The PGA Tour also continues on this week as it visits the Old Greenwood course at Tahoe Mountain Club for the 2023 Barracuda Championship. The second straight week where both events are co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, this event serves as a unique outlier on tour, as this event is the only tournament scored on the Modified Stableford scoring system. With only 5 of the top 100 players in the Official World Golf Ranking playing this week, the odds we have another first time winner are extremely high. The Old Greenwood course will play as a Par 71, 7,480 yard layout this week, and with the course sitting a mere 6,000 feet above sea level, the Happy Gilmore long bombers off the tee are going to be hitting the ball even further than ever. Last year’s edition was won by Chez Reavie, who picked up his third career PGA Tour victory after holding off a Sunday charge from Alex Noren to win by a single point.
Sam Bennett is an amateur who made a run at the Masters in April and while he has had some decent events, I just don’t see this being a solid week for him. He is a crowd favorite because of his demeanor, but I think he lacks the experience for this course setup. While everyone hopes he continues playing solid enough to make PGA Tour cuts, I think his lack of consistency will get him here. A missed cut is what I am predicting on a tough course like this one.
Dark Horse:
I’m not sure why Grayson Murray has such high odds for this event, as he has been playing solid. I also love the fact that Grayson is aggressive and that is the kind of player to play well in this different scoring event. Murray has what it takes and he has been playing well, with a 63 and 64 in his last two starts on the tour. I wouldn’t categorize him as a dark horse, but odds say otherwise.
Top 10:
Taylor Pendrith has been another player that seems to be heating things up with his last few starts. We have seen him go low more than just a couple of times, but it will be up to him to string it all together for one event. He will easily make the top ten if he continues playing to his strengths. He is a solid putter from inside 10’, so let’s see if he can use that magic to post some solid rounds this week.
Winner:
Mark Hubbard has been playing well over the course of his last 6 starts on the tour. Three top tens leave us believing he has found his happy place and is just warming up. This course requires great approach shots into the greens and this is one of his strengths. Also, up and downs are crucial at this course, with the track being difficult on those approach shots. If you want to win this event, you have to help yourself and make up and downs and Hubbard is above the average with this as well. His demeanor seems calmer in the last few tournaments, so let’s see if he can keep that same feeling going.