JACKSON, Miss. — Garrick Higgo stored his ball in play and took benefit of sufficient birdie probabilities for a 6-under 66 on Friday to construct a one-shot lead within the Sanderson Farms Championship, a Fall Collection occasion that looks like a brand new begin to the South African.
Higgo ran off three straight birdies late in his spherical on the Nation Membership of Jackson, one in every of them the brief par-4 fifteenth the place he practically holed his bunker shot and tapped in for birdie.
He was at 13-under 131, one shot forward of Eric Cole (67) and Taylor Montgomery, who had 9 birdies in a 10-hole stretch — the exception was a bogey. He holed a 25-foot birdie on his closing gap for a 63 to spice up his probabilities of preserving a PGA Tour card for 2026.
Solely the highest 100 hold full PGA Tour playing cards after the Fall Collection finish in November. 5 tournaments are left on the schedule.
Cole had 10 birdies within the opening spherical, offset by a double bogey late in his spherical. He added seven extra birdies on a peaceful, sunny afternoon to get within the closing spherical as Cole goes after his first PGA Tour title.
Danny Walker (68) was two photographs behind in an vital week for him. Walker is at No. 104 within the FedEx Cup. Vince Whaley (No. 102 within the standings) had one other 67 and Tom Kim (No. 99) saved par from a bunker on the 18th for a 66. They had been three photographs behind.
“I’ve made a bunch of cuts and really feel like I’ve performed good the final six months,” Whaley mentioned. “It is getting more durable and more durable out right here, and also you want these huge finishes, and I do not really feel like I’ve had that.”
Higgo already has one PGA Tour win this yr, every week after the Masters in an opposite-field occasion within the Dominican Republic. However that just about felt like the tip. He suffered a labrum damage that each one however wrecked the remainder of the season.
Higgo debated having surgical procedure on his hip after the common season, however realized he might deal with it with a change in his health routine. He’s lifting much less and being smarter.
“It wasn’t hurting me in my swing, however strolling made it actually unhealthy, after which it might pinch the subsequent day,” Higgo mentioned. “So simply determining how I can keep away from that. I’ve modified the way in which I work out, simply being a bit extra intelligent with that, I might say.”
He mentioned the ache degree is now 1 out of 10, although he nonetheless fatigues faster than traditional. However he looks like he is again heading in the right direction.
Higgo performed within the closing group with Scottie Scheffler on the Procore Championship, the place he tied for seventh. He is within the midst of one other good week on the Sanderson Farms.
Not like most gamers within the area, his FedEx Cup rank is of little consequence. Having received the Puntacana Championship, he has his PGA Tour card locked up and is in The Gamers Championship. The Fall Collection occasions not get a Masters invitation.
The ultimate spherical with Scheffler was an eye-opener watching how the world’s No. 1 participant operates and ultimately wins.
“I could not inform you how a lot I discovered, however I discovered a lot simply by watching,” Higgo mentioned. “He is an inspiration for all of us. He is set the bar so excessive. It is simply phenomenal how excessive his ability degree is.”
