Sanderson Farms Championship Winners and History

The Sanderson Farms Championship, in one form or another, has been part of the PGA Tour schedule since 1968. Throughout most of the tournament’s history, it has served as an opposite field event for major tournaments.

Sanderson Farms is the current name sponsor. The event previously has been known as the True South Classic, Viking Classic, Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic, Southern Farm Bureau Classic.

Originally played at the Hattiesburg Country Club in Hattiesburg, the event moved in 1994 to Annandale Golf Club in Madison, which hosted through 2013. It currently is played at the Country Club of Jackson, Mississippi

Sponsor Sanderson Farms is one of the nation’s leading food corporations and is based in Mississippi, in Laurel. The tournament’s host organization, Century Club Charities, is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is promoting the game of golf for the benefit of charity. The Sanderson Farms Championship’s primary charity is Friends of Children’s Hospital, a 501(c)(3) benefitting the Blair E. Batson Hospital for children.

As the Magnolia State Classic and Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic, the tournament was played opposite the Masters from 1969 to 1993. From 1994 to 1998, the Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic was played opposite the Open Championship. It has also been scheduled opposite the Tour Championship and WGC American Express Championship as the Southern Farm Bureau Classic from 2000 to 2006. As the Viking Classic between 2007 and 2011, it was scheduled opposite the President’s Cup, Ryder Cup and Open Championship. For one year as the True South Classic (2012) it was held opposite the Open Championship.

The Sanderson Farms Championship has been an opposite field event for much of its lifespan. The 2019 staging is the first where it is not opposite another major tournament.

Year(s)	Tournament
2014–2018	WGC-HSBC Champions
1994–1998, 2011–2013	The Open Championship
2008, 2010	Ryder Cup
2007	Presidents Cup
2003–2004, 2006	WGC-American Express Championship
1999–2002, 2005	Tour Championship
1969–1993	Masters Tournament
1968	Colonial National Invitation

There was no tournament in 2014, due to the switch to the PGA TOUR’s new wraparound schedule.

The Sanderson Farms Championship has been an official money event on the PGA Tour since 1994. Prior to that, it was a satellite event with the money counting but the wins counting as unofficial.

Alternate event winners do not get an invitation to the Masters Tournament, but do earn a trip to the PGA Championship, a two-year PGA Tour exemption, a minimum of 24 OWGR points, and 300 FedEx Cup points.

Among the tournament winners are Craig Stadler, Payne Stewart and Fred Funk.