Barracuda Championship payouts and points: Akshay Bhatia earns $684,000

In a thrilling sudden-death playoff, Akshay Bhatia emerged victorious at the 25th anniversary of the Barracuda Championship, securing his first-ever PGA TOUR title. The event took place on the picturesque Tahoe Mountain Club's Old Greenwood Course in Truckee, California. Bhatia defeated Patrick Rodgers on the par-4 18th hole to claim the coveted championship.

The tournament utilized the Modified Stableford Scoring system, which had been in place since 2012. Both Bhatia and Rodgers finished regulation with an impressive 40 points each, setting the stage for a dramatic playoff to determine the winner.

For Bhatia, the 21-year-old golfer, this was his 18th start of the season and his 35th as a professional on the PGA TOUR. Despite his young age, Bhatia showcased remarkable experience and talent throughout the tournament, living up to the potential that had been anticipated even before he arrived at this level. His outstanding performance earlier in the season, securing a solo second-place finish at the Puerto Rico Open, granted him Special Temporary Membership (STM), providing him with certain advantages to soar further in his career. However, even with his undeniable skills, oddsmakers had set him at +3500 to win the Barracuda Championship.

On the other hand, Patrick Rodgers, at 31 years old, had an impressive 243 PGA TOUR starts as a professional under his belt, including a record of 8-for-8 across two host tracks for the Barracuda Championship. Rodgers' experience and consistent play made him a favorite with odds set at +3000 to win the event. Although he displayed remarkable skill and determination throughout the tournament, he finished as the runner-up for the fourth time in his career.

Prior to this year's tournament, the Barracuda Championship had seen six consecutive breakthrough champions. However, this time, the defending champion, Chez Reavie, couldn't repeat his success, finishing tied for T55. Reavie's opening line odds were set at +3000, indicating the level of competition and unpredictability the event held.

Among the favorites, there were three players with odds set at +2000: Stephan Jaeger, Keith Mitchell, and Taylor Pendrith. Unfortunately for them, only Stephan Jaeger managed to cash with a T34 finish. Both Mitchell and Pendrith missed the cut, highlighting the challenging nature of the Barracuda Championship.

In terms of earnings and FedExCup points, Bhatia claimed the top spot, taking home a substantial prize of $684,000. However, as a non-member, he did not earn any FedExCup points. Meanwhile, Patrick Rodgers earned $414,200 along with 165.000 FedExCup points for his impressive performance.

Other notable finishers included Jens Dantorp and Julien Guerrier, both non-members, who shared third place with 37 points each, earning $224,200. Ryan Gerard secured the fifth spot with 36 points, taking home $155,800.

The Barracuda Championship proved once again to be a stage for exciting golf action, providing opportunities for both experienced players and rising stars to shine. As the tournament celebrated its 25th anniversary, Akshay Bhatia etched his name in history as the latest first-time winner on the PGA TOUR, signaling a promising future ahead in his professional golfing journey.