2023 Sanderson Farms Championship: Top 10 power rankings

The golf world turns its eyes from Italy to the Bible Belt for the Sanderson Farms Championship

After a two-week hiatus with deference to the Ryder Cup, the PGA Tour is back in action.

We’re at the Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Mississippi.

This event debuted on the PGA Tour in 1968. It’s bounced around to various courses but has settled at TCCJ since 2014.

There are 27 holes on property. Holes from the Dogwood and Azalea courses comprise the 18 hole composite course used for the tournament.

It plays to a par 72 at 7,400 yards. There is a good variety of medium to long par-4s and par-5s.

Short rough allows bombers to play well at this event.

This is a 144-player field with guys looking to stay in the top 125 to earn their card for next season. Dream bigger, and you could play your way into the PGA Tour’s newly named, big-money Signature Events in 2024.

It’s usually hot and sticky this time of year in Mississippi. That will be the case during practice rounds and the first two tournament days before cooling down on the weekend. Rain doesn’t look like it’ll be a factor.

Let’s see which 10 players are poised to elevate their stock this week at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Nick Hardy is coming off his first career PGA Tour victory last season. He and Davis Riley teamed up to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the spring.

Now, the former Fighting Illini is gunning for a solo title.

The Sanderson Farms Championship provides a prime opportunity to do so.

Hardy is 2-for-2 making the cut at Country Club of Jackson. He posted 70-66-66-71 to take T-26th in 2021 and 70-67-68-70 for T-5th just four shots back last year.

Hardy led the field in 2022 in strokes gained approach and was third in SG tee-to-green. He didn’t make worse than bogey for all 72 holes.

Prior to a missed cut in his last start at the Fortinet Championship, Hardy made five straight cuts with three top-30s. He peaked with T-13th at the 3M Open.

Hardy was an elite amateur and collegiate player. At age 27, it’s still not too late for him to fulfill his potential at the next level.

He’s shown glimmers of great golf since turning pro. Now, it’s time to see it more consistently. Especially now that he’s healthy.

He kept his card and nearly qualified for the second round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the BMW Championship. That was a good step.

Hardy ranked 38th on the PGA tour last season in greens in regulation (67.97%). He gained strokes in every category except for around-the-green.

Hardy ranked 37th in total driving with a score of 145 that combines distance rank (No. 33) and accuracy rank (No. 112).

He’s tops in average approach proximity from greater than 275 yards (54’8”).