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PGA Tour: Sanderson Farms Championship Preview

Golfer lines up iron shot

The Sanderson Farms Championship was first staged at the Hattiesburg Country Club in 1968. It then moved to Annandale in 1994, only for the organizers to settle on the Country Club of Jackson five years ago. Though all eyes in the golfing world will be firmly fixed on the events in Surrey this week, this will be the first time that this event actually dominates the PGA Tour stage. 

2019 US PGA Tour | Sanderson Farms Championship
The Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Mississippi
Thursday 19 September – Sunday 22 September 2019

All previous incarnations of this event have been opposite-field affairs. It has played as the opposite event to grandiose occasions as varied as the US Masters and Ryder Cup. So perhaps it’s only fair that this 2nd event of the wraparound series should finally have some added prestige. 

This par 72 course was opened in 1962, though the actual club dates back to more than a century ago. This course is actually an amalgamation of two nine-hole courses (Dogwood and Azalea), both designed by Dick Wilson. The course underwent a significant renovation in 2008 under the guidance of Donald Ross acolyte John Fought. This course is generally quite gettable, with wide fairways and true Bermuda greens. Bermuda specialists such as Brandt Snedeker will look to pounce this week. Recent stats seem to suggest that this could boil down to a straight putting competition. 

With the big boys still absent, this week represents yet another opportunity for an unheralded champion. Joaquin Niemann’s imperious maiden victory last week makes him the betting favourite this week. I personally think it’s unrealistic to expect too much from the young Chilean this week. Recently crowned Rookie of the Year Sung-Jae Im seems to be in contention every time he tees it up.  Elsewhere, the likes of Brian Harman and Aaron Wise will look to exploit the absence of the premier PGA players. 

Past Winners
2018: Cameron Champ (-21)
2017: Ryan Armour (-19)
2016: Cody Gribble (-20)
2015: Peter Malnati (-18)
2014: Nick Taylor (-16)

Outright Betting (To Win)
Joaquin Niemann (12/1)
Sung-Jae Im (14/1)
Brandt Snedeker (18/1)
Scottie Scheffler (25/1)
Byeong-Hun An (25/1)



Value Bets 


Brian Harman
To Win (28/1), To Place (6/1)

Lefty Brian Harman is coming off a brilliant tie for 3rd at the Greenbrier. Harman has had a fairly non-descript 2019 following an extremely encouraging 2018. But the metronomic Harman does tend to perform well in these wraparound events. In 2018 he began the season with six consecutive top 10 finishes. He also won last year’s QBE Shootout alongside Patton Kizzire. While he may not be the most prodigious in length, Harman tends to hustle above his weight in these lesser fields. 


Harris English
To Win (80/1), To Place (17/1)

I really think that Harris English represents great value this week, especially in the place markets.  English stood on the precipice of sustained PGA tour success in 2013, winning two events in the process. But he lost his swing terribly and has had to go down to the Korn Ferry Tour to regain his playing privileges. But English seems to have found something in his swing of late, which alongside his terrific putting makes him a completely different animal. English is coming off of a top 5 at the Greenbrier and he should thrive around this course, which will offer up bountiful opportunities to his eagle-eye putter. 


The Man to Beat

Corey Conners
To Win (28/1), To Place (6/1)

Corey Conners entered this event last year ranked as the World Number 423. After finishing runner up here he managed a 3rd place at the Sony Open and a victory at the Valero Texas Open. That tremendous early-season surge propelled him to a breakthrough season, ultimately leading to the Tour Championship at East Lake: he finished the season with form figures of 27-22-21-7-23. He ultimately finished the season ranked 1st in greens in regulation. That should put him in prime position in what is lining up to be a birdie fest in Jacksonville. 

Written by Damien Kayat for Hollywoodbets

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