Betting: a look at this week’s tips for the John Deere Classic

by Mitchell Platts

There is much to admire about the way Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker have performed in the John Deere Classic, and so much for which to commend Jordan Spieth for teeing-up at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, tomorrow.

Spieth, of course, is the ‘Man of the Moment’ on the cusp of sporting history.

This time next week he will headline every sports news bulletin, every national newspaper because if he wins The Open Championship he will be within touching distance of achieving the same-year ‘Grand Slam’ which remained elusive even to Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

Yet Spieth is honouring his commitment to play in the John Deere Classic before boarding on Sunday night the special charter arranged to take all Open Championship contenders in Silvis in the heart of the American Midwest to Scotland.

That alone speaks volumes for the young man who has igniting the interest of the golfing world this year by becoming only the sixth golfer in history to win The Masters and the US Open in the same year.

So why is Spieth spurning the opportunity to arrive early to prepare at St Andrews? Quite simply – loyalty!

In 2013, Speith became at 19 years 11 months and 18 days by taking this title the youngest winner on the PGA Tour since Ralph Guldahl won the 1931 Santa Monica Open and with that win in his 24^th career start and only 16^th as a professional he earned the final exemption into The Open Championship which this tournament annually offers.

Twelve months ago Spieth finished seventh to Brian Harman and he made an early commitment to return this year.

Johnson featured in both those events which is not surprising considering his record at TPC Deere Run where he has been out of the top three only once in six visits – winning in 2012, finishing runner-up three times, including in 2013 when he lost a play-off to Spieth, and being 105 under par for his 24 rounds which have all been in the 60s.

So there can be little doubt that D.A. Weibring’s 1999 design, featuring breathtaking views in the rolling woodland alongside the Rock River, suits Johnson’s game as it does Spieth and Stricker, who first played the event – started in 1972 as the Quad Cities Open and which moved to TPC Deere Run in 2000 – and won three times in succession from 2009.

Spieth will be focused although challenging for the title again with so much on his mind will test him mentally so Johnson, who has seven top ten finishes this season, is the most probable contender given that Stricker is making only his seventh start of the season following back surgery.

Sean O’Hair, however, can regain a title which he won in 2005 – the first of four successes on the PGA Tour – as he continues his move back up the rankings after more than two seasons in the wilderness.

The 32-year-old Texan can go low – this course offers scoring opportunities underlined by Paul Goydos shooting 59 in 2010 when Stricker fired a 60 en route to defending the title – and he was runner-up in the Valspar Championship earlier this season when beaten in a play-off by – Spieth!

Kevin Kisner, beaten in play-offs at Sawgrass, Harbour Town and last Sunday, is worth supporting and he joins O’Hair and Johnson in the staking plan with big-hitting Tony Finau, who continues to impress, and Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, whose perseverance after 15 missed cuts deserves to be rewarded. The Madrid man is no forlorn hope – he played all four rounds last week and shot a closing 63 in the Byron Nelson a few weeks back.

STAKING PLAN

Sean O’Hair                                   1 point each way

Zach Johnson                               ½ point each way

Kevin Kisner                                  ½ point each way

Tony Finau                                     ½ point each way

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño     ½ point each way

LAST TEN WINNERS

2014      Brian Harman                        262

2013      Jordan Spieth                        265

2012      Zach Johnson                       264

2011      Steve Stricker                        262

2010      Steve Stricker                        258

2009      Steve Stricker                        264

2008      Kenny Perry                           268

2007      Jonathan Byrd                       266

2006      John Senden                         265

2005      Sean O’Hair                           268

Tagged betting tips, John Deere Classic, Mitchell Platts, PGA Tour