Chesson Hadley takes early lead at Sanderson Farms
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[October 06, 2023]
Chesson Hadley posted a bogey-free, 8-under-par 64 to
establish the first-round lead at the Sanderson Farms Championship
on Thursday in Jackson, Miss.
Hadley is just ahead of Brandon Wu and Sweden's Henrik Norlander,
tied for second after shooting 7-under 65 at the Country Club of
Jackson.
A large group tied at 6-under 66 includes Christiaan Bezuidenhout of
South Africa, Russell Knox of Scotland, Carl Yuan of China,
21-year-old PGA Tour winner Akshay Bhatia, Luke List, Peter Malnati
and Matt NeSmith.
Hadley piled up eight birdies, four on each nine. That included two
runs of three straight birdies at Nos. 12-14 and 3-5 after starting
his round at the 10th hole.
"I'm feeling dangerous right now," Hadley said. "I feel like some of
the hard work and some of the shot shape change that I've done has
paid off, and my game feels good. Just need to keep it going. The
gas is on the right."
The good vibes are flowing even though Hadley had a three-putt par
early in his round.
"I missed like a 2-footer on my second hole for birdie," he said. "I
hit a great approach shot in there and lipped out for eagle, and I
went to tap it in and it horseshoed on me, and that can kind of
unsettle you a little bit, but I was poised and ready, and I birdied
the next hole, and I was dialed in after that."
Hadley could shoot up from No. 122 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings
to No. 63 with a victory. Players are trying to finish the FedEx Cup
Fall series in the top 125 in order to retain full PGA Tour status
for the 2024 season.
"I'd love to go ahead and knock it out this week, right? Let's just
do it," Hadley said. "Certainly a win takes care of all that, too,
but we're a long way from that, so I don't want to start talking
about that."
Hadley, 36, earned his only win on tour at the 2014 Puerto Rico
Open.
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The early lead belonged to Norlander before
Hadley's round one-upped him. Norlander had a 5-under stretch over
four holes, as he followed three birdies with a hole-out eagle at
Nos. 11-14.
Norlander's eagle came from the left rough at the
par-5 14th.
"It's easy to say, but the last two years I haven't played great
golf, and why I haven't really been in the right head space,"
Norlander said. "You put a lot of pressure on yourself. My attitude
was good today, but I felt very calm. I didn't get too up. When I
started getting on a run, I tried to hit the only shot that matters
is the next one."
Bhatia is in the mix after compiling seven birdies and just one
bogey in his first round. Bhatia made his professional debut as a
17-year-old at the 2019 Sanderson Farms; earlier this year, he won
an alternate event, the Barracuda Championship, to secure his PGA
Tour card.
"It's been a crazy formation of my golf career, starting here four
years ago to where I am now," Bhatia said. "A lot can change. It's
nice to come here as a full member and earn my spot and always be
able to play in this tournament."
Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, the only participant in last week's Ryder Cup
playing the Sanderson Farms, is three shots off the pace after
posting a 5-under 67. The rookie was favored this week to bring home
his first PGA Tour win.
Defending champion Mackenzie Hughes of Canada opened with a 2-under
70.
--Field Level Media
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