JACKSON, Miss. — Beau Hossler did his part on another low-scoring day at the Sanderson Farms Championship, missing just one Green Friday for an 8-under 64 to take a one-shot lead into the week as he continues his first PGA Tour. victory.
Hossler started his round with a three-putt bogey from about 30 feet, and felt like he hit just about everything after that, including a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-5 fifth hole .
Daniel Berger, out of golf for 18 months due to a back injury, had another round of seven birdies and no bogeys for a 65 and was one shot behind.
The second group included Keith Mitchell (64), Jacob Bridgeman (66) and David Skinns of England, who opened with a course-record 60 and had to rally with three birdies on the back nine just to break par with a 71.
Hossler was at 15-under 129 on the soft, still and vulnerable Jackson Country Club. The reduction was 6 under 138.
“If you try to shoot 8, 9 under par, it’s not going to happen,” Hossler said. “You have to try to do it one by one, try to separate the par 5s as best you can, make a birdie on the drivable hole. And there you already start 3, 4, 5 under par.
He almost followed that script, except missing a 12-foot birdie at the par-5 13th. But he played the par 5s in 4 under with eagle, and he made short work of the short par-4 15th. .
“That’s my goal on an easy golf course is to break it down and simplify it,” Hossler said. “I hope I read the greens well and made a few putts. That’s basically all you can do.
Berger was world No. 25 when he withdrew with back problems after the 2022 US Open in Brookline. He was at No. 664 when he felt well enough to return in January to American Express. Only recently has he felt closer to normal.
“I think it’s kind of a process,” he said. “You work every day to get 1% better, 1% better, and then you get to a point where you don’t have to think about it or worry about it anymore and that’s kind of where I’m at am now.”
He said it was the first time he felt completely healthy, which for him no longer doubts that he can get vaccinated without worrying about pain.
For most players, FedExCup Fall is about finishing in the top 125 in November to earn a full card for 2025. Bridgeman took a big step. He came in this week at 123rd and can now think about a much bigger prize.
Skinns lost a little ground, which was normal. He had a three-shot lead when he finished early Thursday afternoon. Some 24 hours later, he was already five strokes behind Hossler when he teeed off for the second round.
Skinns made two bogeys and slipped down the leaderboard until he rallied on the back nine to start the weekend just two shots behind.
Former US Open champion Gary Woodland, who also made a slow recovery from brain surgery just over a year ago, didn’t hit as well as he did on the first ground and was pleased . He still played bogey-free and posted a 68, leaving him in the group three shots behind at 12-under 132.
“Yesterday I played very well. All three levels – driving, short game, ball striking – were all really cool,” Woodland said. “Today wasn’t as good and I held on. I’m very proud to not have it today and to have achieved it.
“It just shows that I’m doing a lot of things right and I’m looking forward to a great weekend.”
