JACKSON, Miss. – Amid the players, spectators and alligators that have made the 2023 Sanderson Farms Championship an exciting tournament, a cloud looms over the PGA Tour event at The Country Club of Jackson.
What happens to the tournament in the future?
The PGA Tour and LIV Golf are in the midst of aligning. That has generated uncertainty around the sport while those fond of the game await answers regarding the future of golf.
Majors, international cups and other noteworthy tournaments are likely to stay. However, what will happen to events such as the Sanderson Farms Championship?
The long-term answers remain an unknown. However, the immediate future shouldn’t feature too much change.
LIV appears to still be looking to build its international presence. The preliminary 2024 schedule, which was obtained by SI.com two weeks ago and is subject to change, included six events in the United States and eight outside the country.
The US slate features major cities such as Las Vegas, Dallas and Los Angeles along with stops in West Virginia, Oklahoma City and South Florida. International stops feature Mexico, Saudi Arabia, China, Australia, Singapore, Valderrama, England and South Korea.
Jackson doesn’t seem to fit the plan for LIV, meaning a team-style tournament isn’t a likely format for the Sanderson Farms Championship moving forward.
If LIV doesn’t change much in Jackson, what will the PGA Tour do with the event? The players’ comments suggest they want it to stay put.
Henrik Norlander of Sweden lines up a putt on the 18th green during the first round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson on October 05, 2023 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)
“It’s hard to say there’s any golf course on Tour that’s in better shape,” Henrik Norlander said after shooting 7-under 65 in Thursday’s opening round.
“The greens are absolutely fantastic, as they always are,” Matthew NeSmith said after carding 6 under on Thursday. “The fairways were good. The golf course is in fantastic shape.”
The recent formation of the FedEx Cup Fall staying intact would likely be the best news for players to keep coming back. Rather than serving as a tournament where low-ranking players can collect points to start the season, the event has now become an all-or-nothing option for some players.
Finishing inside the top 125 of the FedEx Cup standings ensures golfers a PGA Tour card for the following season. For those who finish around that spot after the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the fall slate allows seven more opportunities to shuffle standings – starting with the Fortinet Championship and ending with the RSM Classic.
“It may take a couple years for the greater community, our fans to sort of realize what’s going on, but I think the FedExCup Fall is going to carry a lot of excitement moving forward,” said Peter Malnati, the 2015 Sanderson Farms Championship winner who entered the week ranking No. 109 in the standings.
The higher the stakes, the more eyes will be on the event. For the Sanderson Farms Championship, less shifting amid lots of change is the best move.
“Starting where I did on the brink of keeping my job versus not, this fall carries tremendous meaning for me,” Malnati said. “I think for every player, this will be the most meaningful and impactful fall that we’ve had.”
