Ryan Gerard's First PGA Tour Win Proves 'Weak Field' Tournaments Deserve Far More Respect

The Barracuda uses modified Stableford scoring, where aggressive play gets rewarded and conservative golf gets punished. Gerard accumulated 47 points over four rounds, beating 2021 champion Erik van Rooyen by three points. That final-round performance, where Gerard managed 13 points despite challenging conditions, separated him from a field that included several players desperate for their first win.

This victory changed Gerard's life. Those 300 FedEx Cup points moved him from No. 42 to No. 28 in the standings, locking up his playoff spot and securing his 2026 tour card. Try telling Gerard his win doesn't matter while he's depositing that $720,000 winner's check.

The Barracuda has become a breakthrough factory. Since adopting Stableford scoring in 2012, seven other players captured their first tour wins there. The format rewards risk-taking over grinding, and the field composition gives hungry players room to breathe without Scottie or Rory breathing down their necks.

I understand the argument about field strength, but here's the reality: Every tour victory requires playing better than everyone else that week. Gerard didn't choose his field; he beat it. Van Rooyen, who has three top-10 finishes in three Barracuda appearances, wasn't exactly giving wins away.

This is the 11th first-time winner this season. Each breakthrough represents years of mini-tour grinding, Monday qualifiers, missed cuts and dreams deferred. Gerard spent nearly four years earning this moment.

Golf's beauty isn't just watching Scottie Scheffler collect another trophy. It's watching dreams come true for players like Gerard, who seized his chance when it came. Every tour event matters because every tour player's career matters.

The only asterisk on Gerard's victory should read: "First of many."