[PHOTO: Raj Mehta]
Mackenzie Hughes displayed a steady resiliency (along with a sporty short game) to win the 2022 Sanderson Farms Championship in playoff over Sepp Straka, taking the title with a birdie on the second extra hole after a fabulous iron shot from 150 metres at The Country Club of Jackson.
Despite the overtime heroics, it was Hughes’ short game that was the difference-maker. Consider that he was ranked 81st for the week in driving accuracy, 40th in distance and 45th in greens in regulation – not exactly the kind of performance that wins on the PGA Tour. Hughes, however, picked up nearly four shots on the field on the greens and another four in strokes gained/around-the-green. In fact, of his four birdies during a closing 69, none of them were from outside 10 feet.
It was from just off the green, however, where Hughes excelled, getting up and down a remarkable 22 of 24 times for a 91.67 percentage, easily the best in the field.
Hughes carries a trio of Ping Glide 2.0 wedges including two with a dark finish, while the 60-degree wedge has a chrome finish. Each of his wedges have True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts and Golf Pride’s multicompound black/blue 60R grips with three extra wraps of tape under the right hand and two extra wraps of tape under the left hand to achieve the feel he likes in his grip.
Hughes’ other win also came in overtime at the 2016 RSM Classic where Hughes emerged from a five-way playoff. This time around the competition wasn’t as crowded but the win was just as rewarding.
What Mackenzie Hughes had in the bag at the 2022 Sanderson Farms Championship:
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Driver: Ping G425 LST (Graphite Design DI 7X), 9 degrees
5-wood: Ping G425 Max, 17.5 degrees
7-wood: Ping G425 Max, 20.5 degrees
Irons (4-6): Ping i210; (7-PW): Ping S55
Wedges: Ping Glide 2.0 (52, 56, 60 degrees)
Putter: Ping Scottsdale TR Piper C
