Barely out of Ryder Cup week, we return 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 contender Sergio Garcia is on the pitch.
What led to his victory and what generally matters at Jackson Country Club? Let’s dive in and figure it all out.
Country Club of Jackson Course Information
Through: 72
Distance: 7,461
Medium green size: 6,200 square feet
Green type: Bermuda
Stimpmeter: 12.5
Last 5 winning scores: -19, -18, -21, -19, -20
Last 5 cutting lines: -3, -3, -1, -1, -2
Sitting over 7,400 yards, Jackson’s CC rates about 100 yards more than the typical par 72 of the PGA Tour rotation, which has led to the emphasis on driving distance, which we’ll come back to in a moment. Bermuda greens are average in size and speed.
Scores are low, however, and it took at least -18 to clinch a victory in Mississippi in the past five years – and a below-average score in at least two rounds to make the cut.
Hole by hole distribution of the Country Club of Jackson
| Country Club by Jackson |
Through | 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% |
| ten | 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 is a lot of variation in hole distances here, but only five holes are really rated at least 90% or at least 110% as long as the averages are at the same par. The short holes feature a 168-yard par 3, and there is also a 330-yard par 4, which is historically the third easiest hole via FantasyNational. This makes it easier than two of the four par 5. It is quite remarkable. There are also two long par 4s to balance it out.
Key stats for the Sanderson Farms Championship at Jackson Country Club
– Driving distance
– Wins won: Approach
– Strokes won: off the tee
– Birdie or Better Rate
– Wins won: put on Bermuda
The key stats haven’t changed much in the last two weeks for the Fortinet Championship, but we’re right in the goal season with the need to go low on those courses during the swing portion of the calendar.
The setup and overall length just led to a big emphasis on driving distance on the course; however, very different hitters in Cameron Champ (2019) and Ryan Armor (2018) won here.
Golfers with a Great Course History at Jackson Country Club
Among the golfers with at least two starts here since 2012, these are those who have won at least 1.5 strokes per round at Country Club in 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 I (1.6)
– Cody Gribble (1.5)
Former Jackson Country Club winners who have been on the pitch include all since 2014 except Cameron Champ: Sergio Garcia (2020), Sebastian Munoz (2019), Ryan Armor (2017), Cody Gribble (2016), Peter Malnati (2015), and Nick Taylor (2014).
