Several Rookies in Contention at Sanderson Farms Championship
Leader Grayson Murray is one of several rookies with a chance to win after 36 holes
There’s nothing like watching the game’s elite playing at their best to win week in and week out, but there’s a refreshing joy to seeing less heralded players in contention for their first win too. While the WGC-HSBC Champions is waged in China, a rookie holds the top spot in the PGA Tour’s Sanderson Farms Championship through 36 holes.
If you’re going to see a rookie and/or first-timer break through for a victory on Tour, there’s a good chance it’s going to come in the fall events that unceremoniously ring in the 2016-2017 season.
In October through November’s first six tournaments (not counting the HSBC), the first three winners were rookies and five of six won for the first time.
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Grayson Murray (67-65, -12), who I mentioned was a rookie to watch out for this season, is the leading candidate to pick up last year’s trend.
The 23-year-old bounced around to four colleges and questions swirled if the once elite junior golfer was prepared for the PGA Tour. He may not have been fully ready at the Safeway Open two weeks ago where he missed the cut, but Murray came to play on Thursday and Friday in Mississippi.
Like many young guns hitting the circuit, Murray can mash it. He’s averaging over 330 yards off the tee and finding 71.43% of fairways this week, dominating stats that can mask even a poor -1.311 strokes gained putting average.
We’ll see if he can hold up under the pressures to come, but Murray is just a month removed from his first professional win. He prevailed at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the final Web.com Tour Finals event that featured dozens of guys who happen to be teeing it up this week.
Seamus Power (65-69, -10) is another rookie in contention at the Country Club of Jackson, sitting just one back and in a tie for second with journeyman, Greg Owen (67-67, -10). The Irishman with a name more apt for MMA or WWE, played at the Olympics and has a backstory that also involves snatching Rory McIlroy’s forgone collegiate scholarship at East Tennessee State. A win this week would go a long way to garner recognition for more than a quirky name or to be the answer of a trivia question.
In total, five of the 13 golfers tied for eighth or better are rookies and eight guys in total are vying to make the big ol’ bronze chanticleer trophy their first on Tour.
Graham DeLaet (66-69, -9) is a headliner in the “I can’t believe he hasn’t won yet” division. He’s some prognosticators’ favorite, sitting tied for fourth on moving day
The weekend is sure to bring some chaos. Twenty-two players hover within five shots in a tournament where it’s hard to peg any one player to run away and hide. Sure, you can chug a Red Bull or two to stay awake this weekend to see if Rory gets it done in Shanghai. Those guys over there are already proven.
The future faces of the Tour will be on display in Mississippi, and wouldn’t you want to say you saw Player X’s career take off before anyone else? The next Spieth or Rickie might not be in Mississippi this week, but the depth of talent in professional growth continues to grow and it will be on display in the final 36 holes for the devoted fans tuning in.
Next: Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia: Round Two Takeaways
36-Hole Top 10 Leaderboard
1. Grayson Murray — 67-65, -12
T2. Seamus Power — 65-69, -10
T2. Greg Owen — 67-67, -10
T4. Graham DeLaet — 66-69, -9
T4. Brandon Hagy — 68-67, -9
T4. Lucas Glover — 66-69, -9
T4. Trey Mullinax — 65-70, -9
T8. Five tied at -8