3M done, it’s on to Reno and some Stableford stuff for Atwal

By Rahul Banerji

With a less than ideal Minnesota campaign behind him, Arjun Atwal is off to Nevada next for the only event that uses the modified Stableford scoring system on the PGA Tour.

Atwal brought in a 5-under par 66 and a 7-under 277 aggregate for tied 53^rd place at the 3M Open on Sunday with rounds of 73, 67, 71 and 66 and will now need to shift focus completely.

The Barracuda Championship in Reno, which is Atwal’s next stop, uses a system that rewards high numbers, as against the low scores that professionals normally seek at their match-play events.

Thus, at Nevada, it is the player with the highest score that emerges winner. That also means plenty of gambling based on the scoring system, quite appropriate considering Las Vegas in not too far away.

Risk vs reward

In the modified scramble format, players earn points based on the number of strokes taken to complete each hole.

At Reno, a double eagle or albatross will be worth eight points, an eagle five points, a birdie two points and nothing for par.

Scores over par attract negative points, a bogey will be worth minus one, and a double bogey or more minus three, This is where the fun comes in with the risk-reward balance.

In a primer on the PGA Tour website, Jonas Blixt explained it thus: “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).

Huge payoffs

“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 leader-boards.”

Simple and elegant from the Swede.

So this is what Atwal will be up against next, and will surely hope his putter holds up better than it did at the 3M Open and Rocket Mortgage Classic, his only two starts in the resumed season so far.

After that it’s on to the Wyndham Championship from August 13. What will make it special that this is the 10th anniversary year of Atwal’s (and India’s) only PGA Tour victory among his 15 wins overall.

Also read: Leaner, fitter Atwal out to enjoy his new self on golf course