The 50 players from the DP World Tour teeing up in the second co-sanctioned event under the new strategic alliance are in for a quintessential PGA Tour experience this week.
While the scoring system is unusual – the modified stableford nonsense that nobody really understands – everything else about the Barracuda Championship is PGA Tour to a tee.
A Jack Nicklaus designed course in a wealthy part of California where skiing is the other seasonal recreation of choice, this is as American as professional golf gets.
Worth noting is major winner and Golf Australia magazine columnist Geoff Ogilvy making the trip from his base in Melbourne to tee it up on the PGA Tour for the first time since he played this very event back in 2018. The Victorian is also a past champion here.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen won’t be defending his title as he will be otherwise engaged in Scotland playing for somewhat more prestigious silverware in the form of a Claret Jug. His win last year set the scoring record (50 points over the 72 holes) and was good for a five point win over Andrew Putnam.
COURSE: Cut through a pine forest at elevation which makes distance calculation interesting, Old Greenwood is – aesthetically at least – spectacular.
But while immaculately groomed in a beautiful setting, there appears little genuinely inspiring about the architecture.
RIGHT: Teeing it up at St. Andrews this week, last year's winner Erik Van Rooyen won't defend his title in California. PHOTO: Alex Goodlet/Getty Images.
It’s a good golf course which is unquestionably difficult for the average player while the deep greenside bunkers and greens featuring some large undulations provide a decent test for the elite.
At 6,000 feet above sea level, it is difficult to design a course that can stand up to the distances achieved by the modern Tour professional and the scoring since the tournament moved here in 2018 reflects that.
Large greens set diagonally to the line of play put a premium on finding the right angle to the putting surfaces though much of that is offset by the distance the elevation affords Tour players.
The greens are big and two putting will be a challenge from the wrong place so good iron play – both distance control and accuracy – will be rewarded with a less stressful time with putter in hand.
PRIZEMONEY: US$3,700,000
RELATED: So-called expert glf tips for this week
PLAYERS TO WATCH: The scoring format really suits the aggressive player who makes a lot of birdies though with points deducted for bogies that theory only stands up to a point.
Maverick McNealy is the highest ranked player in the field for total birdies and has mixed form at this event with one top-10 and one top-20 from three starts.
His recent play has been good with a T16 finish at the Scottish Open last week and a top-10 the week prior at the John Deere so he could be a threat this week.
Perhaps a better statistical guide is the birdie to bogey ratio (yes, that is a stat kept by the PGA Tour) and in that category Mark Hubbard is the man.

He’s ahead of Rory McIlroy and Cameron Smith in that department and better than anybody else in this week’s field.
While he has traditionally not fared well at this tournament (best finish T18 in five tries) he is on a good run of form with seven consecutive cuts made and a third place finish last week in Kentucky.
He won’t be at the top of many people’s betting lists so should also be a good price (if you’re wired that way).
There’s a healthy smattering of Australians in the field and they are not without hope. Cam Davis looks to be especially well suited to this format despite his record not bearing that out (one missed cut and a T32 finish in two attempts).
He is a player who can make birdies in bunches and if he can get on a roll that will hold him in good stead.
72-HOLE RECORD: 50 points (Erik van Rooyen, 2021)
18-HOLE RECORD: 22 points (Kyle Riefers, 2015, Chad Campbell, 2018)
PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Geoff Ogilvy (2014), Greg Chalmers (2016)
AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Brett Drewitt, Aaron Baddeley, Cameron Percy, Greg Chalmers, Geoff Ogilvy, Cam Davis, Scott Hend and Justin Warren (more on how Warren made the field HERE).
TV TIMES*
Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 503 8am – 11am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 8am – 11am)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 8am – 11am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 503 8am – 11am)
*AEST, check local guides
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