This article is part of our Yahoo PGA DFS Picks series.
Sanderson Farms Championship
Jackson, Mississippi
Country Club of Jackson - Par 72 - 7,461 yards
Field - 144 entrants
Purse - $7M
The Preview
The future of American golf is bright after Team USA asserted its dominance along the coast of Lake Michigan at the Ryder Cup hosted by Whistling Straits this past weekend, but Sergio Garcia is the only participant making the journey down to Mississippi to defend his title at the Sanderson Farms Championship. The Country Club of Jackson, which features quick bermuda greens and a quartet of lengthy par-fives, has played host to the 144-man field since 2014. Much like the Fortinet Championship earlier this month, a weaker field allows a larger contingent of the 2021-22 rookie crop to be in attendance, and who doesn't love a first-time winner? Especially when they're 100/1 or more on the outright market.
Recent Champions
2020 - Sergio Garcia
2019 - Sebastian Munoz
2018 - Cameron Champ
2017 - Ryan Armour
2016 - Cody Gribble
2015 - Peter Malnati
2014 - Nick Taylor
Key Stats to Victory
SG: Putting (Bermuda)
Birdie or better percentage
Par-5: 550-600 efficiency
Proximity: 100-150 yards
Yahoo Value Picks
Based on $200 salary cap
Cream of the Crop
Will Zalatoris - $45
The PGA Tour's reigning Rookie of the Year opened his sophomore campaign with a T11 at the Fortinet Championship, where he gained over nine strokes on the field from tee to green. Zalatoris is comfortably $5 under the $50 ceiling, and per usual on Yahoo, there should be no issues rounding out a competitive lineup with the highest-salaried option included as an anchor.
Sam Burns - $42
Burns has rested since a T18 finish at the TOUR Championship, but the Ryder Cup snub should be motivated as he heads into the Sanderson Farms Championship as a top-25 player in the Official World Golf Ranking. Burns is top-10 among this week's field in both SG: Off-the-Tee over his last 12 rounds and SG: Putting on bermuda throughout his past 36. He hasn't lost strokes with the flat stick since the RBC Heritage in mid-April. Additionally, Burns tied for third here at the Country Club of Jackson in 2018.
Glue Guys
Mito Pereira - $35
Pereira gained 6.2 strokes with his irons en route to a solo-third performance in Napa at the Fortinet Championship, which marked his fourth top-10 in six starts dating to the Barbasol Championship if you include his T4 at the Olympics. He's second to none in SG: Tee-to-Green and birdie or better percentage over his last 12 rounds.
Harold Varner - $35
Varner has strung together three consecutive top-20s from the Northern Trust through the Fortinet Championship, and he should be one of the guys that's able to take advantage of the par fives in Mississippi. Over his last 12 rounds, Varner ranks second in proximity from 200-plus yards, seventh in P5: 550-600 efficiency and ninth in birdie or better percentage. He also gained nearly five strokes on the greens in Napa.
Bargain Bin
Joseph Bramlett - $25
Coming off his victory at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, Bramlett tied for 42nd at the Fortinet Championship despite losing 5.2 strokes with the putter. However, he's gained an average of 4.8 strokes from tee to green per event throughout his last four starts. Over his last 12 rounds, Bramlett is No. 1 in SG: Approach, third in SG: T2G and fourth in driving distance. He could be featured in winning GPP lineups with just an average putting week.
Nick Hardy - $21
Hardy rebounded from three straight missed cuts on the KFT by tying for 27th at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship before also making the cut at the Fortinet Championship where he gained 3.5 strokes on his approaches. Over his last 12 measured rounds on the PGA Tour, Hardy is top-10 in both SG: Tee-to-Green and Opportunities Gained.
John Augenstein - $20
The first team All-American out of Vanderbilt racked up 22 birdies at the Silverado Resort where he tied for sixth, while also finishing third among the Fortinet field in SG: Approach. Augenstein has now placed T37 or better in three straight PGA Tour appearances dating to a T20 at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
