka and the PGA Tour) in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals.
This event uses a modified stableford format rather than traditional strokeplay. The format rewards aggressive play with five points awarded for an eagle, two for a birdie and zero for a par. Negative points are awarded for bogey or worse.
Trends
The last three champions have been first time winners on the PGA Tour so it is very much a format to side with players looking for a first win.
Stats Analysis
With this being a new course we cannot provide any insight into the type of player suited. Aggressive types who make plenty of birdies and eagles are preferred.
In-play
We have no in-play history to draw upon. However, the format lends itself to leaders and Collin Morikawa was only the second winner who didn't hold at least a share of the 54 hole lead.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our Barracuda Championship in-play page*
Barracuda Championship - Six To Watch
As outlined in our Tipping Record, our strategy is to focus on speciality bets and value in-play. However, we have identified the following six players if you do wish to place a bet before the event begins:
Pat Perez - 50/1 @ Spreadex
Pat isn't seeking his first win on the PGA Tour but his form is trending nicely as he's recorded finishes of 45-39-23 in his last three starts. He ranked 19th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green last week at the 3M Open and had a 2nd place in this format in 2011. He's a three time PGA Tour winner who can go close.
Robbie Shelton - 80/1 @ William Hill
Robbie did very well at the 3M Open last week. He ranked 2nd Strokes Gained: Tee to Green on his way to 3rd place and given he is a player who can maintain a hot streak, he's one to be kept onside. He won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour last season and very much fits the bill of a young player looking for his first win on the PGA Tour.
Denny McCarthy - 80/1 @ Betfred
Denny finished 32nd last week but on closer inspection there's reason to think he'll go well here. He was quoted last week saying he has been working "really hard" and feels like he is playing "really good golf" at the moment. An aggressive player, he ranks 21st in birdie average this season on the PGA Tour. He won the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in 2018 and he's ready to make the step up to win on the PGA Tour.
Doug Ghim - 125/1 @ Betfred
Doug is a former amateur number 1 who was the 2018 Ben Hogan award winner, given to the best collegiate golfer in the USA. Almost every winner of this award has won on tour so Doug is very much one to keep an eye on in these lower grade events where young players thrive.
He finished 18th at last week's 3M Open and he has also shown he can play well at altitude, having recorded two of his best three career finishes in these conditions (8th at 2018 Omega European Masters and 3rd at 2018 Country Club de Bogota Championship). He also has a 23rd at this event in 2018, albeit at a different venue.
Brandon Harkins - 125/1 @ Sportingbet
A bit of a punt but Brandon will have a significant advantage over the field as he has played the course over 20 times. His family owned a house in the area. He's shown a liking for altitude, finishing 9th in this event in 2018 and comes into this having finished 17th last week on the Korn Ferry Tour. He also boasts a 2nd place and 6th on that tour this season. The price is a little skinny but Brandon is a former PGA Tour player who may use this opportunity to catapult him back onto the Tour. He also has the Nappy Factor going for him, his first son Jackson being born at the end of 2019.
Hank Lebioda - 175/1 @ Spreadex
Hank ranks 28th in holes per eagle on the PGA Tour this season and 6th in par 4 eagles made which may be important given the three driveable par 4s. He placed 26th at the 3M Open, ranking 10th Strokes Gained: Tee To Green in the process. He's an improving player who could go well if he putts a little better.
Note - Sam Burns narrowly missed out on the Six To Watch this week and we would suggest he's one to keep an eye on in-play.
Pat Perez - 50/1 @ Spreadex
Pat isn't seeking his first win on the PGA Tour but his form is trending nicely as he's recorded finishes of 45-39-23 in his last three starts. He ranked 19th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green last week at the 3M Open and had a 2nd place in this format in 2011. He's a three time PGA Tour winner who can go close.
Robbie Shelton - 80/1 @ William Hill
Robbie did very well at the 3M Open last week. He ranked 2nd Strokes Gained: Tee to Green on his way to 3rd place and given he is a player who can maintain a hot streak, he's one to be kept onside. He won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour last season and very much fits the bill of a young player looking for his first win on the PGA Tour.
Denny McCarthy - 80/1 @ Betfred
Denny finished 32nd last week but on closer inspection there's reason to think he'll go well here. He was quoted last week saying he has been working "really hard" and feels like he is playing "really good golf" at the moment. An aggressive player, he ranks 21st in birdie average this season on the PGA Tour. He won the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in 2018 and he's ready to make the step up to win on the PGA Tour.
Doug Ghim - 125/1 @ Betfred
Doug is a former amateur number 1 who was the 2018 Ben Hogan award winner, given to the best collegiate golfer in the USA. Almost every winner of this award has won on tour so Doug is very much one to keep an eye on in these lower grade events where young players thrive.
He finished 18th at last week's 3M Open and he has also shown he can play well at altitude, having recorded two of his best three career finishes in these conditions (8th at 2018 Omega European Masters and 3rd at 2018 Country Club de Bogota Championship). He also has a 23rd at this event in 2018, albeit at a different venue.
Brandon Harkins - 125/1 @ Sportingbet
A bit of a punt but Brandon will have a significant advantage over the field as he has played the course over 20 times. His family owned a house in the area. He's shown a liking for altitude, finishing 9th in this event in 2018 and comes into this having finished 17th last week on the Korn Ferry Tour. He also boasts a 2nd place and 6th on that tour this season. The price is a little skinny but Brandon is a former PGA Tour player who may use this opportunity to catapult him back onto the Tour. He also has the Nappy Factor going for him, his first son Jackson being born at the end of 2019.
Hank Lebioda - 175/1 @ Spreadex
Hank ranks 28th in holes per eagle on the PGA Tour this season and 6th in par 4 eagles made which may be important given the three driveable par 4s. He placed 26th at the 3M Open, ranking 10th Strokes Gained: Tee To Green in the process. He's an improving player who could go well if he putts a little better.
Note - Sam Burns narrowly missed out on the Six To Watch this week and we would suggest he's one to keep an eye on in-play.
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