Most of the focus is going down at the Scottish Open this week, which is the big warm-up ahead of The Open Championship at Royal Portrush next week. TPC Deere Run is the host of this one on the PGA and like the Scottish Open, is the final chance at qualification for the next major.
The good thing about Deere Run hosting since 2000 is that it allows for a look at course form. That having been said though, four of the last six winners have been first-timers, but a lot of that is down to timing with players hitting up Europe ahead of the major.
John Deere Classic Golf Winner Odds*
Viktor Hovland 16/1
Collin Morikawa 20/1
Joaquin Niemann 22/1
Matthew Wolff 22/1
Sungjae Im 22/1
Brian Harman 25/1
Charles Howell III 28/1
Zach Johnson 28/1
Lucas Glover 30/1
Ryan Moore 30/1
Daniel Berger 30/1
Wyndham Clark 40/1
Kyle Santely 45/1
Sam Burns 45/1
Bud Cayley 50/1
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 9:32 pm)
An open field in pre-Open week
The quality in this field is lacking when you stand it up to what is going down in Edinburgh this week for the Scottish Open. But still, in this pre-Open week, there is plenty to get excited about as this should be low-scoring and wide open.
It is the exciting Vikor Hovland who is running as the outright favourite to the tune of 16/1* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 9:32 pm). He has been pretty solid on the midwest swing of the PGA Tour and with a top fifteen finish in Minnesota, last week should be in contention.
Can Former Champion Zach Johnson get another title?
Zach Johnson stepped up to the plate in 2012 and delivered the title at the John Deere. This has been a pretty terrible season by his standards though. But he does have the course form without question. In addition to that 2012 title, he has five top-five finishes at the event as well. He hasn’t been over par at the event in the last decade. So with six of his last nine attempts yielding a T5 or better, he has to be worth a look at 28/1 each-way* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 9:32 pm).
Other key players
Brian Harman is a former event winner as well, having lifted the title in 2014. Much like Johnson, he has not had a great season, sitting outside of the top 125 in the FedEx Cup ranking. But there have been signs that he is just turning the corner. Harman he has carded two top ten finishes in the last month. He has four top 25 finishes at the tournament in his career. Matthew Wolff will have his confidence through the roof at the moment after winning the 3M at Twin Cities last weekend and goes off at 22/1* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 9:32 pm)
Collin Morikawa was also one of the stand out players at the 3M with a super hot hand with his iron work. That helped guide him to a T2 finish where he just missed out on a playoff. His previous best for the season had been at the RBC Canadian Open where he took a T14. He is looking for his first Tour title. This week could see him knocking on the door once again of making a breakthrough. At a quote of 20/1 it’s not a bad option* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 9:32 pm) to look at.
Lucas Glover bust out of a slump in Minnesota last week where he secured a top ten finish. He was in fantastic form with the putter which saw a marked rise in his game’s standard. So he could be the one to watch in-play as this rolls along. Charles Howell III has only missed the cut in one of his last eight attempts at the John Deere, carding four top 25 finishes along the way. As it was for a lot of players with the easy scoring on offer at Twin Cities, Howell III posted his best result for a while.
John Deere Classic Predictions
We like the look of a couple of players up near the head of the outright winner market here. Collin Morikawa is certainly on his game at the moment and piques some big interest for this one. But our big tip is going to be on the unmentioned Sungjae Im who has been in terrific form in 2019. He has gone 4-4 since the Canadian Open, all top 25 finishers and looks like wonderful value at 22/1 each-way* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 9:32 pm).
