Course Guide: Despite extending the Country Club of Jackson course by 57 yards in 2018, the course doesn’t hold too many fears for PGA Tour pros. At 7,461 yards for a Par 72, length is pretty standard for these modern times, especially as it’s set on a flat property with fairways that are relatively wide by modern standards. Trees are a feature on most holes but they’re relatively sparse and the course features plenty of straight holes.
Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Mississippi: Designer: Wilson, 1962, Fought redesign, 2008; Course Type: Resort; Par: 72; Length: 7,461 yards; Holes with Water In-Play: 5; Fairways: 419 Bermudagrass; Rough: Bermudagrass with Zoysiagrass, 2″; Greens: 6,200 sq.ft average Champion Ultra Dwarf Bermudagrass; Stimpmeter: 12ft. Scoring Average 2014: 71.47 (-0.53), Difficulty Rank 27 of 52 courses. 2015: 70.47 (-1.53), Difficulty Rank 46 of 50 courses. 2016: 71.06 (-0.94), Difficulty Rank of 34 of 50 courses. 2017: 71.83 (-0.17), Difficulty Rank of 21 of 51 courses. 2018: 71.25 (-0.75), Difficulty Rank 26 of 49 courses. 2019: 70.90 (-1.10), Difficulty Rank 26 of 41 courses. 2020: 71.08 (-0.92), Difficulty Rank 32 of 51 courses.
Widths Fairway Widths (yards): Below are the fairway widths for the CC of Jackson and how they compare to recent courses on Tour:
- CC of Jackson: 250 yards from the tee: 29 yards wide; 275:28; 300:29; 325:28; 350:25.
- Silverado: 250 yards from the tee: 27 yards wide; 275:26; 300:24; 325:25; 350:24.
- East Lake: 250 yards from the tee: 28 yards wide; 275:26; 300:25; 325:24; 350:23.
- Caves Valley: 40- 60 yards.
- Liberty National: 250 yards from tee: 37 yards wide; 275:33; 300:30 325:31; 350:27.
- Sedgefield: 250 yards from tee: 29 yards wide; 275:28; 300:26 325:23; 350:22.
- TPC Southwind: 250 yards from the tee: 29 yards wide; 275:29; 300:28; 325:31; 350:25.
Course Overview: The course is a mixture of 2 sets of 9 holes, namely Azalea and Dogwood. John Fought, who re-modelled the course in 2008, is an admirer of Donald Ross’s work and as such it’s interesting to note that green complexes on the whole are raised and have run-off areas similar to many a Ross design.
Greens are pretty average in size – 6,200 sq.ft. average – and feature Ultradwarf Champion Bermudagrass, the likes of which were found at previous tournament host course Annandale, but also feature at Trinity Forest (2018 + 2019 HP Byron Nelson), TPC Southwind, RTJ Trail (Grand National – Barbasol Championship 2015 – 2017), Sedgefield (since 2012) and Quail Hollow (since the 2017 PGA Championship).
Visually the course looks quite tight and with Nick Taylor, Peter Malnati, Cody Gribble, Ryan Armour, Sebastian Munoz and Sergio Garcia all ending up at least mid-division for driving accuracy when winning here, a level of respect off the tee seemed a prerequisite. However, the severe ‘bomb and gouge’ tactics of Cameron Champ worked fantastically well in 2018. as he posted a CC of Jackson record winning score of -21/267 to beat Corey Conners by 4 shots.
The Country Club of Jackson does present a level of challenge and interestingly we’ve seen a mix of relatively fast, soft and cold/windy conditions across the past 7 renewals held here. Ultimately though winning scores of -20/268, -19/269, -21/267, -18/270 and -19/269 over the past 5 years highlight a tournament where low scoring and top-notch Champion Bermudagrass putting are the order of the day.
The key to contending here seems to be to unlock a relatively difficult set of par-5s – 8th most difficult for Birdie or Better Conversion in 2018 – whilst scoring well on a set of par-4s that are far easier in comparison. Taylor, Malnati, Gribble, Armour and Champ all topped the field for birdies made on their way to victories here; both Munoz and Garcia were ensconced within the top 10 for birdie and better conversion, whilst only leaking 3 bogeys and 5 bogeys respectively.
CC of Jackson Winners: 2020: Sergio Garcia (-19); 2019: Sebastian Munoz (-18); 2018: Cameron Champ (-21); 2017: Ryan Armour (-19); 2016: Cody Gribble (-20); 2015: Peter Malnati (-18); 2014: Nick Taylor (-16).
Cut Line: 2020: -3; 2019: -3; 2018: -1; 2017: -1; 2016: -2; 2015: -3; 2014: -1.
Lead Score Progression:
- 2020: Round 1 -8; Round 2 -13; Round 3 -14; Round 4 -19.
- 2019: Round 1 -8; Round 2 -12; Round 3 -16; Round 4 -18.
- 2018: Round 1 -7; Round 2 -9; Round 3 -17; Round 4 -21.
Tournament Stats: We’ve published some key player statistics for this week’s event that are well worth a look. Naturally they’ll help to shape a view on players who could go well this week: Current Form | Tournament Form | First Round Leader | Combined Stats.
Published Predictor Model: Our published predictor is available here. You can build your own model using the variables listed on the left hand side. Top 10 of my published predictor are Sergio Garcia, Taylor Pendrith, Sam Burns, Charley Hoffman, Sungjae Im, Luke List, Will Zalatoris, Si Woo Kim, Corey Conners and Joseph Bramlett.
Tournament Winners & Prices: 2020: Garcia 70/1; 2019: Munoz 66/1; 2018: Champ 66/1; 2017: Armour 125/1; 2016: Gribble 125/1; 2015: Malnati 250/1; 2014: Taylor 400/1; 2013: Austin 125/1; 2012: Stallings 100/1; 2011: Kirk 30/1; 2010: Haas 22/1. Past 8 Renewals Average: 133/1; Overall Average: 125/1.
Historical Weather:
- 2020: Thursday: Sunny, with a high of 80. Wind NNW 7-14 mph. Friday: Sunny, with a high of 73. Wind NE 4-8 mph in the morning, switching to NNW 5-10 mph in the afternoon. Saturday: Sunny, with a high of 76. Wind ENE 4-8 mph. Sunday: Sunny, with a high of 80. Wind NNW 5-10 mph.
- 2019: Thursday: Partly cloudy. High of 92. Wind SE 5-10 mph. Due to inclement weather, play was suspended at 2:46 p.m. CT and called for the day at 5:57 p.m. Friday: Round one resumed at 7:01 a.m. Partly cloudy. High of 88. Wind SE 6-12 mph. Due to darkness, round two was suspended at 7:03 p.m. Saturday: Round two resumed at 7:30 a.m. and ended at 9:34 a.m. Third-round tee times were adjusted to be between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in threesomes of Nos. 1 and 10. Partly cloudy. High of 88. Wind SE 6-12 mph. Sunday: Mostly sunny. High of 90. Wind SSE 6-12 mph, with gusts to 15 mph.
- 2018: Thursday: Mostly cloudy. High of 61. Wind NW 10-15, with gusts to 20 mph. Due to darkness, round one was suspended for the day at 6:13 p.m. and resumed at 8:20 a.m. Friday (12 players). Friday: Round one concluded at 8:41 a.m., with round two beginning as scheduled at 7:20 a.m. Light rain and cloudy. High of 61. Wind NW 10-15, with gusts to 20 mph. Saturday: Sunny. High of 70. Wind W 5-10 mph. Sunday: Sunny. High of 83. Wind SW 10-15 mph.
- 2017: Thursday: Sunny with a high of 79. Wind SSW 6-12 mph with gusts to 18 mph. Friday: Cloudy, with a high of 77. Wind SSW 10-15 mph with gusts to 20 mph. Saturday: High of 58. NNW wind 10-15 mph. Sunday: Sunny and cool, with a high of 63. NW wind 7-12 mph.
- 2016: Thursday: Partly cloudy, with a high of 85. Wind NW 6-12 mph. Friday: Sunny, with a high of 86. Wind S 5-10 mph. Saturday: Sunny, with a high of 87. Wind S 5-10 mph. Sunday: Sunny, with a high of 88. Wind SSW 5-10 mph.
- 2015: Thursday: Cloudy, with showers off and on throughout the day. High of 81 degrees. Winds SSW 7-14 mph. Friday: Due to lightning, round two was suspended for the day at 4:49 p.m. Saturday: Cloudy, with rain throughout the day. High of 68 degrees, with NNE winds 10-15 mph. Play was called for the day just before 2 p.m. local time with 76 players remaining to complete the second round. Sunday: Partly cloudy with a high of 62 degrees. NNE winds 10-15 mph. Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 66 degrees. Winds NNW 5-10 mph.
Weather Forecast: The latest weather forecast for Jackson, Mississippi is here.
Where 2020 here in Jackson was soft, we do see varied turf conditions from year to year. With only 43mm of rain in September, 30 degree Celsius temperatures soon absorb that level of moisture. So with a low chance of rain pre-Thursday, I would expect firm fairways and watered, receptive greens. With little wind forecast, I would therefore expect a typical birdie-fest. Temperatures between 28-30 degrees Celsius this week are warmer than 2020, so green watering is assured. Sunday looks cooler at 24 degrees Celsius.
Recent Player Strokes Gained Rankings: These top 25 in the field rankings are based on an 8-tournament window that stretches back to the WGC St Jude Invitational/Hero Open which includes PGA Tour and European Tour events. Players rankings are based on performance relative to the rest of the field:
- Top 25 SG Off The Tee: 1) Taylor Pendrith / Matthias Schwab; 3) David Lipsky; 4) Corey Conners; 5) Sungjae Im; 6) Ryan Armour / Dawie van der Walt; 8) Sergio Garcia / Camilo Villegas / Cameron Young; 11) K.H. Lee; 12) Sam Burns / Keith Mitchell / Will Zalatoris; 15) Anirban Lahiri; 16) Carlos Ortiz; 17) Cameron Davis; 18) Aaron Rai; 19) Emiliano Grillo / Sahith Theegala; 21) Davis Thompson; 22) Lee Hodges / Callum Tarren; 24) Chez Reavie.; 25) Kiradech Aphibarnrat / Tyler Duncan / Nick Hardy / Rory Sabbatini.
- Top 25 SG Approach: 1) Max McGreevy; 2) John Augenstein; 3) Nick Hardy; 4) Sungjae Im; 5) Keegan Bradley / Bronson Burgoon; 7) Scott Gutschewski; 8) Davis Riley; 9) Corey Conners / Chad Ramey / Sam Ryder; 12) Dawie van der Walt; 13) Hudson Swafford; 14) Sahith Theegala; 15) Will Zalatoris; 16) Sam Burns / Talor Gooch; 18) C.T. Pan / Callum Tarren; 20) Aaron Rai / Kevin Streelman; 22) Joseph Bramlett / Seung-yul Noh; 24) Harold Varner III; 25) Chesson Hadley / Charley Hoffman.
- Top 25 SG Around The Green: 1) Scott Piercy; 2) Paul Barjon; 3) Si Woo Kim; 4) Bill Haas; 5) Chad Ramey; 6) Trey Mullinax; 7) Patrick Rodgers; 8) Sung Kang / Cameron Tringale; 10) Dylan Wu; 11) Aaron Wise; 12) Sam Burns / Greyson Sigg; 14) Mackenzie Hughes / Adam Svensson; 16) Jared Wolfe; 17) Taylor Pendrith; 18) Harold Varner III; 19) Brian Gay; 20) Richy Werenski; 21) Will Zalatoris; 22) Sungjae Im / Nick Watney; 24) Sergio Garcia / K.H. Lee / Andrew Putnam / Doc Redman.
- Top 25 SG Tee to Green: 1) Sungjae Im; 2) Sahith Theegala; 3) Sam Burns; 4) Corey Conners / Nick Hardy / Will Zalatoris; 7) Dawie van der Walt; 8) Chad Ramey; 9) Aaron Rai; 10) Scott Piercy / Greyson Sigg; 12) Callum Tarren; 13) John Augenstein / Si Woo Kim / Matthias Schwab; 16) Charley Hoffman / Sung Kang / C.T. Pan; 19) Sergio Garcia / Nick Watney; 21) K.H. Lee; 22) Keegan Bradley; 23) Talor Gooch; 24) Carlos Ortiz; 25) Aaron Wise.
- Top 25 SG Putting: 1) Matthias Schwab; 2) David Lipsky / Nick Taylor; 4) Joshua Creel; 5) Sam Burns 6) Curtis Thompson; 7) Stephan Jaeger; 8) Cameron Davis / Harold Varner III; 10) Mackenzie Hughes; 11) Sergio Garcia / Taylor Pendrith; 13) Tyler McCumber / Cameron Tringale / Kevin Tway; 16) Lanto Griffin; 17) Paul Barjon; 18) Dawie van der Walt; 19) Aaron Wise; 20) Kiradech Aphibarnrat; 21) Keegan Bradley / Corey Conners; 23) Brian Gay / Lucas Herbert / Chris Kirk / Camilo Villegas.
- Top 25 SG Total: 1) Sam Burns / Matthias Schwab; 3) Will Zalatoris; 4) Corey Conners; 5) John Augenstein / David Lipsky / Dawie van der Walt; 8) Sungjae Im; 9) Charley Hoffman; 10) Harold Varner III / Aaron Wise; 12) Cameron Davis / Scott Piercy / Aaron Rai / Greyson Sigg; 16) Sergio Garcia / Sung Kang; 18) Patrick Rodgers / Cameron Tringale; 20) Si Woo Kim / K.H. Lee; 22) Keegan Bradley / Nick Hardy / Taylor Pendrith; 25) Kevin Tway.
For a summary of the Strokes Gained Performances from this week’s field here at Jackson since 2015 click here
Strokes Gained Tournament Trends: Analysing the Strokes Gained stats of Jackson CC winners since 2016 gives us a little more insight into the requirements for this test:
- 2020, Sergio Garcia (-19). SG Off the Tee: 1st, SG Approach: 3rd, SG Around the Green: 46th, SG Tee to Green: 1st, SG Putting: 28th.
- 2019, Sebastian Munoz (-18). SG Off the Tee: 4th, SG Approach: 20th, SG Around the Green: 40th, SG Tee to Green: 13th, SG Putting: 5th.
- 2018, Cameron Champ (-21). SG Off the Tee: 2nd, SG Approach: 21st, SG Around the Green: 42nd, SG Tee to Green: 9th, SG Putting: 2nd.
- 2017, Ryan Armour (-19). SG Off the Tee: 39th, SG Approach: 3rd, SG Around the Green: 13th, SG Tee to Green: 2nd, SG Putting: 2nd.
- 2016, Cody Gribble (-20). SG Off the Tee: 9th, SG Approach: 18th, SG Around the Green: 28th, SG Tee to Green: 9th, SG Putting: 1st.
Strokes Gained Tournament Skill Averages:
- SG Off the Tee: 11th, SG Approach: 13th, SG Around the Green: 34th, SG Tee to Green: 7th, SG Putting: 8th.
Traditional Skill Set Trends: Analysing the final stats of CC of Jackson G&CC winners since 2014 gives us a little more insight into the requirements for this test:
- 2020, Sergio Garcia (-19). 306 yards (9th), 60.7% fairways (14th), 83.3% greens in regulation (1st), 31″10″ proximity to hole (6th), 66.7% scrambling (29th), 1.67 putts per GIR (10th).
- 2019, Sebastian Munoz (-18). 315 yards (4th), 51.8% fairways (36th), 79.2% greens in regulation (9th), 35″4″ proximity to hole (28th), 80.7 % scrambling (7th), 1.65 putts per GIR (11th).
- 2018, Cameron Champ (-21). 334 yards (1st), 46.4% fairways (65th), 76.4% greens in regulation (9th), 37″5″ proximity to hole (36th), 58.8 % scrambling (55th), 1.58 putts per GIR (1st).
- 2017, Ryan Armour (-19). 269 yards (69th), 71.4% fairways (3rd), 79.2% greens in regulation (3rd), 29″5″ proximity to hole (1st), 53.3 % scrambling (60th), 1.58 putts per GIR (2nd).
- 2016, Cody Gribble (-20). 312 yards (11th), 51.8% fairways (38th), 72.2% greens in regulation (29th), 36″3″ proximity to hole (31st), 80.0 % scrambling (1st), 1.56 putts per GIR (1st).
- 2015, Peter Malnati (-18). 266 yards (66th), 58.9% fairways (35th), 83.3% greens in regulation (4th), 34″8* proximity to hole (33rd), 58.3 % scrambling (62nd), 1.62 putts per GIR (2nd).
- 2014, Nick Taylor (-16). 295 yards (11th), 53.6% fairways (40th), 80.6% greens in regulation (3rd), 36″4″ proximity to hole (32nd), 71.4 % scrambling (17th), 1.67 putts per GIR (6th).
Traditional Skill Set Averages:
- Driving Distance: 16th, Driving Accuracy: 33rd, Greens in Regulation: 8th, Proximity to Hole: 24th, Scrambling: 33rd, Putting Average 5th.
So let’s take a view from players as to how CC of Jackson has played in recent years and what specific skills it requires:
Sergio Garcia (2020): “Yes, but you have to be, even playing as well as I played today, you’re still going to miss a couple of greens here and there because it’s a little tricky with the way the greens are, as fast as they are. You’re hitting to small spots because you know that if you miss your spot it’s going to run and you’re going to have a longish putt that is not easy to two-putt. Your short game still has to be good, which it has been for me, and your putter has to be good. I’ve been able to put pretty much everything together this week, and I have to do more of the same tomorrow.
I obviously knew that Peter – he finished at 18, so I knew that I needed to birdie one of the last two or three to get ahead. I actually thought I birdied 17. I hit a great putt. I thought I made it. Unfortunately I didn’t. But then I stood up on 18 and I did what I’ve been doing all week. I trusted myself. I aimed down the right side of the fairway and just hit a hard draw, really, really nice drive, actually went quite long because it was playing a little bit into the wind, and it gave me the ability to have an 8-iron into the green instead of having a 6 or something like that, and then just hit, funny enough, my last win, Augusta, well, my last win on the PGA Tour at Augusta, the 8-iron on 15, this time it was the 8-iron on 18, and to almost hit the pin again and to hit it that close, obviously it was a dream come true.”
Sebastian Munoz (2019): “Yeah, so on 6 I hit my driver left and it was unlucky enough that it hit one of the first trees and came back. So by my calculations we had like 235 front with not a lot of options in front of me. Like had to keep it low, and fairway runs on an angle. So it was really easy to hit it from the rough to the rough and have like 90 or 130 out. So I saw, it’s probably like 260 to the pin. That’s what I had the my 3-wood. If I just slice it, which is the shot I feel more comfortable with, fade instead of draw, I could give myself a chance. I saw a bounce there and just reminded me of Phil. What would Phil do? I’m like, Fortune favors the bold, so took it, believed in myself, pulled the shot, and got the up and down. Make it all worth it.
And then back on the playoff hole, all back to the beginning. Still like my heartbeat was still up. All right, calm down. We still got work to do. Still hit a good drive, and from there on. Once I notice Sungjae was over the green, all I wanted to do was kind of keep it short of the pin. I knew that’s a tough up and down. So hit the 9-iron, but it didn’t came as hot as I thought it was going to be from the rough. Left it short, and that’s not an easy chip. These Bermuda greens, they kind of check pretty fast on you. Got to be pretty bold. It’s just different way to play it.”
Cameron Champ (2018): “Obviously driver is the key out here, I think. If I hit driver well out here, like I said, it’s a very scorable course. So I just kept hitting it as much as I could. Even if the fairways were tighter, I felt like if I was further up, even in the rough versus hitting a 3-wood being 40 yards back, I would rather be up there. I guess that’s the game plan.”
Ryan Armour (2017): “You just try. I mean, you’re not always going to be able to, but my strength is – obviously have figured this out finally – is driving it in the fairway, hitting it on the green, and trying to make putts. You get some wedges in your hand on 14 and 15, so you’re looking to make up some ground there. 13 is a good little par-3. Just have had good numbers there the last two days. Then 16, chip-in yesterday, 60-footer today. I don’t overpower a golf course. I don’t go for very many par-5s. I had a chance to go for No. 11 and I laid up. It’s just one of those making percentage choices for me.”
Cody Gribble (2016): “Well, first, being in the South, growing up on Bermuda fairways, Bermuda greens, it’s something difficult, I think. There were some places in there, I think even on 15 – I think it was 15, yeah, there’s some grain running into you. It’s not a comfortable feeling when you’re having to hit a chip that all that grain is tight going into you. That’s something I’ve been able to learn from a young age, and Randy has done a really good job helping me do that through the years. It goes down to just knowing where the pin is at on every green, and do you have a miss, knowing your misses, knowing where to miss the ball, knowing where you can’t miss the ball. I think in the last 54 holes, I’ve made one bogey, and that was on 12, and the pin was front right, and you cannot miss that ball right. I looked at Bob, and I was like – I watched Andres Romero hit a shot almost in the water left, and he was in a better position than I was 20 feet right of the hole.”
Peter Malnati (2015): “I mean, the course suits my strengths really well. Several of the par-4s I’m able to hit a short iron into. Because of the wetness, the softness of the conditions, I think that sort of neutralized the par-5s. Some of the longer hitters were probably able to get up there in two on the par-5s, but I’d say the majority of the field probably couldn’t, so the par-5s became a bit of a wedge contest, which plays right into my hands. Like I said, several of the par-4s give you a short iron; plays right into my hands. And then the two holes that you would kind of pinpoint as being longer holes, 16 and 18, I really played well all week. I hit it in the water on 16 in the first round I remember, but outside of that, I think I made nothing but pars, maybe a birdie or two even on 16 and 18. If I have a week where I’m going to take those long par-4s and play them well, I really feel like that’s the week when I’m going to be up there and be in contention, and sure enough, it was this week.”
Nick Taylor (2014): “Yeah, the finishing holes 16, 17, 18, it was a good finish. But there were some tougher holes, I think. Some scoring holes on the back nine, both par 5s you can get to the front of the green or around them. 15, I did, and I hit it 20 yards from the green. So I’m not sure if it opened the tee up, but a lot of guys hit driver into that. There were some scoring holes, but you have to hit the fairways on all the par 4s to have a chance to go at the pins because if you have the wet Bermuda, it’s tough to judge coming out of there, and the greens are so quick. So fairways are key for sure, but they’re definitely scoring.”
Path to Victory: Below are the end of round positions for the last 7 Sanderson Farms Championship winners:
- 2020 – Sergio Garcia: Round 1: 17th, Round 2: 7th, Round 3: 1st.
- 2019 – Sebastian Munoz: Round 1: 43rd, Round 2: 9th, Round 3: 1st.
- 2018 – Cameron Champ: Round 1: 1st, Round 2: 1st, Round 3: 1st.
- 2017 – Ryan Armour: Round 1: 1st, Round 2: 1st, Round 3: 1st.
- 2016 – Cody Gribble: Round 1: 101st, Round 2: 8th, Round 3: 3rd.
- 2015 – Peter Malnati: Round 1: 42nd, Round 2: 8th, Round 3: 3rd.
- 2014 – Nick Taylor: Round 1: 2nd, Round 2: 3rd, Round 3: 5th.
Shots From the Lead: Below are the last 7 Sanderson Farms winners and where they were positioned in terms of shots from the lead during the tournament:
- 2020 – Sergio Garcia: Round 1: 4 back, Round 2: 5 back, Round 3: level.
- 2019 – Sebastian Munoz: Round 1: 6 back, Round 2: 5 back, Round 3: 1 ahead.
- 2018 – Cameron Champ: Round 1: 1 ahead, Round 2: level, Round 3: 4 ahead.
- 2017 – Ryan Armour: Round 1: level, Round 2: 1 ahead, Round 3: 5 ahead.
- 2016 – Cody Gribble: Round 1: 10 back, Round 2: 4 back, Round 3: 1 back.
- 2015 – Peter Malnati: Round 1: 7 back, Round 2: 6 back, Round 3: 1 back.
- 2014 – Nick Taylor: Round 1: 2 back, Round 2: 2 back, Round 3: 4 back.
Incoming form of winners since 2014:
- Sergio Garcia: MC USO/MC Safeway/66th Wyndham/MC PGA.
- Sebastian Munoz: 7th Greenbrier/43rd Northern Trust/48th Sedgefield/11th Barracuda.
- Cameron Champ: 25th Safeway/MC web.com TC/33rd Boise/16th DAP.
- Ryan Armour: MC Safeway/25th DAP/51st Boise/2nd Nationwide Children’s.
- Cody Gribble: 8th Safeway/5th Nationwide Children’s/MC Boise/MC/DAP.
- Peter Malnati: 56th Shriners/MC Fry’s Open/MC web.com TC/MC Nationwide Children’s.
- Nick Taylor: MDF McGladrey/56th Shriners/MC Fry’s Open/21st web.com Tour Championship.
First Round Leader Analysis: First round leader(s), their wave and winning score since 2014. Full First Round Leader stats are here.
- 2020 – Chappell/Hoffman/Munoz/Walker 2AM/2PM Split -8/64 – 125/1, 70/1, 50/1, 150/1.
- 2019 – Hoge/Poston AM/PM Split -8/64 – 80/1, 55/1.
- 2018 – Cameron Champ – AM Wave -7/65 – 55/1.
- 2017 – Armour/Clark/Landry/Shindler/Spaun 3AM/2PM -6/66 – 100/1, 150/1, 45/1, 100/1, 175/1.
- 2016 – Kevin Streelman – PM Wave -9/63 – 50/1.
- 2015 – Roberto Castro – PM Wave -10/62.
- 2014 – Sebastian Cappelen – (10th tee) -7/65.
For the record, here’s the breakdown of Bermudagrass PGA Tour victors in the field since 2008:
- 4 – Brian Gay, Bill Haas, Zach Johnson.
- 3 – Sergio Garcia, Si Woo Kim, Brandt Snedeker, Camilo Villegas.
- 2 – Chris Kirk, Scott Piercy, Robert Streb, Jimmy Walker.
- 1 – Ryan Armour, Jonas Blixt, Keegan Bradley, Sam Burns, Tyler Duncan, Cody Gribble, Lanto Griffin, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Sungjae Im, Sung Kang, Patton Kizzire, Martin Laird, Andrew Landry, Adam Long, Peter Malnati, Keith Mitchell, Sebastian Munoz, Seung-yul Noh, Carlos Ortiz, C.T. Pan, J.T. Poston, Rory Sabbatini, Scott Stallings, Kevin Streelman, Brian Stuard, Hudson Swafford, Nick Taylor, Brendon Todd, Michael Thompson, Nick Watney, Aaron Wise, Gary Woodland.
It’s clear that up until this point the Sanderson Farms Championship has been volatile in terms of its winners since it moved to its autumn spot in the wraparound season format.
Tour rookie Nick Taylor was a 400/1 shot in 2014 and although Peter Malnati had a season’s PGA Tour experience behind him, his best main Tour finish before arriving in Mississippi had been 14th in Puerto Rico 18 months earlier. Malnati scored in Mississippi at 250/1 with a few punters stumbling on him mainly because he lived down the road in Knoxville, had won on Bermudagrass greens in Brazil on the web.com Tour earlier in the season and was known for his birdie-making style in softer conditions.
Cody Gribble in 2016 was a well-backed form horse who had finished 5th in his last Korn Ferry Tour outing and a comfortable 9th on his PGA Tour debut 2 weeks prior in Napa, California. Plenty of punters scored on the Texan rookie at a rather tasty 125/1. 2017 saw Ryan Armour score his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Sanderson Farms – his build-up had included 4th at the Sedgefield hosted Wyndham on the PGA Tour and 2nd at Ohio State GC in the web.com Playoffs. His win was again at 125/1.
2018 saw Cameron Champ deliver at 66/1. Rated by a couple of commentators as one of the best players to have been promoted from the Korn Ferry Tour, Champ had finished 25th at the season-opening Safeway Open, where he closed with a -4/68 – the joint third best Sunday round. His Korn Ferry Playoffs campaign had seen him finish a best of 16th at the DAP Championship, but Champ was undoubtedly talented, winning the Utah Championship, and backing that up with 4 top-8 finishes. He also ranked 2nd for Scoring Average, 3rd for Total Driving, 2nd for Ball Striking, 5th for All-Round across his Korn Ferry promotion season.
2019 saw Sebastian Munoz become the sixth consecutive PGA Tour maiden to win the Sanderson Farms Championship and again at a 66/1 price point. 2019 had seen Munoz land 4 PGA Tour top-10 finishes, jumping 119 Official World Golf Ranking spots into the bargain. The week previous he’d finished like a train at the Greenbrier Classic shooting consecutive Saturday and Saturday 66s, to back-door 7th place. Tellingly he ranked 3rd for SG on Approach at the Greenbrier, in tandem with ranking in the top 7 across my 8-week rolling Strokes Gained Putting tracker.
With a slightly deeper field at the 2020 Sanderson Farms Championship, the tournament was remarkable for a 70/1 victory for Sergio Garcia. The price tells the story with Sergio winning off immediate form of MC/MC/66/MC. Clearly with a ceiling far better than his price, Garcia was the sort you could throw in at a price, based upon nothing at all positive in the immediate build-up. Correlating course-wise, his win in the 2012 Wyndham at Sedgefield Country Club though was really concrete with the positive Champion Bermudagrass green link.
My selections are as follows:
Sanderson Farms Championship – Featured Bookmaker:
