The PGA Tour Barracuda Championship teed off today in Reno, and its standing is "much safer now, due to gaining Barracuda as a title sponsor, and thanks to the Montreux community voting to retain" the event through at least '19, according to Jim Krajewski of the RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL. The event is also "contributing to how the Reno/Tahoe area is perceived by the rest of the country." California-based tech-security firm Barracuda "will be the title sponsor" through '18, "ending those early fears that the rug could be pulled out at any time." Tournament Dir Chris Hoff said, "To have a globally, publicly-traded company invest significantly in this market is huge for us. It brings stability and security." Krajewski noted it is "not just Barracuda lending financial support," as Microsoft was "on board as a sponsor" for yesterday's pro-am. Hoff said that the Eldorado Hotel & Casino has also been a "long-time supporter of the PGA event at Montreux, as well as NV Energy and AT&T." Last summer, the tournament was "moved to the first week in July," due to the Rio Games being in August, which "slightly hurt attendance." Hoff "estimated total weekly attendance last year was in the 40,000 to 50,000 range." In previous years, the event has been "held at the same time" as the celebrity American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe, which "lowered attendance." This year it is also an "encumbered event," with the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational taking place this week in Akron (RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL, 7/30).
