PGA Power Rankings: Top 5 Golfers For 2024 John Deere Classic
PGA Power Rankings: Top 5 Golfers For 2024 John Deere Classic
The 2024 John Deere Classic is set to tee off from Silvis, Illinois, on Thursday as the latest pit stop on the PGA Tour circuit.
Last week at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Cam Davis (+7000) won the event for the second time since 2021, as Akshay Bhatia (+2000) three-putted on the final hole to hand the Aussie his second career victory on the PGA Tour.
We've seen similar thrilling finishes at the JDC over the years. Defending champion Sepp Straka is the second betting favorite in his return at +1600 odds, although he's still searching for his first outright win in 2024. Sungjae Im is the outright betting favorite at +1400, followed by Denny McCarthy, Aaron Rai, and two-time JDC winner, Jordan Spieth, all available to bet at 20-1 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.
PGA handicapper Matt MacKay returns with his latest power rankings and an overview of TPC Deere Run, plus broadcast details ahead of Round 1 at the 2024 John Deere Classic.
2024 JOHN DEERE CLASSIC START TIME AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: July 4-7, 2024
- Where: TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois
- Where to Watch: ESPN+, Golf Channel, CBS
Click here for the latest the John Deere Classic odds
JOHN DEERE CLASSIC COURSE
TPC Deere Run is a par 71 that runs under 7,300 yards. Located on the site of a former Arabian horse farm, there are three par 5s, including two on the back-nine, along with several water hazards to overcome. Bentgrass fairways and greens are the primary surface, with four-inch bluegrass and fescue comprising the rough.
Fairways are wide and the greens measure 5,500 square feet on average, so ball-strikers should enjoy this layout. Putting is a big component as well, with the expected pace set to 12 feet via Stimpmeter. Undulations and elevation occur frequently.
No hole exceeds 600 yards and most of the par 4s are under 450 yards, so accuracy and finishing on and around the greens is paramount to success.
JOHN DEERE CLASSIC ODDS
| GOLFER | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Sungjae Im | +1400 |
| Sepp Straka | +1600 |
| Denny McCarthy | +2000 |
| Aaron Rai | +2000 |
| Jordan Spieth | +2000 |
| Davis Thompson | +2500 |
| Maverick McNealy | +2800 |
| Keith Mitchell | +3000 |
| Jason Day | +3300 |
| J.T. Poston | +3500 |
| Nick Dunlap | +3500 |
| Adam Svensson | +4200 |
| Luke Clanton | +4200 |
2024 JOHN DEERE CLASSIC POWER RANKINGS
1. DENNY MCCARTHY +2000 CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS
We've seen Denny McCarthy's odds steam up from +3000 to +2000 following the withdrawal of Patrick Cantlay due to injury. McCarthy has recorded back-to-back T6 finishes at this event and ranks second in strokes gained: putting on the PGA Tour in 2024.
The key to McCarthy's success depends on his ball-striking, which has been far from ideal this season. He came close to his first outright win back in April at Valero, but fell to Akshay Bhatia on the first playoff hole with an approach shot into the water.
Ranked 20th strokes gained: around-the-green, McCarthy's short game is going to be the way he contends on this leaderboard. If he finds rhythm off-the-tee due to the wider fairways and inviting greens, expect him to make a run at his first career victory on the PGA Tour.
Stake a full unit on McCarthy playing a course he's showed great form at in recent years, but understand that his ball-striking could quickly put him behind schedule. Putting and short game skills are the way we cash this outright ticket.
2. MAVERICK MCNEALY +2800 CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS
Previous finishes of T8 and T18 are encouraging for Maverick McNealy returning to TPC Deere Run. He didn't compete at this event in 2023 but he's one of the better putters on the PGA Tour in 2024, ranking 28th strokes gained: putting and 12th strokes gained: around-the-green.
Off-the-tee, McNealy is also sharp, sitting 19th in this strokes gained metric. His glaring vulnerability is the irons on approach, ranking 109th on the PGA Tour. A T44 finish at the RMC last week has created solid value on McNealy at 28-1 odds, after posting three consecutive top-25 finishes, including a T7 at the RBC Canadian Open.
Half a unit staked at 28-1 on McNealy is sufficient.
3. NICK DUNLAP +3500 CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS
Nick Dunlap's had quite a year, turning pro after winning the American Express as an amateur at 29-under-par.
A T12 at Memorial and T10 at RMC indicate we're getting good form on Dunlap, who ranks 15th in putting average, 15th in birdie average, and is top-20 for scoring average on par 4 and par 5 holes in 2024.
He may not have all of the flashy stats other golfers in this field possess, but there's a reason oddsmakers are bullish enough to value Dunlap at 35-1 odds this week. After all, he did win an event with a more talented field back in January, carding a blistering 29-under-par performance.
A 0.25 unit wager at 35-1 odds is recommended on Dunlap this week.
4. J.T. POSTON +3500 CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS
2022 JDC winner, J.T. Poston, is also sitting at 35-1 odds in the outright winner betting market this week.
Poston has only two career wins, including here at TPC Deere Run, but he's failed to crack a top-25 finish in the last two events played. This is a big reason why the former winner is 35-1.
Ranked top-50 strokes gained: around-the-green and putting, Poston has the 10th most accurate driver on the PGA Tour. Finding greens in regulation isn't his strength this season but Poston has a solid putter and short game to compensate, similar to McCarthy.
Averaging over four birdies per round is good enough for top-30 in 2024, plus Poston has a tendency to start with low score, while ranking 55th or better for par 3, par 4, and par 5 birdie or better leaders.
Another 0.25 unit wager staked on Poston, who won the 2022 JDC, is warranted.
5. HARRY HIGGS +17000 CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS
We're going with a fun longshot for our final pick in the John Deere Classic power rankings.
Harry Higgs, who has won on the Korn Ferry Tour twice this season, will compete in this field at TPC Deere Run. Higgs is a ridiculous 170-1 odds, which forces us to make a small investment at this price.
Yes, he hasn't recorded a finish above T43 in any of the four solo events he's played in 2024 on the PGA Tour, but Higgs did play well enough to make the cut here in 2023, drawing a -7-under-par final score for a T57 finish.
Higgs won back-to-back KFT events in mid-May at 19-under-par, both in sudden-death playoffs. He added another T4 finish at Compliance Solutions Championship in late June and ranks 19th for greens in regulation rate and first in scrambling.
A 0.10 unit wager returns 17 units of profit, so don't hesitate to sprinkle on Higgs to contend for his first PGA Tour win, riding the momentum from his recent success on the Korn Ferry Tour.
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GOLF ODDS
Matt is an avid writer, editor, and researcher. He enjoys analyzing the game within the game which is fantasy sports and sports betting. Music is another constant in his daily life. Matt loves spending time with his wife and three pets. He likes to read, listen to podcasts, and is constantly motivated to create the most accurate and engaging content in the sports betting industry.