After a two-week pause for the Presidents Cup, the PGA Tour’s FedEx Fall series returns to action with the Sanderson Farms Championship, the long-running tournament contested at the Country Club of Jackson (MS).
The Sanderson Farms stop is the second of eight events on the tour’s fall schedule.
Luke List will return to Mississippi to defend his 2023 title. He will be joined by tournament headliner Rickie Fowler.
Other familiar names in the field include Matt Kuchar, Gary Woodland, Zach Johnson, Lucas Glover, Mackenzie Hughes, Joel Dahmen, Emiliano Grillo, Patton Kizzire, Maverick McNealy, and Jon Vegas, among others.
Here’s a primer for the PGA Tour’s only stop in the Magnolia State.
The Skinny
Tournament: Sanderson Farms Championship
Dates:Â Oct. 3-6, 2024
Tour Debut: 1968
Event Type: FedExCup Fall (2nd of 8)
Where: Jackson, Mississippi
Course:Â Country Club of Jackson
Distance: Par 72, 7,421 yards
Architect: Ronald Fream & David Dale
Format: 128 players, 72 holes, 36-hole cut, stroke play
Purse: $7,600,000
Winning Share: $1,368,000
Defending Champion:Â Luke List
How to Follow the Sanderson Farms Championship
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Sanderson Farms History
The roots of the Sanderson Farms Championship were planted in 1968 when the event was established and called the Magnolia State Classic, playing off Mississippi’s nickname. The first winner was Mac McLendon, but other notable Magnolia champions include Craig Stadler, Roger Maltbie, and Payne Stewart.
In 1986, Deposit Guaranty came on as the tournament’s title sponsor and remained its primary partner through 1998.
The annual event at the Country Club of Jackson changed its name three more times (Southern Farm Bureau, Viking Classic, True South Classic) until 2013 when Sanderson Farms was announced as the title sponsor, which ends following the 2024 edition – a lengthy 11-year run for the poultry company.
One of the primary problems for the Mississippi tournament, relative to securing (and holding) a title sponsor, has been its spot on the tour schedule. It’s been played opposite a major or WGC event and/or scheduled in the fall. In any case, the marquee players on the PGA Tour rarely played in the tournament.
The Sanderson Farms Championship has been played opposite a number of different signature tournaments over the years: 1968: Colonial Invitation; 1969-93: The Masters; 1999-2002, 2005: The Tour Championship; 2007: Presidents Cup; 2008, 2010: Ryder Cup; 1994-98, 2011-13: British Open; 2014-18: WGC-HSBC Champions
Since debuting on tour, in 1968, just three (former or future) major champions have claimed victory at the Magnolia State tournament: Craig Stadler and Payne Stewart before becoming major champions, and Sergio Garica three years after winning the 2017 Masters.
History: Recent Winners
2023 – Luke List (-18)
2022 – Mackenzie Hughes (-17)
2021 – Sam Burns (-22)
2020 – Sergio Garcia (-19)
2019 – Sebastian Munoz (-18)
2018 – Cameron Champ (-21)
2017 – Ryan Armour (-19)
2016 – Cody Gribble (-20)
2015 – Peter Malnati (-18)
History: Tournament Names
-Sanderson Farms Championship (2013-2024)
-True South Classic (2012)
-Viking Classic (2007-11)
-Southern Farm Bureau Classic (1999-2006)
-Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic (1986-98)
-Magnolia Classic (1968-85)
History: Records
WINS
2 – Dwight Nevil (1973-74)
2 – Brian Henninger (1994, 1999)
2 – Fred Funk (1998, 2004)
SCORING
264 (-24) – Scott Stallings (2012)
VICTORY MARGIN
5 – Ryan Armour (2017)
5 – Frank Conner (1988)
Sanderson Farms Course
The Country Club of Jackson (Mississippi) opened in 1914. The club is private and features 27 championship holes, 18 of which were re-designed by John Fought in 2008 and measure 7,461 yards from the championship tees.
Fought’s layout incorporates classic Donald Ross flavor – parkland style routing with smallish, tricky greens, which range in size from 5,000 to 8,500 square feet but average 6,200 sf.
For the Sanderson Farms event, the Dogwood nine and Azalea nine will make up the championship course.
The Jackson track has hosted the annual PGA Tour event since 2014.
Fun fact: Adjacent to the course is a camp called Mule Jail. The name came from the Civil War when locals hid horses and mules on a high spot there next to the Pearl River so the Union soldiers would not capture them.
Championship Course Skinny
Super: Stanley Reedy, CGCS, GCSAA
Holes: 18 (9 Dogwood, 9 Azalea)
Yards: 7,461
Avg Green Size: 6,200 sf
Sand Bunkers: 56
Water Hazards: 7
Holes w/ Water in Play: 5
Drainage: Good
Greens: Champion Bermudagrass
Tees: 419 bermuda / Zeon zoysia
Fairways: 419 bermudagrass
Rough: 419 bermuda / Zeon zoysia
Sanderson Farms Field & Odds
The field in Mississippi features the tour’s most recent winner in Patton Kizzire, defending Sanderson Farms champion Luke List and tournament headliner Rickie Fowler.
In terms of the bookmakers, Keith Mitchell and Nick Dunlap are the tournament favorites at 22-1, while Ben Griffin, Maverick McNealy and Seamus Power round out the top-5 players with the best odds at 25-1.
Up next was the trio of J.J. Spaun, Mackenzie Hughes, and Patrick Fishburn, who were being offered at 28-1. Finally, Eric Cole and Patrick Rodgers round out the top-10 favorites at 30-1.
Top-10 Betting Favorites
1. Keith Mitchell (22-1)
1. Nick Dunlap (22-1)
3. Ben Griffin (25-1)
3. Maverick McNealy (25-1)
3. Seamus Power (25-1)
6. J.J. Spaun (28-1)
6. Mackenzie Hughes (28-1)
6. Patrick Fishburn (28-1)
9. Eric Cole (30-1)
9. Patrick Rodgers (30-1)
Full Field & Odds
Credit: PGA Tour Media, Getty Images, Joel Cook
