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Power Rankings: Sanderson Farms Championship
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September 27, 2021
By Rob Bolton , PGATOUR.COM
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Will Zalatoris tallied up eight top-10 finishes last season on the PGA TOUR. (Stan Badz/PGA TOUR)
Now that that limited-field exhibition event contested only once every other year is over, we can return to focusing on golf that actually matters!
OK, OK, don’t hurl your 1-iron in this direction … as you might damage your screen. Still, unlike the Ryder Cup, the Sanderson Farms Championship contributes to the FedExCup. Yes, performance in the FedExCup contributes to qualifying for and raising awareness to be called upon to play in the Ryder Cup, so, and of course, the biennial competition matters. Don’t be silly.
And hey, what better segue into the Sanderson Farms since the defending champion is Sergio Garcia. He was Europe’s inaugural recipient of the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award presented by Aon on Sunday. Scroll past the ranking of projected contenders for the relevance of the timing of this tournament, how the Country Club of Jackson is expected to challenge and more.
RANK PLAYER COMMENT 15 
Cam Davis The Aussie hasn’t kept it floored since his breakthrough title in Detroit this summer, but he hasn’t regressed, either. His T6 here last year was highlighted by a field-low-tying 63 in the third round.The Aussie hasn’t kept it floored since his breakthrough title in Detroit this summer, but he hasn’t regressed, either. His T6 here last year was highlighted by a field-low-tying 63 in the third round.
14 
Seamus Power One of the summer darlings has rested for a month, so he’ll be ready to get back after it at CC of Jackson where he’s posted a pair of top 20s. Eleven straight TOUR cuts made upon arrival.
One of the summer darlings has rested for a month, so he’ll be ready to get back after it at CC of Jackson where he’s posted a pair of top 20s. Eleven straight TOUR cuts made upon arrival.
13 
Harold Varner III No reason to deviate after he delivered on his promise with a T16 at the Fortinet Championship where his putting was clutch. It was his third straight top 20 and fifth in seven starts.
No reason to deviate after he delivered on his promise with a T16 at the Fortinet Championship where his putting was clutch. It was his third straight top 20 and fifth in seven starts.
12 
Sebastián Muñoz He’s been hot and mostly cold throughout 2021, but CC of Jackson extends a warm welcome. The 2019 breakthrough winner is 4-for-4 with a scoring average of 69.63 in 16 rounds.
He’s been hot and mostly cold throughout 2021, but CC of Jackson extends a warm welcome. The 2019 breakthrough winner is 4-for-4 with a scoring average of 69.63 in 16 rounds.
11 
C.T. Pan The Olympics bronze medalist rode an uncharacteristically hot putter to a T6 at Silverado two weeks ago. He did the same en route to a T12 here last year. Both are reminders of his firepower.
The Olympics bronze medalist rode an uncharacteristically hot putter to a T6 at Silverado two weeks ago. He did the same en route to a T12 here last year. Both are reminders of his firepower.
10 
Scott Stallings Doubling down on the converging trends for the streaky 2012 champ (at Annandale). Opened 2021-22 with a T6 at Silverado and finished T6 at CC of Jackson last year. Overall, he’s 5-for-6 here.
Doubling down on the converging trends for the streaky 2012 champ (at Annandale). Opened 2021-22 with a T6 at Silverado and finished T6 at CC of Jackson last year. Overall, he’s 5-for-6 here.
9 
Sergio Garcia Despite cachet, his win last year came out of nowhere. He wasn’t exhibiting any form and he was a tournament debutant. Now he arrives sharp but likely emotionally spent after the Ryder Cup.
Despite cachet, his win last year came out of nowhere. He wasn’t exhibiting any form and he was a tournament debutant. Now he arrives sharp but likely emotionally spent after the Ryder Cup.
8 
Keegan Bradley You’d expect his power and precision to do damage at CC of Jackson, and it did en route to a T4 in his debut last year. He paced the field in total driving and co-led in par-5 scoring.
You’d expect his power and precision to do damage at CC of Jackson, and it did en route to a T4 in his debut last year. He paced the field in total driving and co-led in par-5 scoring.
7 
Kevin Streelman He’s been a regular at the Sanderson Farms since 2015. It’s paid off in the form of a T18 (2016), a T10 (2017) and a T4 (2019). The ball-striker ended last season with six top 20s in 10 starts.
He’s been a regular at the Sanderson Farms since 2015. It’s paid off in the form of a T18 (2016), a T10 (2017) and a T4 (2019). The ball-striker ended last season with six top 20s in 10 starts.
6 
Corey Conners The world-class ball-striker has been a fixture in this tournament since his rookie season of 2017-18. The loyalty has paid him back with a runner-up finish in 2018 and a T17 last year.
The world-class ball-striker has been a fixture in this tournament since his rookie season of 2017-18. The loyalty has paid him back with a runner-up finish in 2018 and a T17 last year.
5 
Charley Hoffman In opening the season with a T22 at Silverado, he didn’t blink despite finishing 32nd in the FedExCup. So consistently strong since February. Also 3-for-3 here with a T6 a year ago.
In opening the season with a T22 at Silverado, he didn’t blink despite finishing 32nd in the FedExCup. So consistently strong since February. Also 3-for-3 here with a T6 a year ago.
4 
Sungjae Im Playoff victim in 2019, a scoring average of 68.625 in last eight rounds here, ended 2020-21 strong and a machine across the board. Also the TOUR’s single-season record-holder with 498 birdies.
Playoff victim in 2019, a scoring average of 68.625 in last eight rounds here, ended 2020-21 strong and a machine across the board. Also the TOUR’s single-season record-holder with 498 birdies.
3 
Sam Burns Figures to be a mainstay in the Power Rankings after a breakout season in which he won his first TOUR event and recorded eight top 10s. Fifth start at CC of Jackon; placed T3 in 2018.
Figures to be a mainstay in the Power Rankings after a breakout season in which he won his first TOUR event and recorded eight top 10s. Fifth start at CC of Jackon; placed T3 in 2018.
2 
Mito Pereira Burst through the gates of his rookie season with a solo third at Silverado where he led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. It was his third top-six finish in his last five PGA TOUR starts.
Burst through the gates of his rookie season with a solo third at Silverado where he led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. It was his third top-six finish in his last five PGA TOUR starts.
1 
Will Zalatoris You love to see it. With the kind of tough schedule he’s going to build, this is as good a time as any to pick off his first TOUR victory. Can’t expect it, but it’s not unfair to expect him to contend.
You love to see it. With the kind of tough schedule he’s going to build, this is as good a time as any to pick off his first TOUR victory. Can’t expect it, but it’s not unfair to expect him to contend.
Matthew Wolff, Cameron Tringale, Si Woo Kim and 2015 champion (and 2020 runner-up) Peter Malnati will be among the notables reviewed in the Fantasy Insider.
With autumn upon us in the Northern Hemisphere, daylight hours are dwindling, so the field at the County Club of Jackson reserves space for 144 golfers instead of the maximum of 156 for an open. It’ll be the norm for a while, too. The next 156-man individual competition on a singular course won’t be staged until the Wells Fargo Championship in early May.
In the interim, there are four multiple-course tournaments that will be hosting 156 in November, January and February, there are a pair of additional events in March and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April has a PGA TOUR-high 160 in play for its two-man team format, so there will be opportunities to play regularly for the top performers, but it’s also a reminder for why position in the opening order of the Korn Ferry Tour graduate reshuffle category is as vital as securing a TOUR card. As of Monday, 2021 grads who aren’t on medical extensions comprised the first three alternates at the SFC.
Those who do play will find a lush track in central Mississippi. CC of Jackson is a stock par 72 measuring 7,461 yards. Last year’s field averaged 71.081, essentially what’s expected. Garcia prevailed by one stroke at 19-under 269, also within the bull’s-eye.
There is an elevated challenge to split fairways but it exists in the shadow of distance off the tee. Garcia led – Garcia … led! – the field in distance of all drives (306.6 yards) and in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee. He also co-led in greens in regulation (15 per round) and paced the field in SG: Tee-to-Green. The precision has been his profile throughout a sparkling career, but he still needed to pay it off with the putter. Naturally, he did in finishing 28th in SG: Putting (saving almost three strokes in 72 holes) and 12th in converting GIR into par breakers.
Because greens are tricky and the four par 5s are difficult on average, the tournament swings the door wide open for all skill sets to contend. Putting percentages in most ranges inside 10 feet perennially are among the most unfriendly as compared to all courses lasered by ShotLink, so a hot putter has just as strong of a chance to emerge with victory as a bomber like Garcia(!) or, say, Cameron Champ, who connected for his first PGA TOUR title here in 2018. True to his strength, Champ led his field in distance of all drives, but he also slotted second in SG: Putting.
Speaking of Garcia and Champ, the Spaniard ended the tournament’s six-year run of breakthrough champions, all since CC of Jackson debuted as host in 2014. The first five occurred when the SFC was an additional event, so that’s not surprising, but there were no KFT grads last year. Now, with a fresh class and its momentum entering this week, it also wouldn’t be surprising if the 2021 champion is a first-timer.
Summertime weather spills into the picture as warm and humid conditions are expected throughout the tournament. Daytime highs will reach the upper 80s and there’s a fair chance of a pop-up boomer or two on Thursday. The threat returns fractionally on the weekend. Winds will be light away from the energy.
Bermuda greens are prepped to run 13 feet on the Stimpmeter. Any moisture would slow them enough not only for them to fall short of that, but they’d be more receptive on approach. This is how a shootout develops, but low scores are anticipated no matter what. The primary rough is trimmed to 2½ inches, but while accuracy of the tee can be forgiven, collection areas across the property have been restored, so precision with the irons should be highlighted in the playbook.
ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE
PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled.
MONDAY: Power Rankings
TUESDAY: Sleepers; Fantasy Insider
SUNDAY: Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Rookie Ranking
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