Coq au vin?
Chicken and beer?
Both?
Second event of the 2022-2023 season and first of eight straight weeks leading into the offseason.
Sanderson Farms Championship
Country Club of Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
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Country Club of Jackson
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,461 |
| Par: | 72 (36-36) |
| Greens: | 6,200 square feet; Champion Bermudagrass. |
| Stimpmeter: | 13 feet plus. |
| Rough: | 419 Bermuda/Zoysia at 2 inches. |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards | 56/7 (in play on 5 holes). |
| Architects: | Dick Wilson (1962); John Fought (2008). |
| Course Record: | 61; Will Zalatoris (Round 2, 2022 season). |
| Course Tournament Scoring Record: | 266; Sam Burns (-22, 2022). |
| Facts of the Week: | Hosting for the ninth straight year. The first six winners here broke their maidens on TOUR. |
| Purse: | $7.9 million; $1.422 million winner. |
Notes:
- Field of 144.
- 72 hole stroke play, Top 70 and ties play the weekend.
- All scoring records broken last year.
Recent Winners
Italics – not entered this week
| Year | Winner | Course |
| 2021 | Sam Burns (-22) | Set the tournament scoring record. First start as a pro here. Won on fifth try. |
| 2020 | Sergio Garcia (-19) | Like Burns led the field in SG: Off the Tee, Tee to Green and Ball-Striking. |
| 2019 | Sebastian Munoz (-18) | Birdied the 72nd hole to enter a playoff. Defeated Sungjae Im on the first playoff hole in the only playoff at CCofJ. WD Tuesday. |
| 2018 | Cameron Champ (-21) | Led by four after 54 holes and won easily. Also has won at Fortinet. |
| 2017 | Ryan Armour (-19) | Led the field in Proximity and was second SG: Putting. Won by five shots setting the tournament record. |
The previous eight winners have been interesting to say the least. Six of them won for the first time. Seven of them won for the first or second time. The other was Sergio Garcia.
Anyhow.
Ryan Armour won for the first time on TOUR at 41 but the other six were in their 20s.
Thankfully Hurricane Ian won’t be bothering anything in the Mississippi Delta but thoughts and prayers go to the rest of Florida and up the Atlantic coast. Perfect sunshine and cool, for Mississippi this time of year, temps will make for ideal scoring conditions.
This Week – Sanderson Farms Championship
For those of you beautiful bastards and bastardettes playing OAD this fall, I commend you.
I am not.
MENTAL HEALTH BREAK.
Here’s how it works for all of you newbies:
I’ll evaluate the top players identified by my book.
Anybody worse than 25-1 will be DEALER’S CHOICE.
If you don’t see a review of a player you might need, please read the accompanying material. I’m not going to write everything twice.
I will also point out LAWNG SHOTS and FUNNY MUNNY choices for you sickos who need a lottery ticket.
Who doesn’t?
Quick Thoughts on Chalk
Sam Burns (+1000) – King of the court this week as reigning champ and Presidents Cup darling. This isn’t a normal week or a normal defense. The talent is unquestioned the sleep and adulation might be haha!
Sahith Theegala (+2000) – Second choice this week after T6 at Fortinet last time and leading or co-leading here for 54 holes last year. He was the “problem” last year and you’ll find that in shootouts. The door is open to many.
JT Poston (+2500): Shootout master on a course he’s enjoyed over the years makes sense to me. Has no problem going low and racking up par breakers.
Russell Henley (+2500): Ball-Striking and making birdies is never the problem. All three of his wins are on Bermuda. The putter’s heat will determine the payday.
Scott Stallings (+2500): One top 10 in seven starts at CCofJ. He won at Annandale in 2012, a different track. Of his last seven last season five went for T13 or better.
Denny McCarthy (+2500): Massive course horse who just hasn’t finished on Sunday. Sat 18-under after 54 holes here last year.
Eyes On
Davis Riley – Hattiesburg born and bred has seen this course more than many.
Taylor Montgomery – Last two starts on TOUR (non-majors) was T11 last year at Torrey Pines and solo third two weeks ago. Not bothered.
Keegan Bradley – Led after 36 holes in his last visit.
Trey Mullinax – T4 last year and won a shootout at Barbasol last summer. T12 or better in three of his last six on TOUR and PLENTY of ammo to bomb away here.
Harris English – At that price, I can’t ignore it. Plenty of class thru the bag.
Longer Shots
Justin Suh – Interested to see how he rebounds after his first MC in some time.
Justin Lower – Big finish to start in Napa continued an outstanding few months of golf.
Matthew NeSmith – Preferred surface and a monster tee to green.
CT Pan – Sniffing around…
Davis Thompson – T1 GIR last week in cashing his first top 10 (T9) on TOUR.
Ben Silverman – Monday Q has a top 10 here previously.
Glass Houses 