Teeing it up: 2024 John Deere Classic
The PGA Tour heads to TPC Deere Run for the 2024 John Deere Classic
The PGA Tour season is rounding the final turn and headed down the home stretch. We kick off the month of July with a visit to a very familiar Tour stop - TPC Deere Run for 2024 John Deere Classic. This week features a field that is light on entrants from the top of the OWGR, thanks in part to many top players beginning their travel to Scotland for next week’s Scottish Open and preparing for the last major of the year in The Open Championship. For those PGA Tour members not already qualified for the 152nd Open Championship, the John Deere Classic presents their final opportunity to punch a ticket for Royal Troon. The top-two finishers at the John Deere Classic, not already qualified for The Open Championship, will find themselves with an invitation to cross the pond to compete in golf’s oldest championship.
TPC Deere Run has been home to a number of memorable finishes over the years. Most notably is the first PGA Tour victory for Jordan Spieth all the way back in 2013. He became the youngest first-time winner, at the age of 19, since 1931 and immediately garnered comparisons to Tiger Woods. Spieth won the tournament for a second time in 2015, joining Steve Stricker as the only repeat winner of the event that has been a regular on the schedule since 1999. Spieth, already qualified for The Open Championship, sits at 59th on the FedEx Cup standings and he may be looking for this week to be his springboard heading into the playoffs.
Sungjae Im is the highest ranked player in the field this week, coming in at 15th in the FedEx Cup standings. He has tallied 5 top-10 finishes this season and is one of the hottest players not named Scheffler, Shauffele, or Bhatia. Will this be Im’s week to breakthrough into the winner’s circle? He has won twice on tour previously, but has not hoisted a trophy since the 2021 Shriners Children’s Open.
Among other notables, Jason Day returns to TPC Deere Run this week for the first time since 2011. He has never missed a cut in this event but has also never won with a T15 marking his best finish in both 2009 & 2010. Day has been streaky as of late and may be worth keeping an eye on if he remains inside the top-20 heading into the weekend.
Sepp Straka returns as the defending champion, hoping to successfully defend his title before crossing the Atlantic. Straka, sitting at number 24 in the World Rankings, is looking to become the second repeat winner of the event since Steve Stricker secured three-in-a-row from 2009 - 2011.
Enjoy the 4th of July and remember to celebrate responsibly!
Kevin Matznick: Life off the Links Podcast
@Lifeoffthelinks
Pick to win: Sungjae Im
Insight into the tournament:
In our conversation with Webb Simpson on the podcast, Webb told us how he proposed to his wife at the John Deere Classic…just a fun fact about the event.
As for my pick this week, I’m going with someone who has been pretty consistent these past few weeks and I think will break through with a victory this week; Sungjae Im
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TJ James: Basic Bogeys Podcast & more!
@BasicBogeys | @TJBreaks80
Pick to win: Jordan Spieth
After a brutal missed cut from Tom Kim last week I need to bounce back with a big pick this week at the John Deere Classic. And so therefore, I’m going to even pick a golfer that really needs to get it back together with how their season is going. I’m rolling with Jordan Spieth. It is about time he actually hits his stride this season and has a high finish if not even wins. This is a course Spieth could certainly go out there and tear up and with a much lighter field he needs to get hot before heading overseas for the Scottish Open and British Open.
My Pick
@longleafgolf
My Pick: Neal Shipley
Last week is in the past and now we're headed to TPC Deere Run in Illinois. This is the site where Jordan Spieth famously battled to his first PGA Tour victory all the way back in 2013. I don't think Spieth has all of the pieces together, but one player trending in the right direction is Neal Shipley. I think he surprises the golf world this week and takes home the trophy!
