Power Rankings: Sanford International

The countdown is on as there are only seven events left in the 2022 season. Fall is right around the corner and Sioux Falls is the site of this week's Sanford Invitational at Minnehaha Country Club.

The inaugural edition was won by Steve Stricker in 2018 and all four previous champions are entered this week. Darren Clarke returns to defend the title as he defeated KJ Choi and Steve Flesch in a playoff last year.

Plenty of history abounds as the Club was founded in 1905 and the course designed in 1922 by William Langford. The classic parkland layout plays to Par-70 and stretches to 6,729 yards for the fifth consecutive season.

The field of 78 will play 54 holes (no cut) for a purse of $2 million with the winner taking home $300k.

Power Rankings

Just Missed: Bernhard Langer, Alex Cejka, Scott Parel, Tim Herron, Tim Petrovic and Mario Tiziani.

Classic parkland, tight-driving tracks continue to be the theme of summertime on PGA TOUR Champions and Minnehaha CC fits the bill perfectly.

Another week of elevation changes and large rolling green complexes (7,000 square feet this week after 8,000 square feet last week) won't cause major changes to approaches and strategy. Bent/Poa greens should be in premium condition after a month of perfect weather.

Blended rough sits at 2.5 inches and water is in play on 10 holes will force execution off the tee and into the greens. The Par-70 plays 34-36 with five Par-3 holes and three Par-5 holes. The front nine hosts three of the Par-3 opportunities while the back handles two of the three Par-5 challenges.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, on debut, set the tournament scoring record at 14-under in 2020. Darren Clarke posted 12-under last season and Steve Stricker 13-under in the tournament's inaugural campaign. Only Rocco Mediate in 2019 needed single digits (-9) to win. Clarke shares the course record (62) with Scott Parel as they both posted this total in back to back rounds in 2020.

Over the four editions only 13 players have finished double digits under par but the course tends to give up plenty of red numbers. The extra Par-5 plus two gettable Par-3 holes helps!

The weather has been perfect in the run up so the course should be in fantastic playing condition. Above average temperatures will keep backs and joints loose as mid to upper 80s are on the menu for the weekend. Rain is possible but not likely and the big breezes blowing early in the week calm down a bit by the weekend.

Last Time - Ascension Charity Classic

Just Missed: Darren Clarke - T24, Ernie Els - T5, Rod Pampling - T51, Brett Quigley - T33.

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