Slow start puts Bhatia on back foot

Akshay Bhatia, the pre- golf tournament favourite, got off to a rocky start at the 2025 Sanderson Farms Championship, ending the opening round tied for 88th after an even-par 72.

Bhatia struggled early with bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes but briefly recovered with birdies on the 10th, 12th, and 13th. Unfortunately, further bogeys on the 14th and 16th holes, even with a birdie on the 15th, left him well behind the leaders. He will need a strong second round to climb the leaderboard and remain in contention.

At the top, a four-way tie emerged, with Eric Cole, Sam Ryder, Danny Walker, and Garrick Higgo sharing the first-round lead at 7-under 65. Ryder carded a flawless, bogey-free round, while Walker finished strong with back-to-back birdies. Cole’s round featured an impressive 10 birdies, offsetting a late double bogey. Higgo, coming back from an injury that slowed his progress after a win earlier this year, continued to show improvement.

The tournament is a key event in the FedExCup Fall Series, where players outside the PGA TOUR postseason must finish in the top 100 to retain their full tour cards. Ryder sits at No. 110 in the FedExCup standings, while Walker, who tied for sixth at THE PLAYERS Championship, is ranked 104 after a difficult five months marked by eight consecutive missed cuts.

Rasmus Hojgaard, fresh from a Ryder Cup debut victory for Europe, shot a 69 to tie for 35th. Now ranked 87th in the FedExCup, Hojgaard’s focus will shift to securing his card for the season ahead.

The second round promises drama as Bhatia and others look to close the gap on the leaders in Jackson, where every stroke counts toward keeping their PGA TOUR status.