2024 Sanderson Farms Championship Preview & Picks

The Sanderson Farms Championship is the second event of the FedExCup Fall, where players are competing to secure their spot in the top 125 of the rankings. Those who finish in the top 125 will earn full PGA TOUR status for the upcoming season, while players ranked 126-150 will receive conditional status for the 2024 season. Additionally, players outside the top 125 will have the opportunity to improve or regain their TOUR status through the PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

Pre-Tournament Storylines:

Luke List Aims for Back-to-Back Titles

Defending champion Luke List, who claimed victory in a thrilling five-man playoff last season, is looking to make history by becoming the first player in 50 years to win the Sanderson Farms Championship in consecutive years.

Korn Ferry Points Leader Chooses PGA Tour Over Finals

Matt McCarty, the Korn Ferry Tour Points Leader, secured a Three-Victory Promotion and locked up the No. 1 spot on the Points List. He will skip this week’s Korn Ferry Tour Championship in favor of competing at the Sanderson Farms Championship after an impressive summer run that included three wins in six starts.

Rickie Fowler Returns to PGA Tour

Rickie Fowler is making his return to the PGA Tour for the first time since the birth of his second daughter, Nellie, in August. This will be Fowler’s debut at the Sanderson Farms Championship, with his last appearance on tour coming at The Open Championship in July.

PGA TOUR University Leader Michael Thorbjornsen Eyes FedExCup Push

Michael Thorbjornsen, the No. 1 player in PGA TOUR University, is looking to climb inside the Top 125 in the FedExCup Fall standings. Currently ranked No. 134, he returns to action this week after finishing T50 at the Procore Championship.

Presidents Cup Connections in the Field

Mackenzie Hughes, a 2022 Sanderson Farms winner and participant in the Presidents Cup, is the only player from the tournament in the field. Additionally, Camilo Villegas, assistant captain for the International Team, is also competing this week.

Title Sponsor Transition on the Horizon

Sanderson Farms, the tournament’s title sponsor since 2013, announced in August that it will step down from its sponsorship role after this year despite having a contract that runs through 2026. As this year’s tournament approaches, tournament director Steve Jent is now tasked with securing a new sponsor for 2025 and beyond. Given the event’s past challenges in finding a title sponsor, the coming months will be crucial in determining the future of the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Tournament Information:

• Dates: October 3rd – October 6th, 2024
• Location: Jackson, Mississippi, United States
• Course: The Country Club of Jackson
• Course Type: Resort
• Par: 72 (4x 3’s / 10x 4’s / 4x 5’s)
• Length: 7,461 yards
• Format: 72-hole stroke play
• Greens: Champion bermudagrass .110”
• Fairways: 419 bermudagrass .450”
• Rough: 419 bermuda / Zeon zoysia 2.5”
• Bunkers: 56
• Water Hazard(s): 7 (In-Play on 5 Holes)
• Average Green Size: 6,200 sq. ft.
• Stimpmeter: 12.0 ft.
• Purse/ Winner: $7,600,000 /$1,368,000
• FedEx Cup Points: 500
• Field: 132 Players
• Cut: Top 65 and Ties – 36 Holes
• Playoff Format: Sudden Death | Holes 18, 18, 10, 10
• Course Scoring Average:
  • 2023: 70.25 (-1.75), Rank 45 of 58
  • 2022: 71.15 (-0.85), Rank 29 of 50
  • 2021: 69.87 (-2.13), Rank 45 of 50 
• Historic Cut Line:
  • 2023: -5
  • 2022: -2
  • 2021: -5

Social Media:

• Sanderson Farms Championship – (@Sanderson_Champ)

Course Architect:

• Course Architect: Dick Wilson (1962)
• Renovations: John Fought and Mike Gogel (2008)

Comparable Courses & Greens:

• Comparable Courses:
  • Detroit Golf Club – Rocket Mortgage Classic – RESULTS
  • Silverado Resort & Spa – Procore Championship – RESULTS
  • TPC Twin Cities – 3M Open – RESULTS

• Designer Link (Dick Wilson (1962)):
  • Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge – Dick Wilson (1961) – Arnold Palmer Invitational

• Comparable Location (Jackson, Mississippi, United States):
  • TPC Southwind – Memphis, Tennessee – FedEx St. Jude Championship

• Comparable Yardage (7,461 Yards):
  • TPC San Antonio – 7,438 Yards – Valero Texas Open
  • Vidanta Vallarta – 7,456 Yards – Mexico Open at Vidanta

• Comparable Average Green Size (6,200 sq. ft.):
  • Silverado Resort and Spa – 6,200 sq. ft. – Procore Championship

• Comparable Greens (Champion bermudagrass .110”):
  • TPC Southwind – Champion bermudagrass .090” – FedEx St. Jude Championship
  • Sedgefield Country Club -Champion bermudagrass .120” – Wyndham Championship

TV Information (all times ET):

• Round 1: Thursday, October 3rd, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 8:00 AM -4:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Round 2: Friday, October 4th, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 8:00 AM -4:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM
• Round 3: Saturday, October 5th, 2024
  • Golf Channel – 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Round 4: Sunday, October 6th, 2024
  • Golf Channel – 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Weather:

Course/ Tournament History:

The Sanderson Farms Championship began in 1968 as the Magnolia Classic and has since become a staple on the PGA Tour. Initially, the event was considered an “alternate” or “opposite-field” tournament, held alongside major competitions like the Ryder Cup or larger tournaments. Because of this, it typically attracted players who were not in the elite field at those marquee events. Despite its status, the tournament remained a crucial part of the PGA Tour calendar, offering players an opportunity to secure important FedExCup points and establish themselves on the tour. Throughout its early history, the event was hosted at various locations, including Hattiesburg Country Club, Annandale Golf Club, and later its current home, the Country Club of Jackson, in Jackson, Mississippi.

In 2013, the tournament secured its title sponsor, Sanderson Farms, a poultry company based in Mississippi, which helped solidify its future on the PGA Tour. This partnership significantly raised the profile of the event, and in 2019, the Sanderson Farms Championship was elevated to a full FedExCup points event and also rescheduled to September, as the second tournament of the PGA Tour season. This upgrade meant the winner would receive a Masters Tournament invitation, which further boosted the tournament’s prestige and drew a stronger field of competitors. The event has also become known for its philanthropic efforts, with proceeds benefiting the Friends of Children’s Hospital, a non-profit supporting pediatric care in Mississippi.

The Country Club of Jackson has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1914. Located in the capital city of Mississippi, the club was established to provide a premier recreational and social venue for the community. Originally, the club featured a nine-hole golf course, which was later expanded as the club grew in size and reputation. Over the years, the Country Club of Jackson has undergone several renovations and enhancements to maintain its status as one of the top golf and country clubs in the region. In the mid-1960s, the course was completely redesigned by prominent golf course architect Dick Wilson, whose work brought a modern flair to the club’s layout.

The club gained national recognition when it became the host venue for the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2014, a prestigious event on the PGA Tour. This marked a significant moment in the club’s history, as it became home to one of Mississippi’s premier sporting events. The Country Club of Jackson’s 27-hole layout, which includes the Azalea, Dogwood, and Cypress nines, provides a scenic and challenging setting for the tournament, showcasing the course’s undulating fairways, water hazards, and strategic bunkering.

Tournament Records:

• 72-Hole Record (Sanderson Farms Championship):
  • 263, Dan Halldorson (1986 at Hattiesburg GC)
• 18-Hole Record (Sanderson Farms Championship):
  • 61, Keith Clearwater (2nd round, 1996 at Annandale GC)

• Most Wins:
  • 2 – Dwight Nevil (1973, 1974), Brian Henninger (1994, 1999), Fred Funk (1998, 2004)

• Largest Margin of Victory:
  • 5 – Ryan Armour (2017), Frank Conner (1988)

Course Records:

• 72-Hole Record (The Country Club of Jackson):
  • 266, Sam Burns (2021)
• 18-Hole Record (The Country Club of Jackson):
  • 62, Roberto Castro (1st round, 2015)

Course Guide/ Scorecard:

The Dogwood-Azalea course at the Country Club of Jackson was designed by John Fought and Mike Gogel. “Dogwood” refers to the front nine and “Azalea” refers to the back nine. It is a Par 72 that plays 7,461 yards. The course features four Par 3’s, ten Par 4’s, and four Par 5’s. It’s a resort layout that’s fairly wide open allowing longer hitters to attack this course. In terms of the rough, it’s some of the least penal on Tour. Water comes into play on five holes but mainly on the Par 3’s.

This is one of the easier courses on Tour as seen by the historical scoring average, we should see another winner finish around -20.

The four Par 3’s range from 168 to 223 yards. Last year, Hole No. 13 was the only par 3 to have a scoring average under par.

No. 7, 214 yards, Par 3: Players have a fairly straightforward long iron into this green. However a miss long or right can make for a difficult up and down. A par on this hole is a good score and it had a scoring average over par last year.

No. 13, 168 yards, Par 3: While this is the shortest hole on the course, swirling winds come into play and can knock a high iron down. The green is protected by two front bunkers and one hidden over the left side.

There are ten Par 4’s at the Country Club of Jackson with the majority (six) of them ranging between 400 and 450 yards. In terms of scoring average, the two toughest Par 4’s last year were No. 16 (+0.164) and No. 18 (+0.099).

No. 8, 403 yards, Par 4: Is a dog-leg left where an accurate tee shot is crucial. Since it’s only 400 yards, most players will club down here and try to avoid the creek runs along the hole on the left side. On a player’s approach shot, they’ll have to navigate the two bunkers that protect the green in the front.

No. 16, 479 yards, Par 4: This is the signature hole on the course and will require two demanding shots. A swamp runs along the entire left side of the hole and crosses the fairway approximately 80 yards from the hole. If players choose the “bailout” option trees come into play and are forced to hit towards the water on their approach. In addition to the swamp on the left, the green is protected by a large bunker on the right.

There are four Par 5’s on the course, No. 3, No. 5, No. 11, and No. 14. All of these holes had a scoring average under par in 2023. No. 11 was the easiest Par 5 on the course last year with a scoring average of 0.412 below par. Hole No. 5, was the toughest Par 5 last year due to it being the only Par 5 that measures over 600 yards.

No. 5, 612 yards, Par 5: This is the longest hole on the course and the toughest of the Par 5’s. Off the tee, players will try to navigate their ball between two fairway bunkers putting them in position to try and go for it in two. If they do try and reach the green in two, they cannot miss short-left as a pond comes into play. The green itself is surrounded by multiple bunkers as well.

No. 14, 584 yards, Par 5: Players will need an accurate tee shot off the tee. The left side is woodlands, while on the right side, trees can come into play. Even if they do find the fairway, they can end up in one of the fairway bunkers. On their approach shot, they’ll have to avoid the two front bunkers.

Featured/ Signature Hole(s): 16

Key Statistics:

Per DataGolf, this is the favored skillset at the Country Club of Jackson.

• Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
  • Success this week will hinge on players’ ability to position themselves effectively off the tee. While the course’s considerable length underscores the significance of distance, precision holds equal importance.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Cameron Champ
    • Patrick Fishburn
    • Kevin Dougherty
    • Keith Mitchell
    • Jhonattan Vegas
    • Carson Young
    • Seamus Power
    • Hayden Springer
    • Alex Smalley
    • Joe Highsmith

• Strokes Gained: Approach
  • Having a strong iron game will be important this week if players want to succeed at the Country Club of Jackson.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Doug Ghim
    • David Lipsky
    • J.J. Spaun
    • Keith Micthell
    • Chez Reavie
    • Matt Kuchar
    • Ben Griffin
    • Chan Kim
    • Jhonattan Vegas
    • Andrew Novak

• Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermudagrass)
  • The Greens at the Country Club of Jackson are Champion bermudagrass .110”.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Taylor Montgomery
    • S.H. Kim
    • Chad Ramey
    • Mackenzie Hughes
    • Austin Smotherman
    • Garrick Higgo
    • Matt Kuchar
    • Harris English
    • Mac Meissner
    • Pierceson Coody

• Par 3 Scoring: 200-225 Yards (x2)
  • Two of the four Par 3’s at the Country Club of Jackson range between 200-225 Yards.
  • Leaders in Par 3 Scoring: 200-225 Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Sam Ryder
    • Michael Kim
    • Keith Mitchell
    • Chez Reavie
    • Nick Hardy
    • Jhonattan Vegas
    • Maverick McNealy
    • Zac Blair
    • Cody Gribble
    • Brice Garnett

• Par 4 Scoring: 400-450 Yards (x6)
  • Six of the ten Par 4’s at the Country Club of Jackson range between 450-500 Yards.
  • Leaders in Par 4 Scoring: 400-450 Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Roger Sloan
    • Adam Svensson
    • Alex Smalley
    • Ryp Hisatsune
    • Chan Kim
    • Zac Blair
    • Ben Griffin
    • Keith Mitchell
    • J.J. Spaun
    • Justin Lower

• Par 5 Scoring: 550-600 Yards (x3)
  • Three of the four Par 5’s at the Country Club of Jackson range between 550-600 Yards.
  • Leaders in Par 5 Scoring: 550-600 Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Eric Cole
    • Jhonattan Vegas
    • Patrick Fishburn
    • Hayden Springer
    • Paul Barjon
    • Davis Riley
    • Keith Mitchell
    • Matt NeSmith
    • Troy Merritt
    • Adam Svensson

• Proximity Gained: 100-125 Yards
  • Most approach shots at the Country Club of Jackson come from the 100-125 yard range at a volume much higher than the PGA Tour average.

• Leaders in Proximity Gained: 100-125 Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
  • Eric Cole
  • Roger Sloan
  • Taylor Montgomery
  • Kevin Streelman
  • Doug Ghim
  • J.J. Spaun
  • David Lipsky
  • Pierceson Coody
  • Zac Blair
  • Ben Kholes

• Birdies or Better Gained
  • Players will need to take advantage of every scoring opportunity this week if they want to put themselves into contention.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Keith Mitchell
    • J.J. Spaun
    • Michael Thorbjornsen
    • Zach Johnson
    • Chandler Phillips
    • Maverick McNealy
    • Justin Lower
    • Jhonattan Vegas
    • Andrew Novak
    • Pierceson Coody

• Comparable Courses and Event History
  • Looking at the Data Golf Course History Tool, prior experience at the Country Club of Jackson has proven to be slightly advantageous.

• Leaders in this category (Multiple Events Played, Last 6 Editions):
  • Cameron Champ
  • Garrick Higgo
  • Benjamin Griffin
  • Nick Hardy
  • Mackenzie Hughes
  • C.T. Pan
  • Bill Haas
  • Henrik Norlander
  • Alex Smalley
  • Seonghyeon Kim

The Field:

This year’s Sanderson Farms Championship will feature a total of 132 competitors.

• Here is the current basis of qualification for each entrant this week:
  • Top 125 FedExCup Fall Point Lists
  • Top 70 on Prior Year FEC Playoff & Elig List through the Playoffs
  • Tournament Winner in Past Two Seasons
  • DP World Tour / Korn Ferry Tour / Q-School Category – Reordered
  • Open Qualifying
  • Sponsors Exemptions – Unrestricted
  • PGA Section Champion\Player of the Year
  • Winner – PGA/U.S. Open Championship
  • Reorder Category – Cat. 37 thru 44
  • Career Money Exemption
  • Major Medical Extension

• Previous Winners in the Field (Event):
  • Luke List (’23), Mackenzie Hughes (’22), Cameron Champ (’18), Ryan Armour (’17), Cody Gribble (’16), Peter Malnati (’15), Bill Hass (’10)

• Debutants in the Field (Event):
  • Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Blaine Hale, Jr., Chan Kim, Christopher Gotterup, Hayden Springer, Hunter Logan, Jacob Bridgeman, Joe Highsmith, Mac Meissner, Matt McCarty, Michael Thorbjornsen, Nick Dunlap, Parker Coody, Patrick Fishburn, Pierceson Coody, Raul Pereda, Reed Hughes, Rickie Fowler, Rico Hoey, Ryan Fox, Ryan McCormick, Ryo Hisatsune, Sami Valimaki, Tom Whitney, Trace Crowe

• Sponsors Exemptions:
  • Henrik Norlander, Hunter Logan, Cody Gribble, Ryan Armour, Bill Haas, Brandt Snedeker

• Players with ties to Mississippi in the Field:
  • Birthplace:
    • Hunter Logan – Steens, Mississippi
    • Wilson Furr – Jackson, Mississippi
    • Chad Ramey – Tupelo, Mississippi
    • Davis Riley – Hattiesburgh, Mississippi
  • College:
    • Hunter Logan – Mississippi State University
    • Chad Ramey – Mississippi State University
    • Reed Hughes – Ole Miss

• Notable Withdraws/ Changes:
  • None

The Odds:

Here are the current favorites for this week’s event, along with a summary of their recent form and course history:

Nick Dunlap (+2200) secured his first two PGA Tour victories last season, winning both the American Express and the Barracuda Championship. He’s coming off strong performances, with a T31 finish at the BMW Championship and a T5 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. This will be his debut at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Seamus Power (+2200) finished T26 in his most recent professional outing at the Amgen Irish Open. This marks his seventh appearance in the Sanderson Farms Championship, where he has only cracked the top 20 twice in his previous six starts.

Keith Mitchell (+2200) ended his season on a high note, finishing T12 at the Wyndham Championship, though he didn’t advance to the second round of the FedExCup Playoffs. He kept up his momentum with a 12th-place finish at the Procore Championship, the first event of the FedExCup Fall series. Despite four prior attempts at this event, Mitchell has yet to make the cut.

Mackenzie Hughes (+2500), the only player in the field to have competed in last week’s Presidents Cup, finished T4 at the Procore Championship, continuing his strong play. A past winner of the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2022, this will be his fifth appearance at the event.

Maverick McNealy (+2500) missed the cut at the Procore Championship in his last start. He’s making his fourth appearance at the Sanderson Farms Championship, with his best finish coming last year when he placed T17.

Tournament Props:

Playoff:

• Will There Be a Playoff at the Sanderson Farms Championship? (Yes +350 / No -500)

A playoff has determined the Sanderson Farms winner two years in a row and three of the last five seasons. In 2023, Luke List defeated Ludvig Aberg, Ben Griffin, Henrik Norlander, and Scott Stallings in a five man playoff. In the year prior, Mackenzie Hughes defeated Sepp Straka.

Hole-in-One:

• Will There Be A Hole-in-One at the Sanderson Farms Championship? (Yes -145 / No +100)

In 2023, there we no holes in one made at this tournament. However, in 2022, there were two holes in one made both coming on the Hole No. 4.

Recent Horses for Courses (Event):

Recent Donkeys for Courses (Event):

Previous Winners Scores, Prices, and Strokes Gained (Rank at Tournament):

• 2023: Luke List (-18)
  • Price: 50-1

• 2022: Mackenzie Hughes (-17)
  • Price: 110-1

• 2021: Sam Burns (-22)
  • Price: 16-1

• 2020: Sergio Garcia (-19)
  • Price: 70-1

• 2019: Sebastian Munoz (-18)
  • Price: 66-1

Previous Winners Incoming Form (Last 5 Starts):

• 2023: Luke List
  • T25 – Fortinent Championship (PGA)
  • T35 – Genesis Scottish Open (PGA)
  • WD- Rocket Mortgage Classic (PGA)
  • T33 – Travelers Championship (PGA)
  • MC – U.S. Open (MAJ)

• 2022: Mackenzie Hughes
  • T25 – Fortinet Championship (PGA)
  • T58 – BMW Championship (PGA)
  • T46 – FedEx St. Jude Championship (PGA)
  • MC – Wyndham Championship (PGA)
  • MC – Rocket Mortgage Classic (PGA)

• 2021: Sam Burns
  • T18 – TOUR Championship (PGA)
  • 8 – BMW Championship (PGA)
  • T21 – THE NORTHERN TRUST (PGA)
  • T2 – WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational (PGA)
  • T76 – The Open Championship (MAJ)

• 2020: Sergio Garcia
  • MC – U.S. Open (MAJ)
  • MC – Safeway Open (MAJ)
  • T66 – Wyndham Championship (PGA)
  • MC – PGA Championship (PGA)
  • T35 – WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational (PGA)

• 2019: Sebastian Munoz
  • T7 – A Military Tribute (PGA)
  • T43 – THE NORTHERN TRUST (PGA)
  • T48 – Wyndham Championship (PGA)
  • 11 – Barracuda Championship (PGA)
  • T9 – Barbasol Championship (PGA)

Previous Winners Finishes at Event:

2023: Luke List

2022: Mackenzie Hughes

2021: Sam Burns

2020: Sergio Garcia

• Tournament Debut

2019: Sebastian Munoz

Picks:

Apologies for the lack of write-ups this week, as I’ve been traveling. If you’d like to know the reasoning behind any of my selections, feel free to send me a direct message on X (Twitter).

Outrights:

• J.J. Spaun (+3300) – FanDuel
  • Risk 0.25 to win 8.25 Units

• Patrick Fishburn (+3500) – FanDuel
  • Risk 0.23 to win 8.05 Units

• Taylor Moore (+5000) – BetMGM
  • Risk 0.16 to win 8.00 Units

• Doug Ghim (+5500) – BetMGM
  • Risk 0.15 to win 8.25 Units

• Henrik Norlander (+7000) – FanDuel
  • Risk 0.12 to win 8.40 Units

• Pierceson Coody (+8000) – FanDuel
  • Risk 0.10 to win 8.00 Units

• Nick Hardy (+9000) – FanDuel
  • Risk 0.09 to win 8.10 Units

Total Risk on Outrights: 1.10 Units

Top 20 (including ties):

• Rico Hoey (+200) – DraftKings
  • Risk 1.00 to win 2.00 Units

• Mac Meissner (+200) – DraftKings
  • Risk 1.00 to win 2.00 Units

• Charley Hoffman (+220) – DraftKings
  • Risk 1.00 to win 2.20 Units

Total Risk on Top 20s: 3.00 Units

Total Risk on the Sanderson Farms Championship: 4.10 Units 

Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting. Any feedback whether positive or negative is always encouraged.