Mississippi
How Ford Clegg teed off on his PGA Tour career in Mississippi, with MSU close to his heart
When Ford Clegg arrived at Mississippi State, the men’s golf program was battling to be among the 70 best teams in the nation. That started changing his freshman season in 2018, when, under second-year coach Dusty Smith, the program began to climb upward.
The Bulldogs are now a top 10 team, according to the Golfweek rankings presented by StrackaLine. They’re coming off their first NCAA regional title, and Clegg deserves much of the credit for what he did to build the program in his five seasons in Starkville.
So it’s only fitting Clegg is making his PGA Tour debut in the Magnolia State, playing at the 2023 Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson.
“There’s a lot of Mississippi State fans out here,” Clegg said Thursday after shooting even par in the first round. “I heard, ‘Hail State’ a lot, which is always fun to hear. It’s nice to be not too far away from school and to represent this state well after they took a chance on me as far as letting me come to Mississippi State and represent them. It’s very fun.”
Clegg sported a Mississippi State logo on his belt along with his bag. While he no longer plays for MSU, it’s apparent his appreciation for the school won’t stop with start of his professional career.
“Anytime you’re able to put a graphic out there on social media or have him put the M State logo on his bag and on his belt, it recruits for itself,” Smith told the Clarion Ledger.
Clegg was among the first recruits for Smith, who came to Mississippi State in 2017 after six years as an assistant at Vanderbilt. From becoming an All-SEC player to being a two-time SEC scholar-athlete of the year, Clegg’s recruitment proved successful in Starkville.
It’s continuing to be worthwhile post-graduation.
“He embodied everything of what a student-athlete is,” Smith said.
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Smith was among those walking with Clegg’s group throughout the opening round. He watched closely as Clegg opened his round with a bogey on the 10th hole.
“I was a little shaky,” Clegg admitted.
But he bounced back for a birdie two holes later. His first nine holes featured three bogeys and three birdies. His second nine was calmer, with a birdie on the first hole and a bogey on the final hole marking the lone non-par scores.
Clegg is learning in real time what it’s like to be on the PGA Tour. His time in Mississippi, whether it be the five years in Starkville or this week in Jackson, will help as his professional career continues.
“I want to compete at a high level,” Clegg said. “It’s fun just to get to be here and experience it.”