The world’s top golfers will head this week to the famed TPC Deere Run course in Silvis, Illinois for the 2016 staging of the John Deere Classic. A cool $4.8 million is at stake for the world-class field with the champion grabbing not only 500 FedEx Cup points but also the $864,000 top prize.
Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this prestigious golf tournament and while you’re at it, you can check out our sleeper picks for the John Deere Classic.
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Favorites – Zach Johnson (+500) and Kevin Na (+1,600)
It isn’t a complete surprise to see Zach Johnson and Kevin Na installed as favorites to win this week’s John Deere Classic. Johnson and Na are the two highest-ranked players in the field and they are playing some excellent golf of late. Johnson has found the top-20 in four of his last six starts, including a T8 at the US Open. Johnson loves playing in this Deere Run course as evidenced by playoff victory over Troy Matteson back in 2012. He has finished outside the top three just once in his past seven visits to this tournament.
Na, on the other hand, has been totally lit just the same, finishing in the top-30 in each of his last four starts. He came close to winning his first major title at Oakmont back in June, ending up in seventh place behind eventual champion Dustin Johnson. With the form that they are both in right now, expect Na and Johnson to contend once again for the title this week.
High-Value Sleepers – Steve Stricker (+900) and Jon Rahm (+1,200)
One golfer who loves playing here at TPC Deere Run is Steve Stricker. The 49-year-old veteran pulled off a rare three-peat by winning this tournament back in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Since that trifecta, Stricker has found the top 15 in three of his last four starts here in the John Deere Classic. Stricker is starting to rediscover his old form, finishing in second place in last month’s Open Championship. Stricker has now made the cut in his last five golf tournaments, posting two top-fives during that span.
Another golfer who’s primed for a huge performance this week is Jon Rahm. He has been playing some excellent golf of late as well, nabbing a pair of top-3 finishes since turning professional back in June. The 21-year-old Spaniard has made all four cuts in just four starts as a pro. He will look to grab the victory here at TPC Deere Run which would give him an automatic two-year exemption in the PGA Tour.
Looking for a worthy long shot at the John Deere Classic this week? How about Jerry Kelly? He came close to ending his title drought at the Travelers Championship last week, losing by just one shot to eventual champion Russell Knox. What makes Kelly such a huge threat in every tournament that he competes on is his solid hitting off the tee. He is fourth in the PGA Tour in driving accuracy percentage with a remarkable 70.66 percent clip. That incredible precision will come in handy when tackling the narrow fairways of this notoriously tough TPC Deere Run course.
Writer’s Prediction
Steve Stricker wins his record fourth John Deere crown.
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