Before last week’s Sanderson Farms Championship, Steven Fisk’s future on the PGA Tour was uncertain. The 28-year-old rookie sat 135th in the FedEx Cup standings, needing to be in the top 100 to secure his card for 2026. But he won’t have to worry any more about his job this year.
Fisk won the tournament, the tour’s second fall event, at the Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi on Sunday. He shot 70-65-65-64 (-24) and finished two strokes ahead of Garrick Higgo. The victory means Fisk will have full PGA Tour status through 2027 and will be exempt into notable tournaments next year such as the PGA Championship and Players Championship.
“I came out today with an attitude that nothing was going to stop me from what I wanted,” Fisk said. “No matter what happened, no matter what shots I hit, I just felt like I’d be standing right here right now before today started.
“I knew I could do it and to have some job security is pretty nice. It’s been a long, hard year.”
After three rounds, Higgo was at 18-under, two shots clear of Fisk. But the South African couldn’t increase the separation on Sunday, and others played themselves into contention. A Higgo bogey on the 10th hole dropped him into a three-way tie for the lead at 19-under with Danny Walker and Fisk. Vince Whaley was just a shot behind them.
The 576-yard, par-5 11th hole proved to be a turning point. Whaley played the hole first and his second shot found the water right of the green. He saved par, but couldn’t take advantage of the reachable hole. Walker also found the water and made bogey. Higgo hit his second shot right of the water, and, despite giving himself a good par look, lipped out to make his second consecutive bogey.
With 236 yards to the green, Fisk’s second shot found the putting surface and he two-putted for birdie to claim the solo lead at 20-under.
But it was far from over. With the leaders through 13 holes, Fisk and Walker were tied at the top at 20-under, with Whaley and Higgo one back. Fisk took the outright lead with a birdie on the 14th hole but Higgo’s third straight birdie on the 15th gave him a share at 21-under.
On the 16th hole, Fisk buried a 41-footer for birdie before Higgo matched him with his fourth birdie in a row. Both stuck their approach shots to 3 feet on 17, but Higgo missed and Fisk made to take a one-shot lead into the final hole. Another gorgeous approach shot on 18 left Fisk with a 4-footer for birdie, which he buried to win by two strokes
The Sanderson Farms Championship was also a stepping stone for players other than Fisk. Ryder Cup winner Rasmus Højgaard secured his tour card for next season with a T3 finish. Whaley and Walker, who both started the tournament outside the top 100, also finished T3 and moved into the top 90.
Everett Munez