MODIFIED STABLEFORD

The Barracuda Championship is the only event on the PGA TOUR featuring the Modified Stableford scoring format. Experience the excitement of this unique format for yourself at the 2024 tournament at Old Greenwood Golf Course at Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, CA.

Rather than counting the total number of strokes taken as in typical stroke play golf, a Modified Stableford involves scoring points based on the number of strokes taken at each hole. Good play earns points and poor play takes away points. Unlike traditional scoring methods where the aim is to have the lowest score, the objective in a Modified Stableford is to have the highest score. The number of points awarded on each hole is determined based on the comparison of the number of strokes to par. Once a player has taken two strokes more than par, a double bogey, they may pick up their ball as it is then not possible to score any points on that hole and he cannot lose any additional points. They can then resume play on the next hole.

DOUBLE EAGLE | 8 POINTS

Rhein Gibson made a Double Eagle on hole #18 during the 2016 Barracuda Championship. For his 2 on par 5, Rhein earned a $100,000 bonus which was donated to charity.

EAGLE | 5 POINTS

Gary Woodland made his Eagle on the 2nd hole during the 2013 Barracuda Championship, which led to his second TOUR victory. Relive the excitement.

BIRDIE | 2 POINTS

In 2020, Richy Werenski’s closing birdie won him the Barracuda Championship by just one point – giving him his first PGA TOUR victory.

PAR | 0 POINTS
BOGEY | -1 POINT
DOUBLE BOGEY OR MORE | -3 POINTS

The strategy in Modified Stableford formats can, in most instances, be summed up in three words: Go for it. This scoring format rewards risk-taking on the golf course. For instance, if the professional is facing a carry over water that he normally wouldn’t try, the Modified Stableford format presents an incentive to go for it. A birdie is worth twice as many positive points (2) as a bogey is worth punitive points (-1). Eagles offer huge payoffs (5 points) and the worst a player could possibly do would be a double bogey (-3 points) at which point he could pick up his ball and carry on to the next hole. Those golfers who make a few bogeys but also make a lot of birdies or eagles are more likely to be atop the leaderboards.