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Power Rankings: Barracuda Championship
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August 03, 2021
By Rob Bolton , PGATOUR.COM
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Branden Grace is one to watch this week at the Barracuda Championship. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
If the pressure isn’t palpable with only two weeks of action remaining until the field for the FedExCup Playoffs is determined, then the Barracuda Championship delivers a simplified version of the objective: Score the most points!
Modified Stableford scoring is used for the 10th consecutive edition of the additional event near Lake Tahoe. Old Greenwood at Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, California, returns as host for the second straight year. For snapshot of the course, how it tested in its debut and other details, continue reading beneath the ranking of projected contenders and others to consider.
RELATED: The First Look
POWER RANKINGS: BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP
RANK PLAYER COMMENT 10 
Justin Suh Second consecutive start via open qualifying. A lock for the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, so nothing but bonuses until then. A three-way T3 now would achieve STM and a top 10 gets him into Wyndham.Second consecutive start via open qualifying. A lock for the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, so nothing but bonuses until then. A three-way T3 now would achieve STM and a top 10 gets him into Wyndham.
9 
Mito Pereira Fair to wonder how much energy he has left after going T5-T6-T4 from Kentucky to Minnesota to Japan, but the work isn’t done. At 178th in FedExCup, he’s close enough to threaten at his pace.
Fair to wonder how much energy he has left after going T5-T6-T4 from Kentucky to Minnesota to Japan, but the work isn’t done. At 178th in FedExCup, he’s close enough to threaten at his pace.
8 
Thomas Pieters The former PGA TOUR member (2017-18) from Belgium has made six starts this season, four of which resulting in a top 25. Travels from finishing T16 in his second Olympic Games.
The former PGA TOUR member (2017-18) from Belgium has made six starts this season, four of which resulting in a top 25. Travels from finishing T16 in his second Olympic Games.
7 
Chez Reavie Since climbing out of a rut with a T14 at Congaree, he’s 6-for-7 with four top 25s. The Old Greenwood debutant and tee-to-green surgeon ranks fifth in both fairways hit and proximity to the hole.
Since climbing out of a rut with a T14 at Congaree, he’s 6-for-7 with four top 25s. The Old Greenwood debutant and tee-to-green surgeon ranks fifth in both fairways hit and proximity to the hole.
6 
Brandt Snedeker No stranger to success this far west and on Poa, he’ll be relying on accuracy off tees and dangerous putter to make noise. Solid four months includes six top 20s, including in last two starts.
No stranger to success this far west and on Poa, he’ll be relying on accuracy off tees and dangerous putter to make noise. Solid four months includes six top 20s, including in last two starts.
5 
Brian Stuard The 38-year-old has earned this attention having gone T8-T15-T6 upon arrival with 18 consecutive rounds of par or better. Slots second on the PGA TOUR in fairways hit and T10 in proximity.
The 38-year-old has earned this attention having gone T8-T15-T6 upon arrival with 18 consecutive rounds of par or better. Slots second on the PGA TOUR in fairways hit and T10 in proximity.
4 
Emiliano Grillo Nothing but leaderboard lurking sprinkled into weekends off for months, so there’s reason to believe. Shared ninth here last year. Leads TOUR in proximity and par-4 scoring; fifth in GIR.
Nothing but leaderboard lurking sprinkled into weekends off for months, so there’s reason to believe. Shared ninth here last year. Leads TOUR in proximity and par-4 scoring; fifth in GIR.
3 
Ryan Moore A co-runner-up at TPC Deere Run contributes heavily to his spot at 140th in the FedExCup, so instead of relying on a medical to open 2021-22, the Playoffs are within reach. T12 here a year ago.
A co-runner-up at TPC Deere Run contributes heavily to his spot at 140th in the FedExCup, so instead of relying on a medical to open 2021-22, the Playoffs are within reach. T12 here a year ago.
2 
Maverick McNealy Among most balanced throughout the bag, lone weakness of inexperience erodes with every start. Since Colonial in late May, he’s 5-for-5 with four top 25s. Solo seventh here last year.
Among most balanced throughout the bag, lone weakness of inexperience erodes with every start. Since Colonial in late May, he’s 5-for-5 with four top 25s. Solo seventh here last year.
1 
Branden Grace He has unfinished business after withdrawing while positioned just two points back at the 2020 midpoint due to COVID-19. Winner in Puerto Rico earlier in 2021. Two tops in last four starts.
He has unfinished business after withdrawing while positioned just two points back at the 2020 midpoint due to COVID-19. Winner in Puerto Rico earlier in 2021. Two tops in last four starts.
OTHERS TO CONSIDER
• Brandon Hagy … Sends it silly distances, so the thinner air at Old Greenwood will have him converting measurements greater than most, but he fared just fine en route to a T12 last year. Recently finished T6 in Detroit and T18 in the Quad Cities.
• Aaron Wise … Finished eighth here last year, which doesn’t hurt, but it’s his consistently stronger form upon arrival that supports this endorsement. He’s connected six cuts made with a pair of T9s and a T17 (PGA Championship) in the last three months.
• Ryan Armour … The 45-year-old isn’t riding off into the sunset just yet. With a T5 at the Barbasol and a T6 at the 3M, he’s risen 26 spots to 117th in the FedExCup. Remains stealthily solid off the tee (third in accuracy), on approach (T16 in proximity) and on the greens (36th in Strokes Gained: Putting).
The PGA TOUR finds the most exotic and envious locations to conduct its tournaments, but it’s almost cruel to host a competition of this magnitude with the picturesque backdrop of the pines, firs, cedars and other flora of Tahoe National Forest. Then again, who would expect anything different? Worst case for those who miss the cut, they’re already in a natural retreat.
Old Greenwood is a par 71 with a trio of par 5s, but only one is found in the last two-thirds of the walk that extends to 7,425 yards. The 551-yard 12th hole is the last reasonable shot at eagle and five points as rewarded by the Modified Stableford format. In fact, only two of the holes on the inward side are among the seven easiest on the course, so capitalizing on Nos. 1-9 is Plan A.
At least it would seem.
Of 20 par breakers en route to his breakthrough victory last year, Richy Werenski converted both eagles and six of his birdies on the way in. He also squared seven bogeys (minus-1 point per) but held on for a one-point victory with 39 points. It’s the lowest aggregate since the scoring system was introduced to the Barracuda Championship in 2012.
The par-5 second hole tips at 631 yards and played a fraction harder than the par-4 eighth hole capable of stretching just 357 yards. At an altitude of 6,000 feet, it’s comfortably drivable for most, evidenced by seven eagles a year ago. (No. 2 yielded only four eagles.) The par-4 11th and 16th holes list at just 345 yards and 396 yards, respectively, thus multiplying the chances throughout the tournament to think 2 off the tee.
Greens average a relatively cozy 5,300 square feet but bogeys and worse aren’t as penal as birdies and better are beneficial, so an aggressive mindset is preferred, albeit with two hands on the wheel at all times and a little daylight between the bottom of the accelerator and the floorboard. ShotLink is not maintained for the tournament.
The bent-Poa annua blend of grass on the greens will present a true roll amid perfect weather conditions all week, but speed is governed to 11-and-a-half on the Stimpmeter. This is in part due to the undulations on the Jack Nicklaus Signature surfaces but also winds that could gust to 25 mph. Breezes will be sustained at 10-20 mph.
The 75 in the field who gave Old Greenwood a go in its debut will experience a pair of notable modifications. First, due to an enlarged tee box on the par-4 13th hole, it’s now 35 yards longer at 522 yards. The other impact is widespread throughout the property. After standing three-and-a-half inches last year, the primary rough now scales to only two inches. This is primary due to a challenging winter.
The champion will receive 300 FedExCup points and a two-year membership exemption through 2022-23 (or an additional year up to five if already exempt through that season), as well as exemptions into the 2022 editions of the Sentry Tournament of Champions, THE PLAYERS Championship and the PGA Championship, but the most important task at hand is merely qualifying for the Playoffs. In truth, that is Plan A.
ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE
PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled.
MONDAY: Power Rankings (WGC-St. Jude)
TUESDAY*: Power Rankings (Barracuda), Sleepers (WGC-St. Jude), Fantasy Insider
SUNDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions,
* - Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.
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