Steve Palmer's Barracuda Championship predictions & free golf betting tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the Barracuda Championship at Old Greenwood on the PGA Tour.

Best bets

Maverick McNealy
3pts each-way 18-1 Betfair, Power
Scott Stallings
1.5pts each-way 50-1 Betfair, Power
Aaron Wise
1.5pts each-way 33-1 Betfair, BoyleSports, Power
Brandon Hagy
1pt each-way 66-1 Betfred
Beau Hossler
1pt each-way 50-1 Betfred, Hills

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Steve Palmer's top tip

Maverick McNealy 18-1

Former world number one amateur Maverick McNealy has fully settled on the PGA Tour, posting five consecutive top-30s, and a maiden title could be coming in his home state of California. He was runner-up at Pebble Beach in February, fourth in the Heritage in April and seventh in the Barracuda at Old Greenwood last year, despite arriving in poor form.

Next best bet

Scott Stallings 50-1

Three-time Tour champion Scott Stallings lifted his last trophy in California at the Farmers Insurance Open in a much better field than he tackles this week. He has become fitness freak over the last couple of years and results have improved, including fifth place at Old Greenwood last year and third spot in the Byron Nelson in May.

Other selections

Aaron Wise 33-1

Brandon Hagy 66-1

Beau Hossler 50-1

Aaron Wise closed with a round of 19 points to finish eighth in the 2020 Barracuda. He arrived in dismal form but fell in love with the track. This time - after ninth at Quail Hollow, 17th in the PGA and ninth in the Memorial - even better can be expected.

Power-packed Californian Brandon Hagy should destroy the three driveable par-fours. His best result of 2020 came in this event (12th) and after sixth place in the Rocket Mortgage and 18th in the John Deere, expect a bold bid for a maiden title.

Another Californian - Beau Hossler - can also enjoy this home-state gig. The two-time Tour runner-up has posted a top-25 in four of his last six tournaments. Last year he arrived at Old Greenwood off five missed cuts, yet finished 21st.

Old Greenwood course guide

Course Old Greenwood, Tahoe Mountain Golf Club, Truckee, California
Prize money $3.5m ($630,000 to the winner)
Length 7,425 yards
Par 71
Field 132
Format Modified Stableford scoring system. Albatross = eight points; eagle = five; birdie = two; par = zero; bogey = minus one; double-bogey or worse = minus three

Course records- 72 holes +39 Richy Werenski 18 holes +19 Aaron Wise

Course winner taking part Richy Werenski

When to bet By 3pm on Thursday

Time difference California is eight hours behind the UK and Ireland

Course type Parkland

Course overview Montreux Country Club, Reno, Nevada, staged this event from 1999 to 2019, but a Old Greenwood took over last year. Jack Nicklaus is the designer of both tracks. The layout features a mountain backdrop in the High Sierras, with tall pines lining the twisting fairways, and balls fly far at the altitude (almost 6,000 feet). Water hazards and deep bunkers guard large, fast, severely undulating greens. There are three driveable par-fours.

Story of last year A finishing flourish from Richy Werenski, which included a pitch-in eagle at the 16th hole, meant he pipped Troy Merritt by a point.

Weather forecast Sunny throughout - temperatures reaching 30C - with some moderate breeze.

Type of player suited to the challenge Accurate approach shots are always essential on Jack Nicklaus-designed layouts – and Old Greenwood is no different – but the greens there are notoriously difficult and a sharp short-game may be even more important

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