Sanderson Farms Championship DFS picks 2024: The underrated player our expert expects to feast

After a thrilling Presidents Cup, the PGA Tour returns to the United States for the Sanderson Farms Championship. This event has experienced multiple schedule spots and gone through a number of host venues before settling on the Country Club of Jackson in 2014. The John Fought design has consistently been one the easiest golf courses on tour, and it features a very low missed fairway penalty and four attackable par 5s.

While many of the tour’s best players will be taking a natural rest week, former Sanderson Farms champion Mackenzie Hughes will be making the trip down to the south as one of the betting favorites after an up-and-down Presidents Cup performance. Hughes will be joined by Maverick McNealy, Keith Mitchell, J.J. Spaun and Nick Dunlap, amongst others at the top of the DraftKings DFS slate. Let’s dive into pricing.

$10,000 range

Play: Seamus Power, $10,200:

I always have interest in Seamus Power on easy golf courses, and over the past three years, the Irishman has been the second-best Fall Swing performer in this field. Power is an above-average putter with some real approach upside, and I have high expectations for him in Jackson.

Fade: Mackenzie Hughes, $10,000:

While Mackenzie Hughes is a former champion at this event, I’m expecting a bit of an exhale from the Canadian post-Presidents Cup. Hughes underwhelmed at Royal Montreal, and his lack of consistent ball-striking always deems him a risky option with high missed-cut potential.

Watch the below video for our favorite bets and players we're fading for the 2024 Sanderson Farms Championship:

$9,000 range

Play: J.J. Spaun, $9,900:

J.J. Spaun is playing some excellent golf at the moment, gaining over four strokes ball-striking in four straight starts. He finished off his 2024 season with back-to-back top-10 finishes, and Spaun added another solid top-30 finish in Napa. One of the better long iron players and birdie-makers in this field, I expect Spaun to feast in Jackson.

Fade: Maverick McNealy, $9,800:

Coming off such a poor performance in his last start, I was fairly surprised to see Maverick McNealy priced this high, even in such a weak field. McNealy lost over a stroke in both ball-striking categories at the Procore Championship, and the Country Club of Jackson is an even less ideal fit for his game.

$8,000 range

Play: Jhonattan Vegas, $8,600:

Jhonattan Vegas fits a very similar profile as last year’s Sanderson Farms champion, Luke List. The recent 3M Open winner is one of the longest players in this field, an excellent long-iron player and a great par-5 scorer. This type of profile has played dividends at the Country Club of Jackson time and again, and I’m expecting a strong performance out of Vegas in Mississippi.

Fade: Harris English, $8,300:

I simply don’t have a lot of confidence in Harris English’ ball-striking at the moment, and he is currently being priced of past performance. English is coming off a MC in Napa where he lost strokes in both ball-striking categories, and there have been no discernible signs that he is close to finding form.

$7,000 range

Play: Charley Hoffman, $7,800:

Charley Hoffman remains one of the stronger long-iron players and par-5 scorers in this field, and he is coming off a 26th-place finish at the Procore Championship, where he was able to get the putter going as well. Hoffman has already recorded a sixth-place finish at the Country Club of Jackson, and I expect him to deliver again.

Flier: Nick Hardy, $7,100:

Nick Hardy is close to a major breakthrough, and he is quietly playing some solid golf at the moment. The 28-year-old has now gained over two strokes ball-striking in five straight starts, and he now returns to a golf course that he has recorded top-35 finishes in all three appearances, including a fifth in 2022.

$6,000 range

Play: S.H. Kim, $6,700:

S.H. Kim is one of my favorite high upside plays on the slate due to his scoring ability. Over his past 50 rounds, Kim ranks first in this field in both par-5 scoring and putting from 5-15 feet. While his floor is low, Kim is one of the few players in the $6,000 range with such a high ceiling.

Andy Lack is a PGA Tour writer and podcaster from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles. He hosts Inside Golf, a twice weekly podcast focused on the PGA Tour, betting, daily fantasy, golf course architecture, and interviews, as part of the BlueWire podcast network. He came to Golf Digest’s betting panel after previously writing for Run Pure Sports, RickRunGood.com, the Score and GolfWRX. In his free time, Andy can likely be found on a golf course. Follow him on Twitter: @adplacksports