The Barracuda Championship is the only event on the PGA TOUR featuring the exciting Modified Stableford scoring format.
What is a Modified Stableford?
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 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.
Scoring at the 2020 Barracuda Championship will look like this:
- Double Eagle: 8 points
- Eagle: 5 points
- Birdie: 2 points
- Par: 0 points
- Bogey: -1 point
- Double Bogey or more: -3 points
Playing Strategy in Modified Stableford Competitions:
The strategy in Modified Stableford formats can, in most instances, be summed up in three words: Go for it. This scoring format will reward 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.
The Barracuda Championship will offer 300 FedExCup points and a purse of $3.5 million.
