The PGA Tour brings its version of Fourth of July fireworks to Silvis, Illinois, for the John Deere Classic. Sungjae Im, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day headline this year’s field at TPC Deere Run, a course that brings out the best scores from the world’s top players.
Bettors should expect another tournament with low scores and plenty of birdies. The ability to take advantage of Deere Run’s favorable conditions is one of many factors we considered when selecting our favorite John Deere Classic picks. This tournament is also the final opportunity for players to earn a spot in The Open Championship, which tees off in two weeks from Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland.
John Deere Classic Betting Odds
|
DraftKings |
ESPN BET |
Fanatics |
BetMGM |
bet365 |
Caesars |
FanDuel |
| Sungjae Im |
+1600 |
+1300 |
+1400 |
+1200 |
+1500 |
+1200 |
+1400 |
| Sepp Straka |
+1600 |
+1400 |
+1600 |
+1600 |
+1650 |
+1400 |
+1600 |
| Aaron Rai |
+2000 |
+1800 |
+1900 |
+1800 |
+2200 |
+1400 |
+2200 |
| Jordan Spieth |
+2200 |
+2200 |
+2500 |
+2200 |
+2400 |
+2200 |
+2200 |
| Denny McCarthy |
+2200 |
+2000 |
+2500 |
+2200 |
+2200 |
+1600 |
+2200 |
| Davis Thompson |
+2200 |
+2200 |
+2200 |
+2200 |
+2400 |
+2000 |
+2200 |
| Maverick McNealy |
+2500 |
+2500 |
+2500 |
+2500 |
+2700 |
+2500 |
+2500 |
| Jason Day |
+3000 |
+3300 |
+3250 |
+4000 |
+3200 |
+3000 |
+3300 |
| J.T. Poston |
+3000 |
+3300 |
+3500 |
+2800 |
+3200 |
+2800 |
+3500 |
| Keith Mitchell |
+3000 |
+3300 |
+3250 |
+3300 |
+3200 |
+3500 |
+3300 |
Many of the PGA Tour’s top players are focused on playing links-style courses in preparation for this month’s Open. However, several high-level golfers are teeing off in Silvis for one of the Tour’s most high-scoring events.
Sungjae Im is the favorite or co-favorite for this year’s John Deere Classic. The 26-year-old sits 15th in the FedEx Cup standings as he goes for his first win of the 2024 season. The next man up is Sepp Straka, who won last year’s tournament at 21-under par. Straka, J.T. Poston (2022) and Jordan Spieth (2013, 2015) are among the former John Deere winners with favorable odds this week.
Top 3 John Deere Classic Picks
TPC Deere Run has wide fairways and receptive greens. The course has three par-5s between 550 and 600 yards and 11 par-fours below 445 yards, so shorter hitters can still put together impressive scores. That said, the keys to success include fairway accuracy, short-wedge approach shots and putting. Golfers who lack touch on and around the greens will have trouble scoring in a tournament where low scores are essential.
Here are three golfers who hit the course profile and have advantageous betting odds to win the 2024 John Deere Classic:
Maverick McNealy +2700 (bet365)
The 28-year-old has improved his play each year at TPC Deere Run, culminating in a T8 finish in 2022. While he’s still seeking his first PGA Tour victory, he has the strengths in his game to make it happen this weekend.
McNealy is excellent with his driver, entering this tournament 19th in SG (Strokes Gained): Off-the-Tee. The best part of his game is around the green and with the putter, as he’s 12th in SG: Around-the-Green and 28th in SG: Putting. Short approach shots with wedges and an ability to sink putts have helped McNealy finish with three top-10 results in 2024.
McNealy has made five straight cuts, though his T7 finish at the RBC Canadian Open was the only result inside the top 10. Still, this should be another competitive weekend for the California native.
J.T. Poston +3500 (FanDuel)
Two years ago, Poston went 21-under par to win the John Deere Classic by three strokes. While he hasn’t won a tournament since then, there are many reasons to like his chances to become the JDC’s seventh repeat winner.
Poston possesses a few of the necessary traits to succeed at Deere Run. The 31-year-old ranks 11th in SG: Around-the-Green from the fairway, shots many golfers will have this week. He’s also top-10 in accuracy off the tee and is a solid putter, especially on bentgrass greens.
After opening the season with back-to-back top-six finishes, Poston has lost some of his momentum in recent weeks. Fortunately, though, he has the track record at Silvis to justify a bet.
Patton Kizzire +10000 (BetMGM)
We’re going off the board for the final pick. Kizzire went through a brutal stretch with six straight missed cuts earlier this season, but his recent play and statistical profile make him an intriguing flier.
The 38-year-old Kizzire has placed T28 or better in five of his past six tournaments, finishing with scores of at least 11-under par each time. A key reason for his turnaround is his lethal approach game, where he ranks eighth in SG: Approach and fourth in GIR (Greens in Regulation) percentage. In addition, Kizzire’s 4.26 birdies per round is ninth on the PGA Tour, even with all the early-season missed cuts.
Kizzire’s best outing in five appearances at the John Deere Classic was a T11 finish at 14-under in 2021. If he can find the putter and avoid disaster holes, he could be in the mix on Sunday.
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