2023 Sanderson Farms Championship: Top 10 power rankings

Mackenzie Hughes is back to defend his title at Country Club of Jackson.

The Canadian posted 71-63-68-69 to reach a playoff where he defeated Sepp Straka. A birdie got it done on the second extra hole.

Hughes led the field in strokes gained tee-to-green as well as scrambling, where he finished at 91.67%. That type of short game magic was no fluke; Hughes was eighth last season in SG around-the-green.

It helped that Hughes found only three bunkers all week. He’s a solid putter who was tops in putts per round (25.5). Hughes also tied for fewest bogeys with four and made no double bogeys or worse.

Hughes has made the cut all three times at the Sanderson Farms Championship. He took T-26th in 2016 and T-35th in 2021. Eleven of his 12 rounds at this event have been under par.

The 32-year-old has made three cuts in his last four starts on the PGA Tour. Last season, Hughes piled up nine top-30 finishes, which included the Sanderson win and a run to the quarterfinals at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

Hughes tends to play his best golf this time of year. His other PGA Tour win came as a rookie at the 2016 RSM Classic.

He noted late in the season how much of a grind professional golf can be for a player like him. I think some time off after the FedEx Cup Playoffs, as well as a return to a site of past success this week in Mississippi, will rejuvenate Hughes.