PREVIEW: 2024 PGA Tour – Sanderson Farms Championship

This time last season, the American Ryder Cup team was doing some soul-searching after yet another defeat on European soil (remember the Patrick Cantlay cap incident).

This year is a different story, with America riding high after a comprehensive President’s Cup victory. There was some minor controversy to be had in Montreal, with Tom Kim laying down his putter to visibly display the shortness of a putt that wasn’t conceded by Schauffele and Cantlay.

He even went on to accuse the American side of swearing at him during their foursomes match (he was paired alongside Si Woo Kim). Schauffele and co have vehemently denied the accusation but one wonders why the South Korean ace would create something out of nothing.

Sanderson Farms Championship

The PGA tour returns from a brief hiatus for the second event of this year’s FedEx Cup Fall Series: the Sanderson Farms Championship. This event dates all the way back to 1968 when it moved to its current venue – the Country Club of Jackson – ten years ago.

This event was originally played opposite the Masters, moving to its autumnal slot in 2014. It has been played opposite a plethora of bigger events but is now firmly established as its own standalone tournament.

In fact, this will be the sixth consecutive season that this event isn’t played opposite another. Patton Kizzire won at Silverado a few weeks back and this week offers another chance for players to A; secure their card for next season and B; possibly qualify for some of next season’s Signature Events.

The Country Club of Jackson

Designed by Dick Wilson, the Country Club of Jackson dates all the way back to 1914 (though this week’s host course was only opened in 1962). It’s a composite of two Wilson-designed nines: Dogwood and Azalea.

John Fought oversaw a significant renovation in 2008/2009, creating a parkland-style course with tricky Bermuda greens.

This week comes down to finding greens and negotiating these slick putting conditions. The greens have a slight Augusta feel and can run at around 13 on the stamp. It’s little surprise that Sergio won here in 2020 (Garcia is an Augusta specialist well-suited to frighteningly fast greens).

But perhaps the most crucial indicator of success will be GIR. Last year ended in a five-man playoff and three of the five participants finished inside the top ten for GIR. Players’ iron play will need to be pin-point to access these small Bermuda green complexes.

Also, look for players comfortable with these pernickety Bermuda putting surfaces.

The Contenders

The whole structure of the FedEx Cup Fall Series does make it hard to really attract the upper-echelon players. There is very little incentive for the top 50 players in the world to attend this week (aside from cash and world ranking points).

As such, Keith Mitchell leads one of the weakest US PGA Tour fields in recent memory this week.

Maverick McNealy has enjoyed a solid season while 2022 champ Mackenzie Hughes will be looking for some positive vibes following that Presidents Cup defeat in Montreal.

Past Winners

2023: Luke List (-18) *playoff
2022: Mackenzie Hughes (-17) *playoff
2021: Sam Burns (-22)
2020: Sergio Garcia (-19)
2019: Sebastian Munoz (-18) *playoff
2018: Cameron Champ (-21)

To Win Outright:

Keith Mitchell 22/1 | Seamus Power 25/1 | Maverick McNealy 25/1 | Mackenzie Hughes 28/1 | J.J. Spaun 28/1

Value Bets

Emiliano Grillo – To Win 55/1 | To Place 12/1

Argentine Emiliano Grillo has been poor this season, but his ball striking did appear to be on the mend towards the end of the season. He gained 3.2 shots on the field on approach in his last event of the regular season (at TPC Southwind).

Grillo finished T5 here back in 2022 and it’s easy to see why. He has a really impressive approach game and I think he could regain some form in this relatively poor field.

Lucas Glover – Top Win 55/1 | To Place 12/1

Lucas Glover is in an enviable position this week, with win exemptions from 2023 meaning that he doesn’t need to participate. And he started the FedEx Cup Fall Series well, picking up a career-best 13th-pace finish at Silverado.

He was inside the top 25 for both SG: Approach and SG: Putting in North Carolina. The six-time PGA Tour winner won twice last summer and could do with a big result this week to edge back towards the top 50 in the world rankings.

He won at Sedgefield and TPC Southwind last year (showing his suitability to Champion Bermudagrass greens). He finished 5th here in 2016 and he should benefit from a rather weak field.

The Man to Beat – Mackenzie Hughes – To Win 28/1 | To Place 6/1

Hughes will be disappointed with his Presidents Cup showing, losing 2&1 to an out-of-form Max Homa in Sunday’s singles action. However, the 2022 Sanderson Farms Champion looks like excellent value at 28/1.

He has three top-20 finishes in his last five US PGA Tour starts (including a T4 at the recent Fortinet Championship). He has one of the smoothest putting strokes on tour and that could prove crucial on these billiard tables.