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John Deere Classic: Expert Picks

Viktor Hovland is playing like a seasoned vet.

By Mark Abell
3M Open - Final Round Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Tournament Information

John Deere Classic
Date: July 11th – 14th
Course: TPC Deere Run
Purse - $6MM ($1MM to winner)
FedEx points – 500 to winner(s)
2018 Winner: Michael Kim (-27)

Course

TPC Deere Run. Designed in 2000 by D.A. Weibring, this 7,250 yard part 71 course running along the Rock River is a precursor to the British Open. It has many elevation changes with scenic overviews of forestry all over. The roughs are damaging and difficult to get out of and accuracy is an important characteristic to have.

GOLF: JUL 15 PGA - John Deere Classic Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

My Starting 4

Viktor Hovland (1st selection this year) — I’m real curious to see what the rookie can do among this field. He has three top 15 finishes in his last four tournaments.

Zach Johnson (3rd selection this year) — Zach has been in the top 35 the last three years at TPC Deere Run. Additionally he has made the cut in three of his last four tournaments and he took about a month off coming into the John Deere Classic.

Scott Brown (2nd selection this year) — Scott comes in with three made cuts in his last four tournaments including a 15th place finish last week at the 3M Open. He has finished in the top 25 each of the last three years at the John Deere Classic.

Andres Romero (1st selection this year) — This is Andres first appearance on the tour this year. He has been decent outside of the PGATour and he has been in the top 25 each of the last two years at the John Deere Classic.

My Bench 2

Chad Campbell (1st selection this year) — One of the better golfers here the last two years with a 12th place finish in 2017 and 7th place finish last year, Chad Campbell has had a not so great year with seven missed cuts in 10 tournaments. He could be a deep sleeper.

Seamus Power (1st selection this year) — A missed cut in three of his last four is not a good sign. Prior to that rough streak he was in the top 15 in three of the previous four so which Seamus do we get this weekend. Seamus finished in the top 25 in the last two years.

2019 Stats

Starting 4: Avg finish 47th (36th percentile)
Bench 2: Avg finish 62nd (48th percentile)