Three former champions in the field as PGA Barracuda tees off this week at Old Greenwood

Update : Two former champions withdrew from the Barracuda this week, Richy Werenski and Erik van Rooyen.

The 26th PGA Barracuda Championship returns this week at Tahoe Mountain Club’s Old Greenwood Golf Course near Truckee, and this year's field includes three former winners competing for a share of the tournament’s $4 million purse.

The Barracuda Championship, set for Thursday-Sunday, also has seven player exemptions, including one for Scott Piercy. Piercy won in 2011 when the area's PGA Tour stop was held at Montreux Golf & Country Club in South Reno.

Tickets are on sale and will be sold online only at BarracudaChampionship.com.

Tickets for Thursday are $35; Friday and Saturday are $50 and Sunday is $40. Parking passes are sold separately.

This year, the Barracuda Championship is flipping the nines during tournament week, which means there will be two par-5 holes on the back nine and a drivable hole on No. 17.

Barracuda exemptions include:

• Barclay Brown
• Mats Ege
• Patrick Newcomb
• Ryan Palmer
• Mitchell Schow (2024 Reno Open Winner)
• Neal Shipley
• Scott Piercy

Past champions in the field include:

• 2022 winner Chez Reavie
• 2018 winner Andrew Putnam
• 2011 winner Scott Piercy

Players currently in the top 70 in FedEx Cup standings include:

• Patrick Rodgers (50)
• Peter Malnati (55)
• Mark Hubbard (60)
• Luke List (68)

Fans at home can watch the tournament live on the Golf Channel from 2-5 p.m. daily.

The Barracuda Championship is the only event on the PGA Tour featuring the Modified Stableford scoring format, which encourages aggressive play. Golfers earn 8 points for a double eagle, 5 for an eagle, 2 for a birdie, 0 for a par; minus-1 for a bogey and minus-3 for a double bogey or worse.

The event begins with pro-ams and practice days for the players with several community events, including Junior Golf Day, kicking off the week. Tournament play begins Thursday, and all children under age 15 get in free with a ticketed adult, courtesy of SFI Health.

The Bike to Barracuda initiative returns, providing fans with a marked route through downtown Truckee and forest areas to a special entrance behind the No. 12 tee. Fans will receive $10 off a general admission ticket and one free beer courtesy of 5050 Brewing Co.

A limited number of military members and first responders with proper verification will receive complimentary tickets to the Barracuda Championship tournament.

Parking and daily grounds tickets must be purchased in advance; no onsite ticket purchases will be available.

The Barracuda Championship is one of 47 full field stops during the PGA Tour Season and is part of the race to the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai.

This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Three former champions in the field as PGA Barracuda tees off this week at Old Greenwood