The PGA Tour visits Illinois this week with the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois.
Before I continue with this week’s golf preview, I just want to say a massive thank you to every one of you for all the kind messages, likes, DMs, Followers etc.
After yet another winning golf tip last weekend in the shape of Xander Schauffele who scooped up his first victory in over a year when winning the Travelers Championship, it simply makes it all worth my while to know so many of you are taking advantage and not just following but backing my selections.
After tipping Fitzy at 30/1 to win the US Open the week before, it was yet another scoop for us all to savour, this time the collection queue, hundreds long were cashing in at a generous 20/1.
As always I’m just so glad I can help so many while having fun watching golf. We’ve had some really exciting tournaments this year, none more so than last week’s climax to the Travelers where Theegala completely lost the plot on the 18th and final hole with absolutely no help whatsoever from his young inexperienced Caddie.
When leading by one shot over Schauffele he double-bogeyed the last and gone was his chance to stardom. It’s tremendous golf I’m witnessing at the moment on the PGA Tour so long may it continue and long may our streak of winners continue also .
We are going for the treble this weekend, a hat-trick of winners, week to week, no pressure then. Anyway thanks again everyone for all the support, it’s appreciated and on that note let’s get back to this week’s John Deere Classic.
John Deere Classic Preview
The 156 field with the top 65 including ties making the cut will all be competing for a share of the $7.1 M prize purse with the winner collecting the John Deere title and a winner’s cheque for $1.2M.
The field, without being disrespectful, will see a much weaker-than-usual lineup. Most of the big guns are focusing on the trip to Scotland with the upcoming Genesis Scottish Open and the one we have all waiting for, The 150th Open Championship at the home of golf, St Andrews.
I for sure certainly can’t wait and will hopefully be visiting both events in July. We will see a much stronger lineup at The Renaissance Club in preparation for The Open but for now, let’s focus on the John Deere Classic.
Lucas Glover 50/1 Bet365 returns to defend his crown. With the victory in 2021, it was Glover’s third win in three different decades, tremendous Lucas. He birdied five of the last seven holes to beat Kevin Na and Ryan Moore with two shots to spare.
TPC Deere Run will be playing 7,289 yards long this week. It’s a par 71 parkland layout and probably one of the easiest tests these players will face all year on the PGA Tour. Expect low scoring throughout, maybe even a 59 which would be a repeat of Paul Goydos’s effort here in 2010.
The weather is forecast to be sunny and warm for the most part but we could see thunderstorms on Friday with breezes peaking at around 15mph. And now for the shipping forecast, only joking.
So let’s move on with some selections for this week’s John Deere Classic as we go for the hat-trick of wins.
For my first and main selection in Illinois, I’m liking the look of Sahith Theegala 25/1 EW BetVictor.
I’ve never tipped the talented kid from California before but I’ve just got a feeling he’s going to be the next one to collect that maiden breakthrough PGA Title.
I’ve been correct so far with so many including Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns who were all over my radar when bagging maiden titles, both have gone on to win many more as was also predicted here on the website. Theegala has four Top 10 finishes this year with three of those being in the Top 5. He was runner-up last weekend at the Travelers Championship as mentioned above, T5th at the Memorial Tournament, T7th at the Valspar Championship and T3rd at the Phoenix Open.
Theegala is 13th on the PGA Tour Going for the Green this season but that figure may not be unlucky as he can back that stat up with a runaway 1st on the PGA Tour Total Birdies. That’s the clue right there as Theegala enjoys yet another birdie fest on his way to collecting his maiden PGA crown at TPC Deere Run.
For my next selection, I’m going to suggest the defending champion Lucas Glover 50/1 EW Bet365.
With a much weaker field on the show this week then the door could be ajar for someone further up the pack to put on a show and that showman could once again be Lucas Glover just as he did here last year. The 42 yrs old from South Carolina has now won a tournament in three different decades, not many can boast of that amazing achievement. Listen, to be honest, there’s not much recent form for me to go on about for Lucas Glover apart from 5th place at the start of the year at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
The only figure that pops out for Glover this year is that he’s ranked 22nd on the PGA Tour for Greens in Regulation at 68.87%. Lucas Glover could easily show up this year just as he did last year and successfully defend his crown in the John Deere Classic. My advice is to take the 50/1 EW while it’s available.
For my next pick, I’m going to point you in the direction of Webb Simpson 14/1 EW SportNation. The 36yrs old from North Carolina had his best result of the season last week at the Travelers Championship where he finished T13th. It’s not been the greatest of seasons so far for Simpson, I’m sure he’d be the first to admit that but it’s not been poor either. His best performance this year was probably when finishing 20th at the USPGA Championship but he also played some good stuff when finishing 35th at The Masters.
The former US Open Champion could easily take advantage of what’s on offer at the TPC Deere Run this week and show his class. With seven PGA titles already in the bag including a major, we could see the first victory in over two years for Webb Simpson. He hasn’t won an event since claiming the Phoenix Open in 2020.
However, the stats that matter this week will be on the dance floor and although it’s not been a stand-out season, he does arrive in Illinois ranked 18th on the PGA for Putting Average.
It’s going to come down to who has the best touch on these dance floors and who can take advantage of the birdies on offer and Webb Simpson ticks all the boxes to claim yet another PGA victory in Illinois this coming Sunday evening.
For my final selection, it’s the customary match bet. This week I’m going to advise Patrick Rodger to get the better of Scott Stallings over 72 holes, Best priced 10/11 Betfair.
- Sahith Theegala 25/1 EW BetVictor.
- Lucas Glover 50/1 EW Bet365.
- Webb Simpson 14/1 EW SportNation.
- Patrick Rodgers to beat Scott Stallings 10/11 NAP Betfair. (72-hole match bet)
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