The John Deere Classic begins this Thursday, and it's an exciting PGA Tour event for those who like to see some low scores posted.
Since 2009, the lowest winning score at TPC Deere Run is -18, and the cut line is usually going to be somewhere in the range of -1 to -4. So, that means the winner is going to have to go low this week and likely start hot.
I'm going to try to predict the winning score as well as some of the scores of the top golfers in the odds for the John Deere Classic:
John Deere Classic score predictions
Winning score: -22
Since 2009, the two most common winning scores at the John Deere Classic have been -20 (three times) and -22 (three times).
Last year, JT Potson won with a score of -21, winning by three strokes.
Like the Travelers Championship two weeks ago, this is an event where golfers can really take advantage of the course and go low. After seeing some lower scores in the U.S. Open and the Travelers, I'll bet on their being someone in the -20s at TPC Deere Run.
Russell Henley score prediction: -16
Russell Henley is one of the favorites for this event along with Denny McCarthy, but I think he's going to come up just short.
Henley has been in good form, finishing inside the top 20 in eight of his last nine events (he missed the cut at the PGA Championship), but he's only been inside the top 15 once, finishing fourth at the Masters.
Denny McCarthy score prediction: -19
McCarthy looked well on his way to winning the Travelers Championship after a strong first two days, but he stumbled on Saturday and Sunday to finish seventh.
Still, he's been playing great golf, posting a top 20 score at the U.S. Open and finishing second at the Memorial Tournament. He shot a -19 at TPC River Highlands, so I think -19 is certainly attainable here.
Cameron Young score prediction: -8
Cameron Young comes into this event near the top of the odds board, but he hasn't been in his best form lately.
He's missed two cuts and had just one top-50 finish since finishing seventh at the Masters earlier this year. I'm not sold on him being in contention this week.
Adam Hadwin score prediction: -22
Adam Hadwin is +2500 at DraftKings to win the John Deere Classic, and I think he's worth a shot at a course where he's played well in his career.
Hadwin has three starts at TPC Deere Run, finishing in the top 25 twice and top 10 once. He's also been in good form lately, finishing second in the Rocket Mortgage Classic and 12th in the RBC Canadian Open over his last three starts.
He's worth a shot without a standout favorite in this field after shooting -24 last week.
Emiliano Grillo score prediction: -17
Emiliano Grillo finished in second at TPC Deere Run last year, and he's coming off a top 15 showing at the Travelers Championship.
Grillo was a winner earlier this year, taking the Charles Schwab Challenge, and he has three top 10s since mid-April.
However, there is some inconsistency mixed in there as well. I think he contends at a course he plays well, but I don't have him as my winner this week.
JT Potson score prediction: -10
The defending champion, winning with a score of -21, Potson is +4000 at DraftKings Sportsbook to win his second straight John Deere Classic.
There hasn't been a repeat champion since Steve Stricker won three in a row from 2009-2011, but Jordan Speith did win two out of three (2013 and 2015).
I don't expect Potson to win, especially since he's in poor form right now, missing five of his last seven cuts. I don't think he gets cut here, but I don't think he's going to be in contention either.
Chez Reavie score prediction: -16
Chez Reavie could be a sneaky top 10 bet this week, as he's finished inside the top 30 in his last three events with stronger fields.
Reavie's issue has been his final rounds, posting 71s on Sunday in both the Travelers Championship and the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Still, he shot -19 and -13 in those events.
I'll go right in the middle of those scores for his showing this week.
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Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
