LAST week, the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit provided fans with yet another thrilling finale on the PGA Tour. Akshay Bhatia will still be rueing his missed four-foot putt on the 18th on Sunday which handed Cameron Davis his second-ever PGA Tour win.
The field last week was a weak one and that theme continues this week at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois. Several big names are busy preparing for two weeks in Scotland for the Scottish Open and Open Championship so once again, we should have a very open tournament this weekend.
Last week, we successfully backed Aaron Rai and Cameron Young to place inside the top ten with Rai coming painfully close to breaking his PGA Tour duck. He will tee it up again this week but Young will sit it out.
One big name that will return to action around TPC Deere Run is Jordan Spieth. The three-time major champion has been battling a wrist problem all season and is searching for some form ahead of his trip to Scotland next week.
With another wide-open championship on the cards, who are we backing to do well around the par-71 course at TPC Deere Run? Here are our John Deere Classic betting tips.
John Deere Classic Betting Tips
Denny McCarthy E/W (Ten places) – 16/1
In recent years, accuracy and distance of the tee haven't proven to be too important at TPC Deere Run. Instead, the most important shots this week will be those that come on approaches to the green and with the flat stick.
Last year's winner, Sepp Straka, ranked second for putting average over the four days while he ranked fourth for shots gained with the putter.
Going back further, the 2018 winner Michael Kim ranked first in both categories while the 2017 champion, Bryson DeChambeau, ranked second for shots gained: putting. The player who ranked first in the category that year finished second in the tournament.
Therefore, it's clear putting is going to be important and there isn't a better putter in the field this week than Denny McCarthy. On the PGA Tour this season, he ranks fifth for putting average and second for shots gained: putting. Nobody who ranks higher than him in either of these categories are playing this week.
Aaron Rai E/W (Ten places) – 16/1
It's going to be another low-scoring week on the PGA Tour this week, so backing someone who has form for posting low scores in recent times seems like a logical thing to do.
In many ways, TPC Deere Run is similar to last week's track at Detroit Golf Club in that approach play is going to be very important.
Hitting greens in regulation is always important but if you look at the recent champions of this tournament, then it's perhaps more important here than in most places. After all, it's difficult to post low scores if you're scrambling off the green and you're going to need around -20 to lift the trophy.
The average GIR ranking for the last ten winners around here is 12th so it's a stat worth looking at. Aaron Rai ranks second only to Scottie Scheffler this season for GIR % and will be more determined than ever after finishing in second place last week.
Jason Day top 20 finish – 17/10
Jason Day is one of the biggest names to be taking part this week, rivalled only by Jordan Spieth when it comes to accolades. Day is perhaps past his best but he still has four top-ten finishes to his name, all of which have come on harder courses in more difficult fields than this week.
His game is also pretty well set up for TPC Deere Run. The Australian ranks inside the top ten on the PGA Tour this season for shots gained with the putter so providing he can get himself his fair share of birdie looks, he should mop up on what are relatively straightforward greens by PGA Tour standards.
The only question mark around Day revolves around whether such a big name can get up for an event of this size. He's competed at major championships throughout his career so may feel a little flat around one of the tour's lesser events.
John Deere Classic singles
- Denny McCarthy E/W (Ten places) – 16/1 @ Betfred
- Aaron Rai E/W (Ten places) – 16/1 @ Betfred
- Jason Day Top 20 finish – 17/10 @ Betfred
In December 2020 we sadly 
