The summer swing continues this week with the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run (par 71, 7,289 yards, bentgrass greens) in Silvis, Illinois. There will be 156 players competing and a top-65 and ties cut after the first two rounds.
Below, I have featured some finishing position bets to consider for the John Deere Classic.
Doug Ghim for a top-40 finish (+115)
Doug Ghim has finished inside the top-40 five times this season, including a T-19 at last week’s Rocket Classic. At Detroit Golf Club, the 29-year-old gained strokes across the board and he finished fourth in par four efficiency for the tournament. Ghim now heads to another vulnerable venue in TPC Deere Run, where he has been successful throughout his career. Excluding when he withdrew after the first round in 2018, Ghim has made 3-of-4 cuts at TPC Deere Run and all three of these finishes have been results of T-34 or better.
As expected, approach play is very important at TPC Deere Run, especially approach shots from 125-150 yards out, as 22% of approach shots at the last five John Deere Classics have come from this distance. This season, Ghim ranks 33rd in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 125-150 yards and he ranks 25th in SG APP overall. Ghim’s great iron play should result in another quality finish for him at TPC Deere Run and he is an outstanding bet for a top-40 finish at this +115 price.
Chandler Phillips for a top-40 finish (+135)
While Chandler Phillips didn’t reach this feat in his John Deere Classic debut last season with a T-44 finish, he should outdo himself with a better performance this week and is a great wager for a top-40 finish at these +135 odds. Phillips is on the heels of a T-15 finish at the Rocket Classic last week, which is the third time in his last seven solo starts that he has finished inside the top-20.
As noted above, 22% of approach shots at the last five John Deere Classics have come from 125-150 yards and Phillips has been dialed from this distance recently. When we compare this field’s last 24 rounds, the 28-year-old ranks second in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 125-150 yards out. Phillips also ranks 11th in BOB% and 20th in SGP during this time, setting him up perfectly for TPC Deere Run, which is a venue that always yields low scoring.
