Monday wrap-up: John Deere Classic
Another week and another barrage of birdies, more young-guns making waves, and a familiar favorite giving the fans excitement on moving day. The 2024 John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run was filled with highlights and low numbers, including another sub-60 round. Which brings up a great question - do fans enjoy seeing professionals break scoring records or see scores closer to par win a tournament? Either side of the debate delivers exciting golf: whether it is seeing how low they go or who can pull off miraculous par saves to stay in contention. Ok, let’s dive into the week that was the 2024 John Deere Classic.
For the ninth time in the 2024 PGA Tour season we have a first time winner. In his 63rd start, Davis Thompson cleared the field by four strokes and set a new tournament scoring record at -28 (256). The 25 year old pulled away from other up and coming young talent thanks in part to a final round 64 that started off with 5 birdies through the first 6 holes. Thompson was asked about his goals coming into this week, “This week my goal was to kick the door down and get a win honestly. Then I was able to play really well and thankfully I’m in a good spot for the rest of the year.” A good spot may be an understatement for the first time winner on Tour. Along with his first victory, he also finds himself booking a trip across the Atlantic to tee it up at Royal Troon for the 152nd Open Championship. With the win comes 500 FedEx Cup points, helping Thompson jump up to 22nd in the standings and sit firmly in position to make a run deep into the playoffs.
One other interesting point of note is that Thompson stayed at the same rental home as that past two John Deere Classic winners - Sepp Straka & JT Poston. In fact, Thompson even stayed in the same room this year that Straka occupied in 2023 when he had a fantastic final round to win the tournament and thinks that next year there will be a little battle for that room, “It’s kind of crazy how JT two years ago and Sepp had that incredible final round last year. Sepp didn’t stay there this year, but I stayed in Sepp’s room this year. I don’t know, me and him may be fighting for that room next year.” We’ll have to see the prop bets in 2025 to see if the winner comes from this same rental house, or what the odds are that this bedroom produces three victories in a row.
The top of the leaderboard this week has to give fans everywhere a sense that the future of the game is in great hands. Not only do we have the ninth first-time winner on Tour this year, we also have the one of the best back-to-back stretches by an amateur in recent history. Luke Clanton finished T-2 (-24 | 260) and becomes the first amateur since 1957/1958 to finish inside the top ten in two consecutive starts. The current Florida State Seminole is looking to follow in the footsteps of recent amateurs turning pro and finding relatively quick success on Tour. Clanton is also hoping to mirror the success of a former Seminole (and former Tour member), Brooks Koepka.
Hayden Springer found himself firing a sub-60 round this week that is sure to give the PGA Tour rookie a spark heading down the stretch of the 2024 season. This was his third top-10 finish in 15 starts, as he carried his opening round 59 to a tie for 7th at -21.
Familiar fan favorite Jordan Spieth had a moving day that brought back flashes of a younger Spieth as he got into contention with a third round 63. At one point on Saturday afternoon, Spieth was tied for the lead and was the talk of the tournament. Spieth even said it was a funny feeling knowing that he fired a 63 and left several shots out on the course. He has a record of getting streaky following the John Deere Classic. Could this be the spark he very much needed to contend again at golf’s oldest major?
Weekly Pick ‘em Results
And now the most important piece of the weekend…the results from our weekly pick ‘em with some other minds in the golf apparel & content world. My pick, Neal Shipley, started out strong on Thursday but struggled to bring it home on Friday that resulted in a MC and not playing the weekend. @TJBreaks80 looked like he may have the pick of the year in Jordan Spieth on Saturday, but the momentum faltered on Sunday. @Lifeoffthelinks, Kevin Matznick, had the low pick of the week in Sungjae Im who also scared the top of the leaderboard on Saturday. You can keep up with our weekly picks, as well as the social media accounts of all involved, over on Instagram: @longleafgolf. This week we head across the pond for a two week stretch - up next, The Genesis Scottish Open where we will see Rory McIlroy re-emerge after walking off of the 72nd hole at the U.S. Open.
All stats and figures obtained from the PGA Tour & ShotLink Reports. Player interview transcripts provided by ASAP Sports. Longleaf Golf is an independent media outlet not associated with the PGA Tour, John Deere Classic, or any of their affiliates.
