The John Deere Classic occupies one of the toughest spots on the PGA Tour calendar.
Held two weeks after the U.S. Open, one after the final “Signature Event” of the campaign, and one before the Scottish Open, the John Deere really struggles to attract star players.
For the most part, they’re headed across the Pond to get used to the conditions in the United Kingdom for the upcoming Open Championship.
But the reality is that the cash you win, or lose, on the John Deere counts just as much at the register as the money you win on any of the majors.
Ben Griffin, Chris Gotterup, and Keith Mitchell are the three favorites to win this event, which tells you everything you need to know about this field.
John Deere Classic picks
Denny McCarthy (62/1, DraftKings)
Still looking for his maiden PGA Tour victory, Denny McCarthy has a real chance to get off the mark this week in Illinois.
The short-game specialist has been inconsistent for much of the season, but he’s coming off a T12 at the Travelers and now heads to a course where he’s finished 11th or better four years running.
The winner of this tournament will likely end up at 20-under par or better, so the ability to put away your chances is critical. That’s McCarthy’s music.
Tony Finau (65/1, FanDuel)
There have been flashes, but Tony Finau has yet to put it all back together.
This is the type of tournament where that can change.
A boom-or-bust player these days, Finau has five missed cuts, but also four top-25s, including a T6 at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, which was also played on a very easy course.
Emiliano Grillo (84/1, DraftKings)
Not much had gone right for Emiliano Grillo through the first half of 2026, but the Argentine is starting to turn things around.
He just finished T23 at the U.S. Open, and he posted a top-20 finish at the Canadian Open in his previous start.
He now heads to a course where he’s finished runner-up twice in three trips.
That’s not a bad profile for a player above 80/1.
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.