Picks to Win & Best Bets for the John Deere Classic

The John Deere Classic. Golf’s fifth major. Whatever you call it, it should be a fun week before the world of golf heads across the pond for some links golf, including The Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

Davis Thompson is back at TPC Deere Run to defend his title, and will be joined in the field by Ben Griffin, Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, Jason Day, Si Woo Kim, Sungjae Im, Luke Clanton, and Jake Knapp, among others.

It’d be real nice to grab a winner before the year’s final major championship, so let’s do just that.

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Golf Course and Course History

TPC Deere Run | Par 71 | 7,289 yards

Odds to win the John Deere Classic

Ben Griffin (+1600)

Jason Day (+2200)

Denny McCarthy (+2800)

Si Woo Kim (+3000)

J.T. Poston (+3300)

Sungjae Im (+3500)

Luke Clanton (+3500)

Davis Thompson (+3500)

Michael Thorbjornsen (+3500)

Jake Knapp (+3500)

Chris Kirk (+3500)

Aldrich Potgieter (+4000)

Sam Stevens (+4000)

Kevin Yu (+4000)

Thorbjorn Olesen (+4000)

Pierceson Coody (+4000)

Chris Gotterup (+4000)

Bud Cauley (+4000)

Lucas Glover (+4500)

Ryan Gerard (+4500)

Picks to Win the John Deere Classic

Denny McCarthy (28/1)

Leaving Denny off the card at the John Deere Classic would be a crime. He was always going to be here. Since missing back-to-back cuts at this event in 2019 and 2021, he’s tied for sixth twice (2022, 2023) and for seventh (2024). That’ll do. Denny’s 16-for-16 making it to the weekend this season, which we love to see, but his finishes have been a little hit or miss. However, he’s grabbed eight top-25 finishes and is coming off a T-12 performance at the Travelers. It’s time for him to get win No. 1.

Luke Clanton (35/1)

Yup, after having him on the card in Detroit, he’s right back on it for the JDC. The kid was only a few shots off the lead heading into the weekend at the Rocket Classic, but he struggled his way to a 77 on Saturday and skydived down the leaderboard. But now he’s back at a golf course he dominated as an amateur a year ago, leading to a silver medal finish. I desperately want to be there for Clanton’s first win, and it could absolutely come five days from now.

Bud Cauley (40/1)

I would like nothing more than to see Bud Cauley win this golf tournament. He’s played some fantastic golf this season, including four T-6 or better finishes—he just grabbed solo third at the Charles Schwab Challenge–-and now returns to a place he’s played well at in the past. Bud finished T-8 at the 2016 JDC, T-12 in 2017, and T-18 in 2019. He made his return to TPC Deere Run last year and made the cut (T-61). This would be the feel-good moment of the year.

A name that intrigues me: Pierceson Coody (40/1)

I doubt you were planning on seeing Coody’s name here, but hear me out. Since the start of May, the Texas product has played in two PGA TOUR events: the CJ CUP Byron Nelson (T-25) and Charles Schwab Challenge (T-16). And in five Korn Ferry Tour starts, he finished T-25, T-12, T-2, 3rd, and T-7 (last week’s Memorial Health Championship). In one JDC appearance, Coody tied for 30th last season. You can’t tell me all that doesn’t make you think the kid might make a run.

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