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

When to bet on the Barracuda Championship

By 3pm on Thursday

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Where can I watch the Barracuda Championship

Live on Sky Sports Golf from 10pm on Thursday

Steve Palmer's Barracuda Championship predictions

Nick Dunlap
3pts each-way 40-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Chan Kim
3pts each-way 28-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Brandon Wu
1pt each-way 90-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

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Steve Palmer's Barracuda Championship preview

The Barracuda Championship provides gainful employment for 156 souls who were unable to qualify for the Open Championship, with world number 59 Taylor Pendrith the highest-ranked player in the line-up.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Nick Dunlap 40-1

Rising star Nick Dunlap won a much better PGA Tour event than this one at the start of the year – The American Express – and the 20-year-old powerhouse should make an impact in the Barracuda Championship.

Dunlap won the AmEx when still an amateur – he was the best in the world at that point – then turned professional immediately. The youngster understandably took time to settle having suddenly gone from college golf to the PGA Tour, but 11th place in the Houston Open at the end of March was encouraging.

A share of 12th in the Memorial – a Signature Event – was another excellent effort, and tenth place in the Rocket Mortgage Classic last month was also commendable. This attacking player is well suited to the Barracuda format, as he showed when firing a round of 60 on his way to winning the AmEx, and he will be pleased to be back in the Golden State. His maiden Tour title came in California and his second may as well.

Next best bet

Chan Kim 28-1

Experienced campaigner Chan Kim won two Korn Ferry Tour events last season, making great career strides in his homeland after eight victories on the Japan Tour, and he will fear nobody in this week's dismal Barracuda line-up.

Kim has enjoyed six top-20s on the PGA Tour this year. He was 12th in the John Deere Classic the week before last, then tenth in the ISCO Championship on Sunday, closing with a 63, outscoring everyone in the field in round four.

Seven of the last eight Barracuda champions were maidens and Kim looks the most likely candidate to bolster that statistic.

Other selection

Brandon Wu 90-1

A Californian youngster won this event 12 months ago – Akshay Bhatia enjoyed the conditions – and another one should go close this week. Brandon Wu, who was born just a three-hour drive from this venue, went to Stanford University and will feel at ease in Truckee.

Wu won the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour Championship and looked like one of the most promising players in the sport. He has twice finished second on the PGA Tour and twice finished third. Tenth place in the ISCO Championship on Sunday was a timely return to form and he looks a lively runner at generous odds.

Course guide for the Barracuda Championship

• Course Old Greenwood, Tahoe Mountain Golf Club, Truckee, California
• Prize money $4m ($684,000 to the winner)
• Length 7,480 yards
• Par 71 – three par-fives; 11 par-fours; four par-threes
• Field 156 The cut Top 65 and ties qualify for round three
• Highest-ranked players in field (world ranking in brackets) Taylor Pendrith (59), Jake Knapp (70), Nick Dunlap (71), Peter Malnati (76), Luke List (78)
• Course records - 72 holes +50 Erik van Rooyen 18 holes +22 Kyle Reifers, Chad Campbell
• Course winner taking part Chez Reavie
• Format The Modified Stableford scoring system was introduced for the first time in 2012, allocating points based on the number of shots taken at each hole. Albatross = eight points; eagle = five; birdie = two; par = zero; bogey = minus one; double-bogey or worse = minus three
• When to bet By 3pm on Thursday
• When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf from 10pm on Thursday
• Time difference California is eight hours behind the UK and Ireland
• Course type Parkland
• Course overview The Jack Nicklaus-designed Old Greenwood has hosted since 2020. It usually plays as a par 72, but the tenth hole is a par-four for the Tour professionals. Balls fly far at the altitude (almost 6,000 feet). The second shot is usually more difficult than the first – with water hazards and deep bunkers guarding the fast, severely undulating greens
• Story of last year Akshay Bhatia defeated Patrick Rodgers in a playoff of two PGA Tour maidens
• Weather forecast Sunny, warm and calm throughout
• Type of player suited to the challenge Accurate approach shots are always essential on Jack Nicklaus-designed layouts but the greens at Old Greenwood are notoriously difficult and a sharp short-game may be even more important
• Key attribute Touch

Steve Palmer's Barracuda Championship key stat

Seven of the last eight Barracuda champions were PGA Tour maidens

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For those looking for even more extensive golf coverage don't miss Palmer's extra pointers every Wednesday in the Racing Post newspaper.

As well as his tips and insight you will also get expert spotlight comments for all players in our extensive PGA Tour and DP Tour price comparison grids which include course and recent form, plus Palmer's unique attribute icons to help identify the type of players likely to be suited to conditions each week.