PGA Tour returns to modified Stableford scoring system for Reno-Tahoe Open

Reno-Tahoe Open preview

Golfmagic Tour

31 Jul 2012

PGA Tour returns to modified Stableford scoring system for Reno-Tahoe Open

For the first time since The International in 2006, the PGA Tour makes a welcome return to the modified Stableford scoring system at this week's Reno-Tahoe Open at Montreux Golf & Country Club.

The modified Stableford system differs from standard strokeplay in that points are awarded based on a player's score on each hole, rewarding good play and punishing bad play.

In the modified system, eight points are awarded for an albatross, five for an eagle, two for a birdie, zero for par, minus one for bogey and minus three for a double-bogey or worse.

“The Tour believes there is merit to this format for Reno,” said the PGA Tour's vice president Andy Pazder. “The modified Stableford system not only promotes aggressive play, which the tournament is already known for, but Montreux lends itself well to this exciting format with its series of challenging finishing holes.”

There was no better example of the modified scoring system at its finest than in 2002 at Castle Pines when Rich Beem held a nine-point lead after making eagle on the par-5 17th, only for Steve Lowery to make albatross on the same hole to slice the advantage to one.

Lowery also made an eagle and a birdie over his final five holes, but a par on the 18th left him one point shy of Beem.

Padraig Harrington will start as one of the favourites, as he attempts to fine tune his game for next week's US PGA Championship, alongside American quartet Pat Perez, Chris Kirk, JB Holmes and John Rollins.

Last year's champion Scott Piercy is making his debut in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational after qualifying with victory at last week's Canadian Open.