Next on the PGA TOUR schedule is the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run (par 71, 7,289 yards, bentgrass greens) in Silvis, Illinois. This has been the home of the John Deere Classic since 2000 and Brian Campbell (-18) is the defending champion of this event after beating Emiliano Grillo in a playoff a year ago. This week’s field consists of 144 golfers and there will be a top-65 and ties cut after the first two rounds.
Below, I have featured two of my favorite outright long shot bets to win the John Deere Classic on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Zach Bauchou (+9200)
Bauchou has a ton of appeal at this number. The 30-year-old is coming off a missed cut at the RBC Canadian Open, but he had finished T-28 or better at five straight events before this. Most notably, Bauchou finished T-6 at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson last month and he shot -20 at TPC Craig Ranch that week.
This venue features bentgrass greens and Bauchou faces another scoreable TPC course that presents bentgrass putting surfaces this week in TPC Deere Run. At this track, five of the last seven winners here have cracked -20.
Following THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, Bauchou finished T-22 at the Charles Schwab Challenge in his next start, which is played at another course that is home to bentgrass greens in Colonial CC. Among this field, Bauchou ranks third in strokes gained per round at tracks with bentgrass greens this season.
Another encouraging sign for Bauchou’s first visit to TPC Deere Run is his strong iron play. The Oklahoma State product ranks 38th in SG APP and he ranks second in proximity to the hole on 50-125-yard approach shots this season. Over the last five years, 24.7% of the approach shots at TPC Deere Run have come from 50-125 yards out, so Bauchou could thrive at this venue.
Emiliano Grillo (+8400)
Grillo carries odds around +6000 on other major sportsbooks and he is an outstanding value at this +8400 price on DraftKings Sportsbook. Grillo loves TPC Deere Run. The veteran has finished runner-up, MC and runner-up in his three starts at this par 71. Last year, Grillo was extremely close to capturing his third PGA TOUR win at TPC Deere Run, losing to Campbell in a playoff. Grillo uncharacteristically overshot the green on that playoff hole, resulting in a bogey, while Campbell stuck the green and two-putted for a par to win.
This near-win definitely still haunts Grillo and him finally getting the job done at TPC Deere Run this week is in the realm of possibilities. Grillo ranks fourth in this field in strokes gained per round at TPC Deere Run and he is playing quality golf right now.
Grillo has finished T-38, T-42, T-20 and T-23 in his last four starts. That final finish came at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and Grillo gained strokes on approach and with his putter at the difficult course. In fact, Grillo gained 1.33 strokes on the greens, which ranked seventh for the major and is his best putting performance in nearly a year.
With TPC Deere Run featuring bentgrass greens, Grillo could stay hot with his flat stick this week. Grillo statistically putts it best on bentgrass and both of his PGA TOUR wins have come at venues that present this green type.
