The PGA Tour returns following a terrific Presidents Cup with a enjoyable Sanderson Farms Championship to kick-start the remainder of the final fall as we all know it for the foreseeable future. The event in Jackson, Mississippi, has change into a enjoyable fall staple — the kind of throwback PGA Tour occasion that does not actually outline the Tour anymore however gives a terrific launching pad for younger expertise and a pleasant touchdown spot for previous stalwarts.
Sam Burns, recent off his first Staff USA occasion, rolled in because the defending champion and he performed properly on the primary day on the Nation Membership of Jackson. Nevertheless, he nonetheless trails the leaders — and there are numerous them — after 18 holes.
Let’s check out his spherical in addition to who else is within the hunt this week.
The leaders
T1. Davis Riley, Will Gordon (-6)
Riley is someone who has been talked about as a possible future Presidents Cup and even Ryder Cup participant, and maybe that is the start of that march towards Rome subsequent yr. That sounds ridiculous given the depth the U.S. has, however Riley is a terrific expertise, and we regularly see 3-5 gamers drop off yr over yr on these U.S. groups.
“I really feel like I performed actually strong,” Riley mentioned. “I really feel prefer it was laborious to get actually, actually near numerous pins simply because the greens have been rolling out, the wind up there. It is laborious to have a ton of alternatives, however yeah, I felt like I had a extremely strong day. The best way I used to be taking part in, I really feel like if I simply stored occurring, I’d be fairly near up there. To maintain it stress-free was very nice.”
One factor to regulate is that although Riley hit it properly, he additionally rode a extremely sizzling putter in Spherical 1 (fifth within the subject) to that 6-under rating. He has the tee-to-green chops to again it up, but it surely’s price contemplating as we roll into the subsequent three rounds.
Different contenders
T3. Andrew Putnam, Brandon Matthews, Kevin Yu, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Mark Hubbard, Thomas Detry, Trevor Cone (-5)
T10. Nick Taylor, Kevin Roy, Russell Knox, S.H. Kim (-4)
Keep watch over Matthews. He obtained married on Saturday and joked that his spouse all the time dreamed of honeymooning in Jackson. He is one of many longest good gamers on the earth off the tee, and he gained almost three strokes from tee to inexperienced Thursday. Matthews profitable this week could be a terrific really feel good story.
“I contemplate myself one of many luckiest guys on the earth to have the ability to do this for a residing as a result of I adore it a lot,” Matthews mentioned. “To have enjoyable over the subsequent three days, not put a ton of stress on myself and simply exit and get pleasure from it.”
Burns returns
A 3-time winner a yr in the past, Burns is definitely the category of this subject, and he performed properly sufficient with a 2-under 70 on Thursday to remain within the high three of the betting odds (see beneath). The excellent news for Burns every week after he hit a bevy of lengthy putts to assist the U.S. to its win at Quail Hole is that he did not putt properly in any respect and has numerous room for enchancment (and maybe a second straight win right here) over the subsequent three days.
“This event means rather a lot to me, such as you mentioned,” Burns mentioned. “It is near residence, and I get pleasure from coming again right here. I sit up for seeing numerous acquainted faces this week. I’ve gotten to know numerous the Sanderson Farms household actually properly, and it has been nice coming again right here. I am excited for the subsequent few days.”
2022 Sanderson Farms Championship up to date odds and picks
- Davis Riley: 11/2
- Will Gordon: 10-1
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout: 11-1
- Thomas Detry: 12-1
- Sam Burns: 14-1
- Andrew Putnam: 18-1
Riley is compelling as a winner however not essentially at this quantity. Bezuidenhout, then again, is an fascinating decide provided that he is coming off a profitable Presidents Cup and led this subject from tee to inexperienced Thursday. Burns, too, is a pleasant quantity, given his firepower and the way poorly he putted (a hundred and fifth within the subject) on Thursday. These are the 2 guys that I’d be on forward of Riley.
