South Africa’s Garrick Higgo fired a seven-under 65 on Thursday to join a four-way tie for the lead after the opening round of the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi.
Higgo shares top spot with Americans Eric Cole, Sam Ryder and Danny Walker, two shots clear of a group of eight players on 67.
Starting on the 10th hole at the Country Club of Jackson, Higgo made five birdies in his first seven holes before a lone bogey at the 18th. He added three more birdies coming home to join the leaders.
His compatriots Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Thriston Lawrence are three shots behind leaders on four under to share 13th after opening rounds of 68.
Cole and Ryder set the early target. Cole recorded a career-best 10 birdies, offset by a bogey and a double-bogey, relying on his putter to rescue him after some wayward tee shots.
“I did a lot of stuff well,” said Cole. “A few times I didn’t get away with some bad shots, made a bogey and a double, so that wasn’t good. Putting was great and when I did miss other than those two holes, I got away with it and kind of scored well today.”
Ryder carded seven birdies without a bogey, crediting his putter after hitting just seven of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens in regulation.
The event is part of the PGA Tour’s Fall Series, with players competing to secure status for next season. Higgo currently sits 88th on the points list, with the top 100 guaranteed full status for 2026.
The 26-year-old’s form dipped after his Corales Puntacana victory in April, with hip and wrist injuries hampering his progress. He returned to form with a top-25 finish at last month’s Procore Championship.
“I’m pretty happy that I feel like I’ve got my momentum back,” Higgo said. “I had a lot of momentum from Puntacana. I feel confident, but I’m trying to play the long game as well, get ready for next year and play some elevated stuff.”
Ryder, 110th on the points list, said he’s concentrating on his performance rather than the standings.
“If I was in a better position, I would still like to think that I would be working hard on my game and trying to win and check other boxes,” he said.
<span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span>
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
Article Link: Higgo shares PGA Tour lead in Mississippi