2023 John Deere Classic Preview, Picks & Analysis

THERE is a place at The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool up for grabs for the man who wins this week’s John Deere Classic.

Last year’s champion, JT Poston, returns to defend his title, hoping for a repeat of the form that secured his place at the 150th Open at St Andrews.

Poston completed a wire-to-wire victory 12 months ago to secure his second PGA Tour title. Three strokes ahead entering the day at TPC Deere Run, Poston closed with a 2-under 69 for a three-stroke margin over fellow Open Championship qualifiers Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Emiliano Grillo.

Poston became the third wire-to-wire winner in tournament history, following Scott Hoch in 1980 and David Frost in 1992. The 29-year-old player from Hickory, North Carolina, finished at 21-under 263. He opened 62-65-67.

“It’s just tough to play with the lead,” Poston said. “There is just a little bit of added pressure. Wire-to-wire, pretty much having the lead from Thursday on, I told all the media after every round that I was just trying to stick to my game plan and I wasn’t going to think about it.

“The truth is it’s hard not to think about the finish line and what comes with it, all that comes with getting win out here. As much as you try and put that aside and not think about it, it’s tough not to.”

Poston birdied the first three holes the Sunday, bogeyed the fifth and sixth and parred the next 10. He made a 4-footer for birdie on the par-5 17th and parred the 18th.

Unsurprisingly, the tournament does not boast the strongest field as the world’s best golfers prepare themselves for Royal Liverpool.

But that provides a golden opportunity for a number of players to make a name for themselves. 

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

It is a surprise to me that Christiaan Bezuidenhout has yet to make the breakthrough on the PGA Tour. He has only made a handful of appearances on the DP World Tour this season but finished in a tie for third at the Joburg Open in front of his home fans.

He claimed his maiden European Tour title at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters in 2019 with a remarkable six-stroke victory.

Bezuidenhout broke into the top 50 in the world rankings for the first time in February 2020 following his victory at the Dimension Data Pro-Am, the co-sanctioned event between the Sunshine Tour and the European Challenge Tour.

Later that season he secured back-to-back European Tour wins on home soil at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the South African Open and went on to finish the year a career-high seventh on the Race to Dubai.

He finished top of the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit for 2020-21 after his back-to-back wins in South Africa.

Ahead of the Rocket Mortgage Classic he had played in 19 tournaments on the PGA Tour this season, missing five cuts. Bezuidenhout hasn’t looked like winning but he has managed six top-25 finishes.

He almost died at two years of age having mistakenly consumed rat poison from a Coca-Cola can, which resulted in a stammer. At four years old he was diagnosed with severe anxiety. 

In 2015, he was banned from golf after a drug test revealed that medication he was using for anxiety and his stammer included a substance which was illegal in the sport. His ban was reduced to nine months following a hearing which determined he had not used the substance for performance-enhancing purposes.

Look out, too, for Jimmy Walker. The former US PGA champion has spent years battling serious illness but is now finally fit again and although there have been too many missed cuts this season, there have also been several encouraging performances.

Tournament Winners

It was won in 2015 by Jordan Spieth, in 2016 by Ryan Moore, in 2017 by Bryson DeChambeau, in 2018 by Michael Kim, in 2019 by Dylan Frittelli, in 2021 by Lucas Glover and last year by JT Poston. There was no tournament in 2020 because of the pandemic.

The Course

TPC Deere Run is a par 71 measuring 7,257 yards. It is one of the easier courses on the PGA Tour - the tournament record winning score is 257, set by Michael Kim in 2018. Designed by DA Weibring, it features ponds, ravines and plenty of trees, but generous fairways and large, soft greens.

Form Guide

Christiaan Bezuidenhout is too good a player not to win on the PGA Tour. He had a good run here in 2022 and his game is made for this golf course. Eric Cole has shown some fabulous recent form and this could be the week when he breaks through.

To Win:

Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Magnificent ball striker

Each Way:

Eric Cole. Enjoying a great run

Each Way:

Cameron Young. Class act

Five to Follow:

Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Ready to win 

Eric Cole. Beautiful swing

Cameron Young. Still looking for silverware

Joel Dahmen. A true character

Matt Kuchar. If Kuchar is to win again, this could be the course 

Five Outsiders to Watch:

Jimmy Walker. Finally fit again

Aaron Baddeley. One of the best putters in the game

Zach Johnson. Looking to show he can still do it

Callum Tarren. Quality English golfer

Cameron Champ. Looking for a change in fortunes