This yr’s John Deere Classic doesn’t function a lot firepower, however that doesn’t imply this match will disappoint. Usually, the other transpires as this occasion has a penchant for producing drama down the stretch.
Look no additional than final yr, when Sepp Straka soared up the leaderboard and arrived on the 18th tee with an opportunity to shoot a 59. He wanted to make yet another birdie to shoot that sub-60 rating, however he pulled his strategy into the lake beside the inexperienced. He settled for a double-bogey—and a 62 as a substitute—however nonetheless received the match by two.
Nevertheless, get able to see loads of birdies, not in contrast to the final two weeks on the Travelers Championship and the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Only twice prior to now decade has the profitable rating been lower than 20-under-par: in 2021, when Lucas Glover received at 19-under, and in 2017, when Bryson DeChambeau received by a stroke at 18-under.
John Deere Classic Odds:
Here are the most recent odds for gamers to win the John Deere Classic, supplied by DraftKings:
Sungjae Im +1400
Sepp Straka +1600
Aaron Rai +2000
Jordan Spieth +2200
Denny McCarthy +2200
Davis Thompson +2500
Maverick McNealy +2800
Keith Mitchell +2800
Jason Day +3000
J.T. Poston +3000
Nick Dunlap +3500
Adam Svensson +4000
Seamus Power +4500
Luke Clanton (a) +4500
Lucas Glover +4500
Kevin Yu +4500
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John Deere Classic Betting Predictions, Picks:
Jordan Spieth: coronary heart says sure, thoughts says no
The total golf world appears to need Jordan Spieth to return to glory, one thing he has not skilled since April 2022, when he received the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head. Considering the diminished area power this week—Sepp Straka, at twenty fourth, is the highest-ranked participant—you’ll assume this is able to be an excellent alternative for Spieth to bounce again and contend. Plus, he has received the John Deere Classic twice, in 2013 and 2015.
Yet, he has struggled mightily over the previous few months, as his iron play and brief sport have let him down. He has not posted a top-10 because the Valero Texas Open, and within the 9 tournaments since, his greatest end got here at Quail Hollow, the place he tied for twenty ninth. Given his poor play, he ought to have a lot greater odds than the +2200, however title recognition helps increase his value. Don’t take the bait.
Seamus Power posts first high 10 of season
After having a stable 2022-23 marketing campaign, during which he certified for the BMW Championship at Olympia Fields, Seamus Power has struggled to copy that success in 2024.
He has had some sturdy finishes, together with a T-12 at Hilton Head, a T-16 on the Wells Fargo Championship, and most not too long ago, a T-20 on the Travelers Championship, because of a ultimate spherical 7-under 63.
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But the Irishman will put up his first top-10 of the season at TPC Deere Run. For some motive, he loves this golf course. He has not missed a reduce in his 5 appearances on this occasion.
Last yr, he tied for thirteenth, rating seventh among the many area in strokes gained approaching the inexperienced. Two years earlier than, Power tied for eighth. He additionally has a scoring common of 67.95 over his 20 rounds performed within the Quad Cities, with a third-round 4-over 75 in 2019 being a major outlier.
Power is +400 to complete within the top-10.
Eric Cole continues to surge, data greatest end of yr
Eric Cole performs virtually each week. Literally. This week’s John Deere Classic will mark his twenty fourth begin of the 2024 season, and he’ll arrive within the Quad Cities with some momentum.
He tied for sixth on the Rocket Mortgage Classic, his greatest end of the yr, however one thing tells us that he’ll do higher than that this week. Cole is a stable putter, and for occasions just like the John Deere Classic, which can yield loads of birdies, all of it comes right down to how effectively gamers can roll it within the greens.
The Nova Southeastern alum ranks thirteenth on tour in total placing common and thirteenth in putts per spherical, needing only a shade above 28 on common.
Hence, we like Cole to complete within the high 5 at +1000.
Odds-on favourite Sungjae Im contends however doesn’t win
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Sungjae Im is the odds-on favourite to win at +1400, however we don’t imagine he’ll document his third profession PGA Tour victory this week. Yet, we like Im to contend, simply as he has in quite a few non-majors this season.
Since lacking the reduce at Augusta National, Im additionally did not make the weekend on the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. But within the 5 different occasions he has performed since then, the Seoul, South Korea native has posted 4 high 10s and a T-12 end. His greatest consequence got here on the Travelers Championship, the place he tied for third.
We like him to proceed his sturdy play within the Quad Cities, ending within the high 5 at +330, however any person else will take the victory lap in a John Deere tractor as a substitute.
2024 John Deere Classic winner: Patton Kizzire
Patton Kizzire didn’t begin the season on the fitting foot, lacking six straight cuts after tying for thirteenth on the Sony Open in Hawaii. But the previous Auburn Tiger has re-discovered his kind, making 5 of his final six cuts. Of these 5 occasions, he has completed no worse than T-28, which got here on the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a crew occasion.
Yet Kizzire is a terrific ball-striker, rating eighth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approaching the inexperienced. He is fourth in greens in regulation share, discovering the placing floor 71.53% of the time and eighth in proximity to the outlet at roughly 35 ft. The query turns into whether or not or not he can convert these alternatives this week. Kizzire ranks 67th on tour in that regard, changing his birdie probabilities almost 32% of the time, however one thing tells us he’ll do higher than that this week at TPC Deere Run, a course the place he has a powerful historical past.
He has three top-25 finishes, together with a T-11 in 2021 and a T-16 in 2022, however did miss the reduce final yr. Nevertheless, Kizzire bounces again with a vengeance this week to win the John Deere Classic and achieve an amazing profession increase. Give us the lengthy shot to win at +9000.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be positive to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
