Steven Fisk left no room for doubt: with an aggressive approach, he birdied the final three holes, finishing with a flawless 64 (-8) and earning his first PGA Tour victory at the 2025 Sanderson Farms Championship. The 28-year-old American dominated the tournament with a total of -24 (70-65-65-64), two shots ahead of South African Garrick Higgo, who finished at -22 (65-66-67-68).
The Country Club of Jackson was the scene of an intense and spectacular duel between Fisk and Higgo, who exchanged the lead in the decisive stages of Sunday. "I started the day with the belief that nothing would stop me. I felt I deserved this moment from the tee. I know I'm up to it, and I proved it today," said Fisk. A graduate of Georgia Southern College and fresh from the 2019 Walker Cup at Royal Liverpool, Fisk was ranked 135th in the FedExCup Fall standings, in danger of relegation to the Korn Ferry Tour without a breakthrough in the final weeks of the season. Only the top 100 players retain a full membership. This victory secures him a two-year exemption through 2027, after five years of sacrifice to get on the Tour.
ADVERTISEMENT
Steven Fisk, results
It's nice to have some confidence, Fisk added with a smile. It's been a long, tough year.
Higgo seemed out of contention after two bogeys on Sunday's first nine holes, but he responded with four consecutive birdies, nearly reaching a fifth on the 17th, where a "blip" prevented him from closing in on Fisk. My goal was to birdie every hole, the South African admitted. I came close. Steven did the same, so kudos to him.
Danny Walker, who had led early on the back nine, lost ground with a bogey on the par-5 11th hole, after a shot into the water, and a drive into the left rough on the 17th. He closed with a 69 (-3), tying for third place (-19) with Vince Whaley (67, -5) and Denmark's Ryder Cup star Rasmus Hjgaard, who shot 66-65 over the weekend.
ADVERTISEMENT
The three earned consolation prizes in the FedExCup standings: Hjgaard, who started in 87th place, rose 12 spots to 75th, while Whaley and Walker each gained 18 spots, reaching 84th and 86th, respectively. "I won't be so stressed about the 100 mark anymore," said Walker, fresh from eight consecutive missed cuts. "Now I can play to win, without pressure. It will be a much more pleasant feeling."
Unfortunately, it was a disappointing weekend for our players. Francesco Molinari finished the first two rounds at -3 (70-71), while Matteo Manassero was -2 (71-71) with the cut set at -4.
The PGA Tour resumes with the FedExCup Fall, and the Sanderson Farms Championship, scheduled for October 2-5 at the Country Club of Jackson, promises to be a crucial event. Kevin Yu, fresh from last year's triumph, will defend his title in Mississippi, while a mix of emerging talent and Tour veterans will battle it out for precious FedExCup points. Only the top 100 in the rankings at the end of November will secure full status for the 2026 season.
ADVERTISEMENT
Matteo Manassero and Francesco Molinari are in the running, both locked in a tight battle to retain their membership for next year. Manassero, currently ranked 154th, has a strong performance that could be crucial to climbing the ranks and securing a spot in the top 100, avoiding Q-School.
Molinari, European vice-captain at the recent Ryder Cup victory against the United States (15-13 at Bethpage Black), is no less under pressure. The Turin native, who contributed to the continental triumph with his role as a quiet leader, must now translate that leadership into results on the green. Positioned around 202nd in the rankings, Francesco needs a breakthrough to secure his Tour status and aim for a spot in the Aon Next 10, which guarantees privileged access to next season's Signature events.
The tournament, the second act of the FedExCup Fall, also features Rasmus Hjgaard, who will play alongside his brother Nicolai. Kevin Yu, seeking a historic repeat, would be the first to win this event back-to-back; he already has two top-10 finishes this season and sits 65th in the rankings. Another solid result would propel him into the Aon Next 10 for the start of 2026. Beau Hossler, who lost to Yu in a playoff last year, is back in contention: a top-10 finish this season and a 90th-place finish make him an outsider to watch.
ADVERTISEMENT
The field boasts Akshay Bhatia as the highest-ranked player at 34th, followed by Min Woo Lee, J.T. Poston, and Sam Stevens, all within the world's top 50. Will Gordon, with two top-10 finishes this season, enters thanks to a sponsor invitation (he's 142nd in standings) and is playing his sixth Sanderson Farms. Among the amateurs, Michael La Sasso, eighth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and the 2025 NCAA DI champion, makes his debut.
