Picks for the John Deere Classic
The John Deere Classic will take place July 8th to the 11th in Silvis Illinois on the TCP Deere Run golf course and has defending and returning champions vying for the title. The purse is a hefty $4.4 million. Defending champ Steve Stricker and former winner Kenny Perry are both in attendance for the golf event.
Both men are in excellent form for the tournament. Perry won two of the four tournaments he last participated in. The American golfer and Kentucky native had controversially snubbed the British Open Championship held next week in Scotland. Perry felt playing on American soil was the best way for him to land a spot in the Ryder Cup.
2009 John Deere Classic champion Stricker is also coming into the tournament off a win and shares Perry’s point of view. He would rather play, and win if he’s lucky, a US Tour rather than try his luck on the Scottish links course. He looks like the best choice as he has not missed a cut in any of his last events played.
The Deere Run course rewards players for accuracy and has accessible pins and a plethora of birdies.
Zach Johnson returns to the tournament after he tied for second place last year. He tied for 12th at St. Jude and has been playing well since he won in Texas four starts ago. His “win only” attitude and aptitude for finishing on top gives him great odds.
Johnson has had seven Tour wins in seven seasons starting with the Bell South Classic victory in 2004. Johnson feels good about this competition and has had several wins recently. He holds the John Deere Classic in high regard so it won't be surprising if he makes it to the finish line ahead of everybody else.
South African Tim Clark landed himself the Players Championship title this year, his first US Tour win since he debuted in 2007. He was a runner up for the Bob Hope Classic with 29 under, and tied for 12th at the US Open at Pebble Beach. Clark has played and won on three continents and participated in three President’s Cup teams.
Clark is ranked third in driving accuracy and fourth in putting average. He doesn’t have the victory streak of Johnson but he is in a good position form-wise to make a viable shot for the title. He had a brilliant win at Sawgrass and was told by friends that the TCP Deere Run course would aptly suit him.When matched with a course he feels comfortable with, Clark scores quick follow ups. He has been observed to play better and in a more relaxed mood when Tiger Woods isn’t participating.
Tiger Woods skipped the tournament to play in the JP McManus Invitational Pro-am in Ireland. The Irish charity event is hosted every five years by horse breeding billionaire JP McManus and brings together professional golfers, wealthy businessman, and Hollywood celebrities.
Some players who haven’t made the cut in previous years but are making waves now are Charlie Wi and Carle Petterson. Wi, 38, finished fourth at the AT&T National last week at Aronimink golf course and is about due for a win. He has been kicking around second place for the past three seasons and tied for 21st at the Travellers Championship. The fourth place tie at The AT&T National bodes well for Wi and increases his chances.
Pettersson, of Sweden, competed at the AT&T National and finished with score 67-72-65-71. He has good form and is ranked third by Putting Average. He knows how to win and has done well on the course before.
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