John Deere Classic Preview: TV Times, Betting Tips
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The PGA Tour heads to TPC Deere Run this week for the John Deere Classic. Here’s how to watch, and who to back
There’s just one week until the Open at Royal Portrush, and it’s the last chance for players not already qualified to gain the final spot in the 148th Open Championship field at the John Deere Classic this week.
Following Matthew Wolff’s victory last week it’s the upcoming youngsters who top the list of bookies favourites, including 3M Open runner-up Collin Morikawa and U.S Open leading amateur Viktor Hovland – all three players having turned pro in the last month.
Last year, it was Michael Kim who fired a final round 66 to post a record-breaking total of 25-under-par and grab that coveted Open spot – but he returns to TPC Deere Run having missed his last 17 cuts in a row.
Find out below who our TG experts think about who you should back this week…
Course: TPC Deere Run
FedEx Cup Points: 500
Prize Fund: $6,000,000
Defending Champion: Michael Kim
TV Times
Thursday & Friday
Featured Groups: Live PGA Tour, Sky Sports Golf – Red Button (13:00), Sky Sports Golf (18:30)
Live Coverage: Sky Sports Golf (21:00), Sky Sports Main Event (22:00)
Saturday:
Sky Sports Golf – Red Button (18:00), Sky Sports Golf (20:00), Sky Sports Main Event (20:00)
Sunday:
Sky Sports Golf – Red Button (18:00), Sky Sports Golf (20:00)
Betting Tips
Collin Morikawa: 20/1
Morikawa only turned professional last month, but has already proved he’s got the ability to win and will hoping to carry momentum this week. His ended up with a T14 at the RBC Canadian Open on his pro debut, finished T35 at the US Open, was T36 at the Travelers and birdied the 72nd hole at the 3M Open to finish 2nd to playing partner Matthew Wolff. Doesn’t qualify for stats yet but ranked 1st for SG: Approach, 6th for GIR last week.
Viktor Hovland: 20/1
Like Morikawa, Hovland only turned pro last month but boasts three top-15s in his last four starts, including a T12 at the US Open while still an amateur.
Matthew Wolff: 25/1
Winner last week on just his third start as a professional on the PGA Tour, and will be hugely confident on his debut here as he aims to break more records. Ranked 2nd for SG: Approach last week, with 9.444 gained over the field for four rounds.
Sunjae Im: 25/1
After a string of top 10s earlier in the year Im seems to have recovered from a short loss in form with a 7th place finish in Canada, two T21 finishes at the Travelers and Rocket Mortgage Classic, and a T15 last week. Debut this week. Ranks 25th SG: Around the green, 26th scoring average and 27th for birdie average.
Joaquin Niemann: 25/1
On a great run of form at the moment that includes two T5s in a row at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and Travelers Championship, before a T23 last week – the same result he had on his debut at the John Deere last year. Ranks 27th SG: Tee to green.
Brian Harman: 28/1
A T7 at the 3M Open was his second top 10 in his last three starts – the other a T8 at the Travelers Championship. T10 in this event the last time he teed up here in 2017. Ranks 16th sand saves, 42nd driving accuracy and 55th SG: Off the tee.
Zach Johnson: 33/1
The 2012 champion is the perfect example of horses for courses this week: In the last 10 years here, ZJ has a win, six other top 5s, and no worse a result than T34. That being said, he hasn’t had a top 10 all year on Tour, so will be looking to jump start his season. Best stats this season are ranking 48th SG: Around the green, 51st SG: Approach, 55th Scoring and 59th SG: Tee to green.
Wydham Clark: 45/1
A T5 at last week’s 3M Open would have been better if not for struggling with his swing in the final round, but it did follow two top 20s at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and Travelers Championship. Ranks 7th SG: Putting and 8th for birdie average.
Johnson Wagner: 80/1
Wagner is a bit of a gamble but given his record at the John Deere Classic, we’d say he’s worth an each-way. In this last five years he’s had three top 10s and a T16 in this event, and he finished T23 at last week’s 3M Open. Ranks 7th GIR, and 23rd SG: Putting on the PGA Tour this season.
