2022 John Deere Classic Preview

MANY of the PGA Tour’s biggest stars are taking some time off as they prepare for the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews. It means that the field for this week’s John Deere Classic is not the strongest, but it does provide the potential for somebody to make a name for themselves - or to provide a comeback victory like the one achieved 12 months ago by Lucas Glover.

Glover ended 10 years without a victory when he birdied five of his last seven holes for a 7-under 64 to win by two shots, his first success since the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in 2011.

He was among two dozen players separated by three shots on the rain-softened TPC Deere Run when he produced a grandstand finish.

It started with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-three 12th hole. He hit his approach into four feet and seven feet on the next two holes, before striking a seven iron to three feet on the 15th hole to take the lead.

Glover finished his run with a 12-foot birdie on the par-five 17th, and a crucial six-foot putt to save par from the bunker on the 18th.

Kevin Na tried to make a run with three birdies in four holes until he was slowed by a bogey on the 15th. He shot a 68. Ryan Moore also closed with a 68 for a runner-up finish.

Sebastian Munoz of Colombia, who started the final round with a one-shot lead, hit a shank on the first hole. He made bogey and closed with a 71 and tied for fourth, three shots back. Also finishing three shots behind were Adam Schenk (67), Luke List (68) and Scott Brown (69).

“It's been a long 10 years. There's been some struggles,” Glover said. “I knew it was in there. I had to clean up my brain a little bit and just hit some shots, just play golf. I never lost sight of believing I could do this and win again. It's always nice to prove yourself right.”

An added bonus this week is that there will be a place available at St Andrews for the highest finisher who is not already exempt. Glover will be back to defend his title but will face a tough challenge from the likes of Lanto Griffin, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Cameron Champ, Jason Day, Anirban Lahiri, Harry Higgs, Maverick McNealy, Chez Reavie, Doc Redman and Patrick Rodgers. TPC Deere Run is one of the shorter layouts on the PGA Tour, so don’t be surprised to see three-time winner Steve Stricker contend. 

Zach Johnson, who is desperately looking to recapture his best form, will also be looking forward to returning here as a three-time runner-up. And Ryan Moore is another course specialist, winning in 2016 and finishing second 12 months ago.

Griffin will begin the week as one of the favourites. He finished tied sixth at the Shriners, tied seventh at the ZOZO, tied third at the American Express and tied sixth at the Wells Fargo. He is a decent putter, averaging 28.60 putts per round and averages 301 yards from the tee.

Champ has had a poor season, missing more cuts than he has made but he did finished in a tie for 10th place at The Masters and tied sixth at the Mexico Open. He is the biggest hitter on the PGA Tour, averaging 322 yards but has hit just 57% of fairways this season. However, TPC Deere Run is a forgiving course and may just be the place for the young American to get his game back on track.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Matt Wallace and Callum Tarren lead the challenge for England. Tarren finished in a tie for 31st at the US Open. It would have been a whole lot better had it not been for a third round of 78 but, to his credit, he bounced back with a 69.

In July 2019, Wallace was ranked ranked 23rd in the world - he is now 152nd. Wallace is a hugely talented golfer and it difficult to credit that he has missed nine cuts in 15 starts on the PGA Tour. However, there were some encouraging signs at the Canadian Open, where he finished in a tie for 35th place. And he finished fifth at the Dutch Open and tied for 18th at the Porsche European Open.

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 and last year by Lucas Glover. 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

Lanto Griffin finished tied sixth at the Shriners, tied seventh at the ZOZO, tied third at the American Express and tied sixth at the Wells Fargo. He hits the ball a mile. It has been a strange season for Jason Day. He finished tied third at the Farmers Insurance Open but has developed an unfortunate habit of throwing in a bad round when in contention. But he has been there, done that and is too good to keep struggling. He will turn things around - it could be this week.

To Win:

Lanto Griffin. Ready to win again

Each Way:

Jason Day. Battling his way back to fitness

Golfers to Follow:

Lanto Griffin. Underrated

Jason Day. Brilliant ball striker

Cameron Champ. Outstanding talent who is looking for a big week

Anirban Lahiri. Enjoying his best season in years

Five Outsiders to Follow:

Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Must break through at some point

Harry Higgs. Hugely entertaining

Patrick Rodgers. A talent who has lost his way

Matt Wallace. Looking for some consistency

Richy Werenski. Looking to end a miserable run of form 

How to Watch:

Thursday, Friday, Sky Sports Golf, 6pm

Saturday, Sunday, Sky Sports Golf, 5.30pm