2022 John Deere Classic Primer: History, TV, Field, Odds

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John Deere Classic
Chris Stroud finishes his final round on the 18th green during the final round of the John Deere Classic held at TPC Deere Run on July 12, 2015 in Silvis, Illinois. (Photo by Gregory Shamus R&A via Getty Images)

The PGA Tour travels from New England to America’s heartland for the long-running John Deere Classic.

The 51st edition of The John Deere will be contested at its permanent home since 2000: TPC Deere Run. Situated along the Rock River, just a couple of miles south of where the Mississippi River divides Moline (IL) and Davenport (IA), TPC Deere Run will play to a par 71, and stretch out to 7,257 yards for the championship.

Lucas Glover will defend his 2021 title against one of the weakest fields in recent memory with not a single player ranked inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings.

Here are more details on what to watch for this week at The John Deere.


2022 John Deere Classic

Pro Golf Weekly previews the PGA Tour stop at TPC Deere Run in this week’s 2022 John Deere Classic Primer.


The Skinny

Tournament: John Deere Classic
Title Sponsor: John Deere
Tour Debut: 1971
Dates: June 30-July 3, 2022
Where: Silvis, Ill.
Course: TPC Deere Run
Distance: Par 71, 7268 yards
Architect: D.A. Weibring/Chris Gray
Format: Stroke Play
Purse: $7,100,000
Winning Share: $1,278,000
Defending Champion: Lucas Glover


How to Follow the John Deere Classic

John Deere Classic
A TV cameraman records the action during the final round of the John Deere Classic held at TPC Deere Run on July 15, 2018 in Silvis, Ill. Photo by Michael Cohen/R&A/R&A via Getty Images

TELEVISION: Thu-Fri: 3-6 p.m. (GOLF); Sat-Sun: 1-3 p.m. (GOLF), 3-6 p.m. (CBS)

PGA TOUR LIVE: Thu-Fri: 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m. (Groups); Sat-Sun: 7:45 a.m.-3 p.m. (Groups), 3-6 p.m. (Holes)

RADIO: Thu-Fri: 12-6 p.m.; Sat-Sun: 1-6 p.m.

LINKS: Website | Instagram | Facebook


John Deere Classic History

Deane Beman
Deane Beman, right, is presented with a plaque following the Drive for a Billion ceremony at the 2005 John Deere Championship held at the TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois on July 6, 2005. Beman won the event in 1971 and 1972. Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

The John Deere Classic started as a rare Iowa event, playing as a satellite event called the Quad Cities Open in 1971, and became an official event the following season.

The Hawkeye State only had hosting honors for four years before the tournament moved to Coal Valley, Ill., and in 2000, the event permanently moved to TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

The inaugural event was won by Deane Beman, a man who would go on to become PGA commissioner. Beman won again in 1972, making the John Deere Classic half of his four career victories. Over the years, other notable winners have included Dave Stockton, Roger Maltbie, Payne Stewart, Vijay Singh, Steve Stricker, Zach Johnson, Jordan Spieth, and Bryson DeChambeau.

TPC Deere Run was designed by D.A. Weibring, a three-time winner of the John Deere Classic, which ties him for first all-time with Stricker. The scoring is typically very low, as the last nine tournaments have featured a champion with a score of -18 or lower. This was also the site of the fourth 59 in Tour history, shot by Paul Goydos in 2010.

Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth and caddiie Michael Greller walk towards the 6th fairway during the third round of the John Deere Classic held at TPC Deere Run on July 11, 2015 in Silvis, Ill. Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images

The scoring was so low that year that despite the 59, Goydos only led by a single stroke after the first round. That edition was taken by Stricker, who finished at a tournament record 26-under par.

The course was also the site of Michelle Wie’s 2004 and 2005 attempts to make the cut at a men’s event.

One of the prevailing themes tied to the history of this tournament is its frequent status as a launching pad for talented young players.

Spieth became the first teenager to win on the PGA Tour since 1931 when he claimed his first career victory at the 2013 John Deere. Jason Day made his first PGA Tour start on a sponsor’s invite in 2006.

Other talented young players who have played this event on sponsor’s invites over the years include Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed and 2017 champion DeChambeau.

History: Tournament Names
  • John Deere Classic (1999-)
  • Quad City Classic (1995-98)
  • Hardee’s Golf Classic (1986-94)
  • Lite Quad Cities Open (1985)
  • Miller High Life QCO (1982-84)
  • Quad Cities Open (1980-81)
  • Ed McMahon-Jaycees Quad Cities Open (1975-79)
  • Quad Cities Open (1972-74)
History: Recent Winners

2021: Lucas Glover (-19)
2021: COVID (-19)
2019: Dylan Frittelli (-21)
2018: Michael Kim (-27)
2017: Bryson DeChambeau (-18)
2016: Ryan Moore (-22)
2015: Jordan Spieth (-20)
2014: Brian Harman (-22)
2013: Jordan Spieth (-19)
2012: Zach Johnson (-20)
2011: Steve Stricker (-22)
2010: Steve Stricker (-26)
2009: Steve Stricker (-20)

History: Records

Scoring
257 (-27) Michael Kim (2018)
258 (-26) Steve Stricker (2010)

Wins
3 – D.A. Weibring (1979, 1991, 1995)
3 – Steve Stricker (2009-11)
2 – Deane Beman (1971-72)
2 – Scott Hoch (1980, 1984)
2 – David Frost (1992-93)
2 – Jordan Spieth (2013, 2015)


Field at TPC Deere Run

Steve Stricker John Deere Classic
Steve Stricker exits the first green during the final round of the 2012 John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run Silvis, Illinois. Credit: Michael Cohen/Getty Images

The field’s highest ranked player is Webb Simpson, who enters as the world No. 58 and fresh off his best finish of 2022 (T13 at the Travelers).

Simpson has made two career starts at the Deere, both coming in back-to-back editions (2009-T39, 2010-T21), early in his career.

Sahith Theegala, who finished runner-up last week at TPC River Highlands, is the next highest ranked player at No. 66. The rookie enters off two top-5 finishes in his last three starts.

Last week’s co-runner-up in Connecticut, alongside Theegala, was J.T. Poston. The world No. 99 is one of only nine players ranked inside the top 100.

Defending champion Lucas Glover enters as world No. 118 and will be seeking his first top 10 since the Sony Open in January.

Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker, a pair of Midwestern products – who at times have seemingly made the John Deere Classic their own two-man big-money televised match, will also highlight the field this week.

Wisconsin native Stricker won the Deere title three straight years from 2009 through 2011, making him the most recent PGA Tour player to post a three-peat. He’s also the all-time leader in earnings at the John Deere.

Stricker had his win streak broken by Iowa native Johnson, who – in a stat that seems hard to believe – claimed his only John Deere title that year.

Johnson in contention at this event feels like an annual certainty, and he did finish as runner-up the next two years after his win (and had one more behind Stricker in 2009). He’s also placed third two times at the Deere and hasn’t missed the cut here since 2007.

Zach Johnson John Deere Classic
Zach Johnson putts on the 16th green during the final round of the John Deere Classic held at TPC Deere Run on July 13, 2014 in Silvis, Illinois. (Photo by Gregory Shamus via Getty Images)

Dylan Frittelli, the winner here 2019, will also tee it up this week. The South African has struggled for much of the season, and now sits at 145th in the world rankings.

One of the bigger names is Jason Day, who has flashed signs of his once world-class game but overall continues to struggle. The former world No.1 enters off a missed cut in Connecticut.

Playing better than Day is Adam Hadwin, who has surged recently, posting four top 10s in his last nine starts, including a T7 at the U.S. Open.

Denny McCarthy is another player to keep an eye on this week at the Deere. The Maryland native missed the cut last week at the Travelers but has posted T7 and T5 in his two previous starts at the U.S. Open and Memorial, respectively.

Top-5 Betting Favorites

1. Webb Simpson 14-1
2. Adam Hadwin 20-1
2. Sahith Theegala 20-1
4. Denny McCarthy 25-1
5. Maverick McNealy 28-1

Full Field & Odds

TPC Deere Run | Silvis, Illinois | June 30-July 3, 2022


Credit: PGA Tour, Getty Images, DraftKings Sportsbook


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