Summer on Tour is in full swing following last week's playoff win by Rickie Fowler in the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Will another leading favorite like Denny McCarthy emerge with a victory at this week's John Deere Classic?
A total of nine of the top 50 players in the world golf rankings tee it up at the TPC Deere Run – the strongest turnout since 2012.
With wins by dark horse picks Max Homa in the'Farmers Insurance Open, Adam Svensson in the'RSM Classic,'and Matt Fitzpatrick in the'RBC Heritage, there are opportunities to cash in on other players behind the leading favorites. That includes a top-10 or top-20 finish like'dark horse'Jason Day at The Players Championship, Xander Schauffele at'The Masters,'Patrick Rodgers'(+300 for top 10) in Mexico, Tommy Fleetwood (+500 for top 5) at the Wells Fargo Championship, and Seamus Power top-20 at the AT&T Byron Nelson.
John Deere Classic PGA Picks 2023
Beyond the favorites and top-ranked players with odds to win below +3000, there are plenty of capable longshots and dark horses that could make a run at the leaderboard and come away with a higher finish or victory on Sunday. After all, did you see Kurt Kitayama win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at 220/1 odds or greater and Wyndham Clark win both the Wells Fargo Championship and U.S. Open at 75/1?
Check out the 2023 John Deere Classic'and preview, along with top finishing position odds, tournament matchups, and golf props on FanDuel Sportsbook.
1. Eric Cole (+3300)
What a breakout season for Eric Cole, who just missed his first PGA Tour win at the Honda Classic in Feb. Since the end of April, the 35-year-old rookie has a pair of top-5 finishes and four other top-25s. His stats support the strong play ranking No. 1 in this field in Birdies-or-Better Gained over his last 36 rounds and top-10 in stroked gained Total, Putting, Short Game, and Around the Green on bentgrass. Cole is top-10 in Par 4 scoring and he should go low again this week and a top-10 finish pays off +460 as well.
2. Keith Mitchell (+3500)
Mitchell's strength Off the Tee should set up plenty of birdie chances t his week, and he's very solid in Proximity stats with his wedges from inside 125 yards. While his overall Approach and Around the Green stats are not a strength, his Par 4 efficiency numbers are pretty solid. The 31-year-old Tour winner has 10 top-10s in his career and has had success at TPC Deere Run with a T7 in 2018. He also had a top-10 on similar TPC River Highland's last year. Mitchell has not played since a T20 at the U.S. Open and he won't show near the top of many stats models this week. Yet his odds are very competitive, and Mitchell is fresh, refocused, and refined with a stronger week projected.
3. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+6500)
Over his last 36 rounds, Bezui denhout ranks top-20 in this field in SG: Total, Putting, and top-5 in Approach (bentgrass). The 29-year-old South African had his best-ever finish on Tour at this event last year (T2). He's also dialed in among the best Proximity to hole stats for key shorter irons from 125-175 yards. He's at the top of this field in avoiding bogey's, and despite his poor recent two tournaments, note Bezuidenhout finished T13 at The Players Championship – another TPC design where precise shotmaking and approach play skills are a prerequisite.