Sanderson Farms Championship Tips & Predictions: Take Burns to get fired up in Jackson

Following a 40/1 winner on the European Tour last week, golf tipster Russell Palmer returns for a preview of this week's Sanderson Farms Championship on the PGA Tour...

• Sam Burns - 1pt each-way @ odds of 25/1 with William Hill (8 places)
• Patrick Rodgers - 1pt each-way @ odds of 50/1 with Paddy Power (8 places)
• Kristoffer Ventura - 1pt each-way @ odds of 80/1 with Paddy Power (8 places)

It was a pretty quiet week for last week's selections in the Dominican Republic. Going into Saturday's third round all three of my picks were in the top 15 bang in contention but all three fell away to not compete for the places, with the eventual winner Hudson Swafford. A cross between Harris English and Davis Love III, Hudson is about as white middle class American golfer as you could ever expect, but joking aside, I'm going back to the well with one of last week's selections as my headline bet here.

World number 30 Scottie Scheffler is the 10/1 favourite this week and whilst he stacked up well on some of the stats I'm interested this week, I'm wary of backing a player so short in what could essentially become a bit of a putting competition. As strange as it must sound for a player who shot a round of 59 at the Northern Trust just a month ago and who has recorded seven top tens this year, 10/1 is skinny for a player who ranks 117th for shots gained putting on the PGA Tour.

The player who I've sided again with this week is Sam Burns who is a best price 25/1 with William Hill paying eight places.

The 24 year old played okay last week to finish in the top 30, but ranks in the top 25 for shots gained tee to green and shots gained total this season.

Measuring over 7,400 yards this week I'm looking at driving distance and par 5 scoring in the stats where Burns ranks 8th and 21st respectively on the PGA Tour, which equates to 2nd for both metrics in this week's field.

Add to that he's a good putter, ranking 30th for shots gained putting and 5th best in the field, I like my chances at the prices for a p[layer who finished third at this track two years ago and had a top ten in the Safeway Open three weeks ago.

Keeping very much with those stats in mind my second pick at bigger odds also ticks those boxes.

Patrick Rodgers ranks 5th in the field for driving distance and 18th on the PGA Tour last season. Add to that his putting where he ranks 11th in shots gained on the PGA Tour, second best in this field, the American is a consistent sort who can pick up from his post lockdown high finish of 11th last week in the Dominican Republic.

At 50/1 with Paddy Power this week paying eight places I'm willing to take a stab at the Stanford alumni.

Finally this week another favourite of mine in these events which favour long hitters and good putters is Kristoffer Ventura at 80/1 with Paddy Power.

I've backed the Norwegian a few times since lockdown and he hasn't really let me down, placing 7th in the Safeway Open three weeks ago for example.

I played him in some DFS lineups last week but he was always on the periphery eventually finishing down the field in 52nd. However, the 25-year-old is still learning and I'm hopeful he can add a fourth top ten finish since the restart.

Ventura is a top 30 player on the PGA Tour for driving distance which makes him 9th in this week's field and is the best putter in shots gained here also, ranking 4th on the PGA Tour last season.

At 80/1 I'm keen to give him another go here.

Best of the rest

Others on my radar this week include Beau Hossler who is a big price at 125/1 and Wyndham Clark at 150/1 if you're looking for a couple of long shots or cheap options in DFS.

As ever, good luck with your bets if you're following and please gamble responsibly.

Follow me at Twitter @rustyboy75.

Post-lockdown form:

Winners

• John Catlin - Irish Open - advised at 40/1
• Jon Rahm - BMW Championship - advised at 14/1
• Dustin Johnson - Northern Trust - advised at 20/1
• Justin Thomas - WGC FedEx St Jude - advised at 12/1
• Webb Simpson - RBC Heritage - advised at 30/1

Placed

• Xander Schauffele - 5th US Open - advised at 16/1
• Kristoffer Ventura - T7 Safeway Open - advised at 80/1
• Laurie Canter - 2nd Portugal Masters - advised at 66/1
• Si Woo Kim - T3 Wyndham Championship - advised at 40/1
• Jason Day - T4 USPGA Championship - advised at 40/1
• Phil Mickelson - 2nd WGC FedEx St Jude - advised at 110/1
• Viktor Hovland - 3rd Workday Charity Open - advised at 25/1
• Kevin Streelman - T7 Workday Charity Open - advised at 60/1
• Tyrrell Hatton - T4 Rocket Mortgage Classic - advised at 16/1