No winners in our first PGA Preview of the 2018 season last week as two of our picks finished in the top 20 but ultimately couldn’t bring it home on the final day. The tour rolls on to Silvis in Illinois this weekend for the annual John Deere Classic where intriguing youngster Bryson DeChambeau will be looking to defend his title. We preview the event and give our tips below.
John Deere Classic Betting Tips
The Course & History
2018 will mark the 20th tournament since the former Quad City Classic was renamed the John Deere Classic, and the hosting course will once again be the TPC at Deere Run in Silvis. Steve Stricker is the record holder in the John Deere Classic, having won the tournament on three separate occasions while Paul Gydos holds the course record of 59, shot in the 2010 event.
Bryson DeChambeau won the tournament last year, his maiden PGA Tour title bu shooting rounds of 66, 65, 70 and 65 to finish 18 under par and one stroke ahead of runner up Patrick Rodgers.
The TPC at Deere Run is 7,258 yards, making it a longer than average course on the 2018 PGA tour and was designed by D.A Weibring Golf Recourses. It features a lot of risk/reward holes as it winds along the close by Rock River. The course favours strong and accurate iron play so green in regulation leaders should be kings here.
The Field
The Field features six of the top 25 golfers on the Fed Ex 2018 rankings and features seven golfers who have already won in the 2017/18 season so far. Steve Stricker will attempt to win his fourth Deere Classic title and remains the last PGA player to win a three-peat after claiming the title in 2009, 10 and 11.
Stricker is yet to record a top 10 in a full length tournament so far this season, however, he has three top 25 finishes in his last four tournaments and has only missed two cuts from nine tournaments in 2018. He has the pedigree at the TPC at Deere Run course and brings some reasonable form into the event. At $4.80 to finish in the top five we think he represents value.
Steve Striker top five finish
$4.80
Stricker might have won the tournament on three spate occasions but Zach Johnson could arguably be the king of the John Deere Classic. In nine trips to Silvis, Johnson has never missed a cut and boasts one win in 2012, three seconds, two thirds and a ridiculous scoring average of 66.89 at the TPC at Deere Run. Ridiculous. Has nine top 20 finishes since November last year and is our best pick for the 2018 John Deere Classic.
Zach Johnson each way
$11/$3
