Golf can be a cruel, beautiful game. If you were watching the Sanderson Farms Championship 2024 unfold at the Country Club of Jackson, you know exactly what I mean. For most of Sunday, it looked like a two-horse race between Beau Hossler and Keith Mitchell. Then, Kevin Yu happened.
Yu, a 26-year-old out of Arizona State, didn't just join the party; he crashed it. He birdied the 18th hole in regulation to post 23-under par, then sat in the clubhouse watching the drama explode behind him.
The Playoff That Changed Everything
Honestly, Keith Mitchell had this tournament in his pocket. He was 23-under and just needed a par on the last hole to secure his first win since 2019. Instead, he missed a par putt that felt like it took an eternity to roll past the cup. Just like that, Mitchell was out.
This left us with a sudden-death playoff between Kevin Yu and Beau Hossler.
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- The Drive: Yu piped one down the middle. Hossler? He went wayward, landing on the wrong side of a cart path.
- The Approach: Yu stuck a 7-iron to about six feet. It was a "pro" move in every sense of the word.
- The Putter: Yu drained the birdie. Game over.
Kevin Yu became the first player from Chinese Taipei to win on the PGA Tour since C.T. Pan back in 2019. You could see the weight of the world lift off his shoulders. He’s been dreaming of that moment since he was five years old.
Sanderson Farms Leaderboard 2024: Final Top Performers
The scoring was incredibly low all week. The Country Club of Jackson is a "bomber's paradise," and the guys at the top of the leaderboard certainly took advantage of the soft conditions.
Kevin Yu took home the top spot at -23, but the guys right behind him weren't exactly slouches. Beau Hossler finished solo second after the playoff loss, while veterans Lucas Glover and Keith Mitchell shared third place at -22.
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If you're looking for the payout breakdown, it was a life-changing week for Yu. He banked $1,368,000 for the win. Not bad for four days of work in Mississippi. Hossler walked away with $828,400, which is a decent consolation prize, even if the trophy wasn't in his suitcase.
Why This Leaderboard Matters for the 2026 Season
This wasn't just about a trophy and a paycheck. Because this event is part of the FedExCup Fall, the stakes are massive for guys trying to keep their jobs.
Winning gives Kevin Yu a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. He’s also headed to the Masters and The Sentry in Hawaii. For guys like Daniel Berger, who finished 7th at -20, this was a huge step toward securing a spot in the top 125 of the standings.
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If you aren't in that top 125 by the end of the fall, you're headed back to Q-School or the Korn Ferry Tour. It’s high-pressure golf that most casual fans ignore, but the guys on the fringe are playing for their livelihoods.
Notable Finishes and Surprises
- Bud Cauley and Alex Smalley: Both finished T5 at -21. Cauley’s comeback from a horrific car accident years ago is one of the best feel-good stories in the sport right now.
- Rickie Fowler: He made his return to the tour after some time off following the birth of his second child. He finished T16 at -17, showing some flashes of the old Rickie.
- David Skinns: He shot a course-record 60 in the first round. He couldn't keep that pace up, eventually finishing T37, but that Thursday round was pure magic.
The course itself played at 7,461 yards, par 72. Despite the length, the Bermudagrass greens were rolling pure, allowing for the birdiefest we witnessed.
Actionable Insights for Golf Fans
If you're following the PGA Tour leaderboard closely, keep an eye on the "Fall" performers. These events often produce first-time winners who become stars the following year. Kevin Yu is a ball-striking machine. His performance in Jackson suggests he’s going to be a factor in the "Signature Events" come 2026.
Next Steps for Following the Tour:
- Monitor the FedExCup Fall standings. The battle for the 125th spot is usually decided by a single stroke in the final event.
- Watch the "Total Driving" stats. As seen in the Sanderson Farms leaderboard 2024, the players who can combine distance with accuracy on these Bermudagrass courses almost always rise to the top.
- Track Kevin Yu’s progress in the majors. His win in Mississippi proves he can handle the pressure when the "heat" is on.
The 2024 tournament reminded us that in golf, nothing is certain until the final putt drops. Keith Mitchell’s heartbreak was Kevin Yu’s breakthrough, and that's why we keep watching.