WiretoWire: Recapping the Sanderson Farms Championship

BURNS CLOSES IN STYLE IN MISSISSIPPI

A crowded leaderboard with TOUR winners and TOUR rookies awaited the players on Sunday. Then Sam Burns turned on the after-burners on the back nine. Burns, 25, had a stretch of four birdies in five holes late in the final round to pull away and claim the Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson. “It’s huge,” Burns said. “First event of the new season for me. I enjoy coming to this place every year. It’s one of my favorite events.” It was Burns’ second win in five months, with his first PGA TOUR win coming last season at the Valspar Championship. Burns shot a 5-under 67 in the final round, and although he finished 57th in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting, he drove the ball splendidly and scored well enough to pull out the slim victory.

DECHAMBEAU’S INCREDIBLE LONG DRIVE DISPLAY

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Bryson DeChambeau’s golf ball flying by at 219 MPH! A whirlwind two weeks came to an end for DeChambeau in the quarterfinals at the Professional Long Drivers of America World Championships, less than a week after clinching the Ryder Cup with the U.S. Team. “I was super excited to get to the final eight. I never expected that in my first competition. I think I have shown the world that I can perform at these high speeds and still go play golf on the PGA TOUR,” DeChambeau said after catching his breath. Eventual winner Kyle Berkshire, who has mentored the eight-time TOUR winner on his chase for more distance, was full of praise for the crowd favorite. “I am so proud of Bryson. To come out of his domain and hold his own against the absolute best … that is phenomenal.” So what’s next for DeChambeau? A long break is in store until the Hero World Challenge in December, but the need for speed goes on. “220 is the next barrier,” he said. Blink and you’ll miss it.

SHRINERS CHILDREN’S OPEN TAKES SPOTLIGHT

TPC Summerlin welcomes a host of TOUR stars, including 11 of the top 25 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, for the Shriners Children’s Open. Martin Laird defends his title against recent Ryder Cup winners Brooks Koepka, Scottie Scheffler and Harris English as well as Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed and Louis Oosthuizen. Will Zalatoris comes in off a T14 finish at the Sanderson Farms Championship and is still in search of his first TOUR win. Carved into rugged desert terrain and host for nearly two decades, TPC Summerlin has produced both the same winning score (23 under) and a playoff in each of the past two editions. It came down to a playoff 25 years ago when Tiger Woods earned the first of his 81 TOUR titles after defeating Davis Love III. This season’s champion banks 500 FedExCup points and can set their schedule with a two-year TOUR exemption.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Chesson Hadley solves a crossword puzzle made just for him (including an answer involving his “baby giraffe” leap).

MIC CHECK

“The main thing for us was we knew what our game plan was and had a purpose for each shot. We knew if we kind of chipped away at it, it would open up for us.” - Sam Burns on he and his caddie’s approach after winning the Sanderson Farms Championship

“If they're catching up and that's a problem, I'm going to remind our guys and say, ‘Hey, look what they did in Australia.’ … They're not just sitting back going, ‘I hope we win.’ They're planning on how they can win,” - Presidents Cup U.S. Captain Davis Love III on shifting focus to the showdown with Trevor Immelman’s International Team at Quail Hollow in 2022.

BY THE NUMBERS

4th - All-time start on PGA TOUR Champions coming up for Phil Mickelson, who joins a stacked field this week at the inaugural Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS. 

26-29 - The dates in January 2022 when the PGA TOUR will have a Saturday finish at the Farmers Insurance Open.

2 - High-profile caddie stories last week, highlighted by Jim “Bones” Mackay announcing he will serve as Justin Thomas’ full-time caddie. Bubba Watson also announced his partnership with his longtime caddie Ted Scott has ended.

COMCAST BUSINESS TOUR TOP 10

The Comcast Business TOUR TOP 10 highlights and rewards the extraordinary level of play required to earn a spot in the TOP 10 at the conclusion of the FedExCup Regular Season as determined by the FedExCup standings. The competition recognizes and awards the most elite in golf.