The Barracuda Championship golf tournament is used to going up against some big-time opposition for fans’ attention.
The 2021 edition, though, will be facing a unique competitor on the sports calendar. The Barracuda, which announced dates of Aug. 5-8 earlier this week, will be played during the final stages of the Summer Olympics in Japan.
The PGA Tour’s Barracuda event has been played for 22 years, first at Montreux Golf & Country Club in Reno, then switching to Truckee’s Tahoe Mountain Club last year. It has often been scheduled across from other big events, typically stops on the prestigious World Golf Championship calendar.
The Summer Olympics were originally scheduled for this year, but were postponed due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. The Games are currently scheduled for July 23 to Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo.
The PGA Tour announced its 2020-21 schedule Wednesday, featuring 50 “regular-season” events — the most since 1975 (51). The Barracuda will once again be opposite a WGC event, as the St. Jude Invitational in Memphis is scheduled for the same dates.
Richy Werenski is the defending Barracuda champion, winning last month’s event by a single point over two-time runner-up Troy Merritt.
Werenski made an eagle on the par-4 No. 16, for +5 points, and then made a birdie on No. 18.
Werenski, who is getting married in December, grabbed the lead on the 18th hole with a birdie for +2 points. He finished with +39 points.
