JACKSON, Miss. — David Skinns of England set a private finest and a course document with a 12-under 60 to steer the Sanderson Farms Championship on Thursday. And he could not assist however be somewhat disillusioned.
Skinns ran off six birdies on the again 9 and 6 extra on the entrance 9 on the Nation Membership of Jackson, and he confronted one final birdie putt from simply inside 10 ft on his ultimate gap. It by no means had an opportunity, lacking on the low aspect.
Skinns, 42, nonetheless had a three-shot lead over Michael Thorbjornsen.
“What number of 9-footers are you going to get to shoot 59?” Skinns mentioned. “I am certain I am not going to get many. Robust to not be somewhat bit disillusioned, however I actually wish to simply look again on how in management mentally I felt, how I stored attacking. Wasn’t actually enthusiastic about the long run in any respect, which is type of the factor I am going to remove from at this time.”
The long run is an enormous a part of the Sanderson Farms Championship, one in every of eight PGA Tour occasions within the “FedEx Cup Fall” that determines the 125 gamers who preserve a full card for subsequent yr.
Skinns was at No. 108, and his 60 provides him an enormous step in the best course.
Former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland, making regular progress from mind surgical procedure a yr in the past, played-bogey free for a 64 and was tied with Ben Griffin.
Rickie Fowler, enjoying for the primary time because the British Open as a result of he missed the FedEx Cup playoffs and his spouse gave delivery to their second daughter, hit two photographs within the water however rallied for a 69. Fowler is at No. 110 however has one other yr of full exemption from successful the Rocket Mortgage Traditional final yr.
Skinns hit solely 5 fairways, however he was hardly ever out of place. The 2 instances he was not on the placing inexperienced in regulation he made birdie. He additionally holed birdie putts of 55 ft and 25 ft throughout the spherical, and 5 different birdies outdoors 10 ft.
“Nice to see a pair go in that possibly some days do not,” Skinns mentioned. “Simply type of catapulted, and I used to be in a position to preserve the momentum going, which is what I used to be most happy about. I by no means actually thought in regards to the rating an excessive amount of, simply the place I used to be going to hit the following shot.”
Matt McCarty opened with a 66 in his first begin as a PGA Tour member. He gained three time this yr on the Korn Ferry Tour to earn a promotion.
Mackenzie Hughes, Lucas Glover and Patton Kizzire, who gained the primary FedEx Cup Fall occasion on the Procore Championship, had been within the massive group at 67. Hughes gained the Sanderson Farms Championship two years in the past when he was left off the Presidents Cup workforce. He’s enjoying this yr every week after he made his Presidents Cup debut.
He’s No. 51 within the FedEx Cup and can get into the primary two $20 million signature occasions if he stays within the prime 60. The Canadian does not plan to play for a month, so not even coming off the Presidents Cup was going to cease him.
“Monday was principally sober up; Tuesday restoration and relaxation, journey right here; Wednesday was only a gentle day with the pro-am and a little bit of follow,” Hughes mentioned. “Felt like Wednesday night I had caught my breath and was prepared to return out right here at this time. Clearly it is a massive excessive to return off from final week, however my job continues to be right here and I used to be able to go.”
Thorbjornsen completed No. 1 within the PGA Tour College rating, that means the Stanford grad already has a full card for subsequent yr. Ending the yr within the prime 125 would enhance his precedence to get into tournaments.
As for Skinns, he left the Nation Membership of Jackson enthusiastic about one putt that missed and decided to recollect the 12 that went in.
“I had it about most likely a ball outdoors the cup. If I might do it once more I would have it a cup outdoors. Simply broke far more than I assumed,” Skinns mentioned. “Simply so occurred that that was for a 59. However there have been quite a bit on the market that I acquired proper, so I will deal with those that I acquired proper.”
Reed Hughes opened with a 76, notable as a result of he’s the oldest man within the subject at 71. Hughes certified for the Sanderson Farms Championship by successful the PGA part championship for the Gulf States.
