Garrick Higgo Leads Sanderson Farms Championship After Second-Round 66.

Garrick Higgo kept the ball in play and capitalized on his birdie chances Friday, carding a 6-under 66 to grab a one-shot lead at the Sanderson Farms Championship. The South African sits at 13-under 131 heading into the weekend at the Country Club of Jackson, feeling as though this Fall Series stop marks a fresh start.

Higgo strung together three straight birdies late in his round, including a near-hole-out from the bunker on the short par-4 15th. He now holds a slim advantage over Eric Cole (67) and Taylor Montgomery, who put on a dazzling display with nine birdies in a 10-hole stretch, highlighted by a 25-footer on his final hole for a 63.

For Montgomery, ranked outside the FedExCup Top 100, it’s a vital run as he fights to secure his PGA Tour card for 2026. Only the top 100 players retain full status after the Fall Series wraps in November.

Cole, meanwhile, is chasing his first PGA Tour victory. After piling up 10 birdies in Thursday’s opening round, he added seven more in calmer conditions on Friday to stay in the mix.

A crowded chase pack sits close behind. Danny Walker (68) trails by two shots, while Vince Whaley (67) and Tom Kim (66) are three back. All three are hovering around the FedExCup bubble — Walker at No. 104, Whaley at 102, and Kim at 99 — making every stroke critical in their push to lock in full playing rights.

For Higgo, this week is less about survival and more about momentum. He already secured his PGA Tour card with a win at the Puntacana Championship earlier this year, though his season was derailed by a hip labrum injury. Surgery was on the table, but the 25-year-old opted to adjust his training instead.

“It wasn’t hurting me in my swing, but walking made it really bad, and then it would pinch the next day,” Higgo explained. “I’ve changed the way I work out, just being smarter. Now the pain is maybe one out of 10, though I get tired quicker. But I feel like I’m back on the right track.”

Higgo drew valuable lessons earlier this season while playing in the final group with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at the Procore Championship, where he finished tied for seventh.

“I couldn’t tell you how much I learned, but I learned so much just by watching,” Higgo said. “He’s set the bar so high. His skill level is phenomenal, and he’s an inspiration for all of us.”

With confidence restored and his health under control, Higgo heads into the weekend looking to add another chapter to his comeback season.