Fresh off of Ryder Cup week, we're back to stroke play on the PGA Tour, this time at the Country Club of Jackson for the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Last year's winner and Ryder Cup competitor, Sergio Garcia, is in the field.
What led to his win, and what typically matters at the Country Club of Jackson? Let's dive in and figure it all out.
Country Club of Jackson Course Information
Par: 72
Distance: 7,461
Average Green Size: 6,200 square feet
Green Type: Bermuda
Stimpmeter: 12.5
Past 5 Winning Scores: -19, -18, -21, -19, -20
Past 5 Cut Lines: -3, -3, -1, -1, -2
Sitting at 7,400-plus yards, the CC of Jackson rates out around 100 yards longer than the typical par 72 on the PGA Tour rotation, and that's led to an emphasis on driving distance, which we'll get to in a bit. The bermuda greens are around average in both size and speed.
Scores go low, though, and it's taken at least -18 to net a win in Mississippi the past five years -- and a subpar score through two rounds at least to make the cut.
Country Club of Jackson Hole-by-Hole Breakdown
| Country Club of Jackson | Par | Yards | vs Median PGA Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 411 | 94% |
| 2 | 4 | 418 | 96% |
| 3 | 5 | 591 | 106% |
| 4 | 3 | 181 | 91% |
| 5 | 5 | 612 | 109% |
| 6 | 4 | 482 | 110% |
| 7 | 3 | 214 | 107% |
| 8 | 4 | 403 | 92% |
| 9 | 4 | 421 | 96% |
| 10 | 3 | 223 | 112% |
| 11 | 5 | 554 | 99% |
| 12 | 4 | 449 | 103% |
| 13 | 3 | 168 | 84% |
| 14 | 5 | 584 | 104% |
| 15 | 4 | 330 | 75% |
| 16 | 4 | 479 | 109% |
| 17 | 4 | 436 | 100% |
| 18 | 4 | 505 | 115% |
| Total | 72 | 7,461 | 101% |
There's a lot of variance in the hole distances here, but only five holes really rate out as at least 90% or at least 110% as long as the averages at the same par. The short holes include a 168-yard par 3, and there's also a 330-yard par 4, which plays as the third-easiest hole, historically, via FantasyNational. That makes it easier than two of the four par 5s. That's quite noteworthy. There are also two long par 4s to balance it out.
Key Stats for Sanderson Farms Championship at Country Club of Jackson
- Driving Distance
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
- Birdie or Better Rate
- Strokes Gained: Putting on Bermuda
The key stats haven't changed much since two weeks ago for the Fortinet Championship, but we're just in scoring season with the need to go low at these courses during the swing season portion of the schedule.
The setup and overall length have just led to a big emphasis on driving distance at the course; however, very different hitters in Cameron Champ (2019) and Ryan Armour (2018) have won here.
Golfers With Great Course History at Country Club of Jackson
Among golfers with at least two starts here since 2012, these are the ones who have gained at least 1.5 strokes per round at the Country Club of Jackson, according to FantasyNational.
- Carlos Ortiz (2.2)
- Seung-Yul Noh (1.8)
- Zach Johnson (1.8)
- William McGirt (1.7)
- Denny McCarthy (1.7)
- Sungjae Im (1.6)
- Cody Gribble (1.5)
Past winners at the Country Club of Jackson who are in the field include all since 2014 but Cameron Champ: Sergio Garcia (2020), Sebastian Munoz (2019), Ryan Armour (2017), Cody Gribble (2016), Peter Malnati (2015), and Nick Taylor (2014).