Players won't drive down Magnolia Lane this week, but the Masters of Mississippi tees off Thursday at the Country Club of Jackson for the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Before anyone can lift the cock (trophy) on Sunday, players need a good start on Thursday. Here's a look at my favorite First Round Leader bets for the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Cameron Tringale | +3500
He was my pick for the Fortinet FRL, and despite not cashing, he finished T-2 on Thursday with a 66. I never love losing money, but I was pretty spot on.
Tringale is still searching for that first TOUR win, despite finishing last season with a 69.3 round one scoring average, finishing third on tour.
Seamus Power | +4000
Already a winner on the PGA TOUR this calendar year, the Irishman comes into this event playing some great golf. He leads the field at this event on Thursdays in SG: TOT, as well as SG: Short Game and SG: Putting.
There is very little this guy does poorly in his game, if anything at all. Power finished last season 10th in first round scoring. He's gone low on Thursday here in the past, with a 65 in 2020. Power is firing from all cylinders right now, and he's worth betting across the board.
Carlos Ortiz | +5000
During the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Ortiz finished T-4 and T-3 at the Sanderson. Both of those years, he gained a little over 11 shots per round on the field. Ortiz opened those years with 69 and 65, respectively.
Ortiz thrives in calm conditions on poa greens. It's the perfect storm for him to go low. This is a great course set up for him, and the relative weakness of the field should play to his favor.
Peter Malnati | +8000
Already a past winner of this event, Malnati nearly won for a second time last year. He wasn't able to top Sergio Garcia in the end, but Pete proved to us that he is a horse for this course.
While a bit of a streaky player, Malnati was able to make the FedExCup Playoffs last season and carried the momentum into a T-22 finish at the Fortinet Championship a fortnight ago.
J.T. Poston | +9000
There is no reason on God's green Earth that J.T. Poston has odds this long for FRL. Especially at this course of all places. Poston is second in SG:TOT in First Round scoring this week.
Poston has had success here in the past. He led after round one two years ago with an opening 64. Going low isn't a problem for the North Carolina native, who went on to finish T-11.
