Is it possible to clinch the FedEx Cup after two weeks? Tom Hoge leads the weather-interrupted Sanderson Farms Championship while big-name Euros have taken over the BMW PGA at Wentworth.

With a cluck cluck here and a cluck cluck there…

Inclement weather limited the afternoon wave at the Sanderson Farms, but the morning saw plenty of great golf. Tom Hoge holds the lead after firing a bogey-free 64, but plenty of players still have to finish their opening rounds at Country Club of Jackson. Sanderson Farms Leaderboard

While we’re obviously kidding about winning the FedEx Cup in September, Tom Hoge is off to a blistering start. He took second to Joaquín Niemann at the Greenbrier and has now shot five straight rounds of 68 or better to start the 2019-20 season. At 30 years old, Hoge has never won on the PGA Tour, and he hasn’t finished better than 80th in the FedEx Cup. He got his first runner-up finish last weekend, so maybe he can do one better this week.

Leaderboard notes

  • A trio of players, Cameron Percy, Robert Streb, and Seamus Power, sit one shot back of Hoge’s lead. Streb and Percy earned their 2019-20 status through Korn Ferry Tour Finals last month, so a hot start would be a welcome development in their seasons.
  • Ben An, Zach Johnson, Zac Blair, and J. T. Poston are among the other players in the top 10 thus far. Poston (-5) has played only eight holes of his first round, so he very well could top Hoge for the first-round lead.
  • Fresh off his first career PGA Tour victory, Joaquín Niemann shot a first-round 68 on Thursday and finds himself T-11. Rookie of the Year Sungjae Im, Jamie Lovemark, and Patton Kizzire are all currently tied with Niemann.

Not Mike

If you have Ryder Cup PTSD, look away. Matt Wallace leads the BMW PGA Championship after opening with a 65 at Wentworth Club. Wallace has played the best golf of his life over the past two seasons, propelling himself inside the top 30 of the Official World Golf Rankings. Jon Rahm (66), Henrik Stenson (66), Justin Rose (67), Paul Casey (68), Ernie Els (68), and Danny Willett (68) are all in the top five as we head into the weekend. Rory McIlroy (76) and Eddie Pepperell (79) both struggled on Thursday. BMW PGA Championship Leaderboard

Amateur hour

The U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship both wrapped up on Thursday afternoon. 

On the men’s side, Australian Lukas Michel defeated Joseph Deraney in 35 holes at Colorado Golf Club. After playing from behind for most of the match, Michel birdied five of his final eight holes to close out the championship. Scoring

The women’s event was a one-sided affair. Ina Kim-Schaad never trailed in the championship match, beating out Talia Campbell 3&2 at Forest Highlands Golf Club in Arizona. Scoring

Quick Hooks

As previously reported, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, and Jason Day will be competing in a skins game the week of the inaugural Zozo Championship next month. The official trailer is bizarrely dramatic; nevertheless, the event is officially on the schedule for October 21.

One of the strongest events in college golf is underway at Olympia Fields. Hosted by the University of Illinois, the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational features Texas, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Pepperdine, Texas A&M, Cal, Baylor, and Alabama. Scoring

The Latest

The Fried Egg Podcast, Episode 154: Geoff Shackelford, Part 2: Player empowerment era and golf architecture’s future

In part two of Andy’s discussion with Golfweek and Golf Channel contributor Geoff Shackelford, they discuss the new era of player empowerment, in which golf’s biggest names are speaking up on hot topics. The two discuss slow play and driver technology before Andy gets Geoff’s take on the future of golf course architecture. Listen on iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify.

Shotgun Start… will be recorded and posted Friday morning. Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify.

Pro Shop

The BMW PGA will provide some great coffee golf this weekend. Grab one of our TFE shirts, pour some morning joe, and lounge in comfort. Get yours in grey or blue!