The John Deere Classic kicks off this week as a final PGA Tour tune up before next week's Open Championship.
Joaquin Niemann, the Tour's new 19-year-old sensation, earned his full status for next season with his latest top-5 finish last week at Greenbrier. The former top-ranked amateur has gone from 1,486 to 171 in the world ranking this year, and he's back in the field this week.
Though the field lacks a bit of star power, the John Deere is one of the more iconic tournaments on the PGA Tour.
Course
TPC Deere Run, a 7,268-yard par 71, was once the site of a tribal village and later housed an Arabian horse-breeding operation. Known to produce low scores, Deere Run produced, in 2010, what was then just the fourth 59 recorded on the PGA Tour when Paul Goydos lit up the course.
Defending Champion
DeChambeau, with five top-5 finishes already on Tour this season, including a win at the Memorial Tournament, returns to defend his first PGA Tour win. He birdied four of his final six holes last year en route to a final-round 6-under 65 to lift the trophy. He is now ranked 22nd in the world and looks primed to make his Ryder Cup debut this fall.
Magic indeed. @JDCLASSIC will always be special to me. pic.twitter.com/NkyHShM9JU
— Bryson DeChambeau (@b_dechambeau) July 10, 2018
Favorites
Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker could be 100 years old and still would be favorites to contend at TPC Deere Run. The two have owned the course since 2009, with Stricker earning three wins (2009-2011), and Johnson totaling a win and three runners-up finishes. Both players have quietly had nice starts to the summer, too.
Francesco Molinari is the hottest golfer on the planet, with two wins and a runner up in three of his last four worldwide starts. He has moved to 15th in the world ranking, and is among the favorites to win his first major next week.
Sleepers
Ryan Moore, winner here in 2016, and Kyle Stanley, runner up here in 2011, look poised to make some noise. Moore has two top-13 finishes in his last three starts, while Stanley has seven top-25 finishes this year.
John Deere Classic TV, streaming info
Dates: July 12-15
Location: Silvis, Ill.
TV (all times ET):
Thursday: 4-7 p.m., Golf Channel
Friday: 4-7 p.m., Golf Channel
Saturday: 1-2:45 p.m., Golf Channel; 3-6 p.m., CBS
Sunday: 1-2:45 p.m., Golf Channel; 3-6 p.m., CBS
Streaming: fuboTV (7-day free trial)