"Glad we made that decision" – Ryan Gerard gets real about 'tough' Open Championship call after breakthrough Barracuda Championship win

On Sunday, July 20, Ryan Gerard registered his breakthrough win at the Barracuda Championship 2025. However, before the week began, he was in two minds about whether to fly to Tahoe or head to Portrush as the second alternate. Eventually, he made the decision that helped him lift his first-ever title on the PGA Tour.

Gerard shot a 3-under 68 in the final round to finish with 47 points at Tahoe Golf Club, which was enough to beat Erik van Rooyen by three points and claim the title.

During his winner’s interview, Gerard shed light on the whole situation, revealing how fellow Tar Heel Ben Griffin and other friends convinced him to play at the Barracuda Championship.

"I would've been pissed if I had gotten in The Open and wasn't there," he said. "Had a really good talk with everyone kind of on my team. Fernando my agent orient, Pepsi, caddie, family, everyone and just figured I really like this golf course. I've played well in this area. Feel like it suits my game nicely."

"To go out there and take advantage of the opportunities that you do have because you don't know how many more you're going to get. Glad we made that decision. It was a tough one, but took advantage of the opportunity."

Earlier, Griffin shared a screenshot of his text exchange with Ryan Gerard, in which the latter asked for a suggestion.

Reflecting on his win, Gerard called his win special and said it would take time to realize the emotions.

"It's one of those things that when you're a kid it's just all you dream of doing. Put in a lot of hours trying to get here, and, yeah, it's pretty cool. It's really special. It's something that I can take with me forever and hopefully it's the first of many," he added.

How much did Ryan Gerard win at the Barracuda Championship?

The 2025 Barracuda Championship had a purse of $4 million, and Ryan Gerard took home $720,000 for his maiden win on the PGA Tour. Erik van Rooyen earned $436,000 for his runner-up finish, while Todd Clements received a paycheck of $276,000 for his solo third-place finish.

Here's a payout for the 2025 Barracuda Championship (top 8 and ties):

1. Ryan Gerard - $720,000
2. Erik van Rooyen - $436,000
3. Todd Clements - $276,000
T4. Beau Hossler - $168,333
T4. Max McGreevy - $168,333
T4. Jacques Kruyswijk - $168,333
7. Jackson Suber - $135,000
T8. David Skinns - $117,000
T8. Jason Scrivener - $117,000
T8. Rico Hoey - $117,000

About the author

Shobhit is one of Sportskeeda’s most seasoned golf journalists, having already authored 3600+ articles and received nearly 5.7 million reads. Prior to his current role, he worked with the Asiana Times after completing his MSc in Geology, giving him a solid foundation in understanding the terrain, variety and challenges posed by various golf courses.

He is a keen follower of the sport and keeps himself updated about the latest trends, news and updates via social media and various news platforms. Shobhit is also methodical about accuracy, going through multiple articles from leading media houses and reputed sources before writing his own. Simultaneously, he specializes in writing reader-friendly content that conveys the necessary information in simple language.

Shobhit was a fan of Tiger Woods growing up, but of late, Nelly Korda, Scottie Scheffler and Ludvig Aberg have caught his attention.

He likes to spend his downtime singing and writing, while he is also an avid watcher of cricket and tennis.

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Edited by Shobhit Kukreti