The PGA Tour returns after the Ryder Cup hiatus with the Sanderson Farms Classic at The Country Club in Jackson, Mississippi. It is a tournament that traces its roots back to 1968 with the likes of Fred Funk, Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia and Sam Burns on the winners list.
Key Stats/Skill Set Required
- Birdie or Better
- GIR
- Strokes Gained: Putting
- Strokes Gained: Off The Tee
- Strokes Gained Tee To Green
- Bogey Avoidance
- Driving Distance
- Par 4 Scoring
- Proximity: 175-200 Yards
The Country Club of Jackson is a wide open Donald Ross-esque course that benefits length off the tee. Finding the smallish greens is importance. Going low is the norm so looking for scorers.
Key Correlation Courses/Tournaments
- TPC Southwind
- Colonial
- Detroit Golf Club
Talented youngster Michael Thorbjornsen has been a pro for just over a year but has shown plenty with five Top 4 finishes including two runner-ups. He has been in very good form with four Top 21 finishes in his last six starts. Ranks 4th in GIR, 5th in Driving Distance, 10th in Birdie or Better and 12th in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee. Finished T-8 on debut here last season.
Filipino journeyman Rico Hoey has yet to win on the PGA Tour but he does have a Korn Ferry Tour win to his name with a win in the Knoxville Open in 2023. He has finished T-11 or better in three of his last six starts so is going well. He leads the Tour in GIR while he ranks 2nd in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee and 2nd in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green.
Former Ryder Cup hero Nicolai Hojgaard missed selection this year but looks a good hope of overcoming that disappointment with his first PGA Tour win. He has started to find his best form with four Top 25 finishes in his last eight starts including a T-2 at the British Masters two starts back. Ranks 4th in Driving Distance, 6th in GIR and 9th in Birdie or Better.
Jesper Svensson looks a runner at big odds with a nice profile. He ranks 3rd in Driving Distance, 6th in Birdie or Better and 13th in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee. Finished T-16 at the Open Championship this year so clearly has ability.
Andrew Putnam is a tour veteran who has a lovely profile for this and can contend at big odds. Putnam ranks 2nd in Bogey Avoidance, 10th in Par 4 Scoring, 13th in GIR and 14th in Strokes Gained: Putting. Putnam has finished inside the Top 30 in his last visit here.
Very keen on Rico Hoey’s ability from the tee to put him in a position to win this. The Top Asian market is the best way to bet him.
The veteran eight-time PGA Tour winner, Matt Kuchar, has rediscovered some of his old form with three Top 25s in his last five starts. He profiles nicely and is value to finish inside the Top 20.