With the Open Championship just a week away, the field at the 2021 John Deere Classic lacks most of the top ranked players in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) and the FedEx Cup point standings. In addition to the other benefits that accompany a PGA Tour win, the final qualifying spot in the Open Championship will go to a top five finisher in the John Deere Classic not otherwise qualified for the season’s final major.
The tournament was canceled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, making 2019 winner Dylan Frittelli the defending champion, as he defeated Russell Henley by two shots, despite Henley’s closing ten under par round of 61. The event is played at TPC Deere Run, a par 71 D.A. Weibring design that plays at 7,268 yards and has yielded a high number of low rounds, including the Tour’s fourth 59 by Paul Goydos in the first round in 2010.
Daniel Berger, ranked 13th in the OWGR is the betting favorite at +1000.
Betting Odds at TPC Deere Run
Daniel Berger, ranked 13th in the OWGR and 23rd in the FedEx Cup standings, is the betting favorite at +1000, and will be looking for his second PGA Tour win of the season. He’s followed at +1400 by lefthander Brian Harman and busy Sungjae Im, who will be making his 30th start of the season.
Next in the odds at +1800 is Russell Henley, three time PGA Tour winner who contended at the U.S. Open before a final round 76 and at +2500 are Alex Noren and Kevin Streelman. Last week’s winner in a five hole playoff at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Cameron Davis, has odds of +2800 with Seamus Power and former Players champion Si Woo Kim at +3300.
Three time John Deere winner Steve Stricker will be skipping the U.S. Senior Open in Omaha to compete in the PGA Tour event with betting odds of +6600. Former champion Zach Johnson is at +4000 with Frittelli, who has missed the cut in six of his last seven starts, is at +8000.
Favorite Picks for the John Deere
Daniel Berger is a solid pick in any tournament, but as the top player in the field with odds of +1000, he is worthy of strong consideration to win the John Deere. He hasn’t played since the U.S. Open where he finished in a tie for seventh, his sixth top ten finish of the season, which also includes a tie for ninth in The Players.
University of Georgia alum Henley was in contention again last week at the Rocket Mortgage, finishing tied for 19th after an even par 72 dropped him down the leaderboard. He has four top tens in 20 starts, most recently in the RBC Heritage.
With a pair of top ten finishes the last two weeks, Hank Lebioda has made it into the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings and appears poised to win his first PGA Tour event. Without a high number of top ranked players on the field, Lebioda should have a great shot with odds of +4000 if he can continue his recent strong play.
