PGA Tour 2021 John Deere Classic Betting Preview

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The John Deere Classic returns to the PGA Tour schedule after a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19. The tournament will celebrate its 50th year as a Tour event when the first wave of players tee off Thursday morning in Silvis, IL.

The winner of the tournament receives $1.116 million of the $6.2 million purse along with 500 FedEx Cup points. Additionally, if the winner is not already exempt from the Open Championship, they lock in a spot in next week’s major.

Dylan Frittelli is the defending 2019 champion after finishing the tournament at -21, two strokes ahead of the nearest competitor. Let’s take a closer at the favorites so you can get ready to bet against their PGA Tour odds.

PGA Tour Betting – 2021 John Deere Classic Analysis

The Course

TPC Deere Run is a par-71 track where players can take advantage of birdies in bunches. Players that want to win the tournament will need to shoot around 20-under to have a shot on Sunday afternoon. Five of the last six winners shot 20-under or better en route to victory.

Known for its elevation changes, the D.A. Weibring design offers numerous risk/reward shots. The course stretches 7,268 yards and was owned in 1971. Michael Kim set the tournament record in 2018 with a four-day total of 27-under.

The Field

You won’t find any of the top names teeing it up this weekend, as many are either playing in the Scottish Open or are gearing up for the final major next weekend. Daniel Berger, the 16th ranked player in the world, is the highest player teeing it up in the event.

Other notable players include Sungjae Im, Si Woo Kim, Brian Harman, Kevin Na, and Hudson Swafford. Frittelli returns to defend his title as well as 2019 runner-up Russell Henley. Iowa native Zach Johnson, tournament winner in 2012, makes his 19th appearance in the JDC.

You get to see a regional set of college graduates tee it up thanks to sponsorship exemptions. Michael Feagles (Illinois), Alex Schaake (Iowa), Tripp Kinney (Iowa State), and David Perkins (Illinois State) will showcase their talents on golf’s biggest stage.

Betting Pick – Favorite

Henley +1800

The 2019 runner-up posted a T13 at the U.S. Open, followed up by a T19 at the Travelers Championship the following week. Henley cashed in on 15 of 20 events played this season, logging four top-10s, including a pair of third-place finishes.

Henley’s last win on tour came in 2017 at the Houston Open, but the 32-year old has returned to form this season. Henley ranks 3rd on tour in Strokes Gained: Approach to the Green and 21st in SG: Total.

Betting Pick – Underdog

Kevin Na +4000

Na already has a win under his belt this season with a victory at the 2021 Sony Open in Hawaii. The 37-year old is first amongst his peers in SG: Around-the-Green. His best finish since his win in January was a T11 at the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession at the end of February.

Betting Pick – Longshot

Hudson Swafford +12500

Swafford has had an up and down season highlighted by a victory in September at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. On the flip side, Swafford has only made nine cuts in 24 events. Swafford posted a T2 at the Palmetto Championship in June.

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