The PGA Tour season is entering the home stretch, and a strong field heads to TPC Deere Run for the 2026 John Deere Classic in Silvis, IL.
Players need to put circles on the card to win this week, and my John Deere Classic predictions are headlined by proven PGA Tour winner and betting favorite Ben Griffin.
⛳ John Deere Classic: Key takeaways
- Best bet: Ben Griffin to win (+1400) – Pair the improved recent run from Griffin with his T5 here in 2024, and I’m expecting the three-time PGA Tour winner to add his fourth victory this week
- Best value: Denny McCarthy Top 20 (+200) – A weekend surge led to a T14 finish at the Travelers, and McCarthy is on a T11-T7-T6-T6 run in this event
- Course: TPC Deere Run is a scorable 7,327-yard Par 71 layout designed by D.A. Weibring and Chris Gray that traditionally rewards precise wedge play and hot putters
- Weather: Early forecast calls for warm summer conditions coupled with soft, receptive turf to set the track up for another low-scoring tournament
- Expected cut: The standard 144-player field will be trimmed down to the Top 65 players and ties following Round 2
📊 John Deere Classic odds
The John Deere Classic runs at TPC Deere Run from Thursday, July 1, through Sunday, July 4.
| Golfer |  |
|---|---|
| Ben Griffin | +1400 |
| Chris Gotterup | +1600 |
| Jackson Koivun | +2000 |
| Keith Mitchell | +2200 |
| Keegan Bradley | +2500 |
| J.T. Poston | +2800 |
| Tom Kim | +2800 |
| Jacob Bridgeman | +2800 |
| Jordan Spieth | +3300 |
| Eric Cole | +3300 |
Odds from BetMGM, one of our best golf betting sites.
Check out the full John Deere Classic field.
Best bets card
Outright: Ben Griffin (+1400): Improved ball-striking has led to four Top 10s across the past seven events for Griffin, and he also paces this field in true strokes gained tee-to-green across his past four tournaments.
Outright: Jackson Suber (+5500): Ranking fifth in this field in Par 5 scoring and 10th in birdie-or-better percentage has Suber on my radar because putting circles on the card is mandatory to content this week.
Top 20: Denny McCarthy (+200): This is a long number considering McCarthy's track record in this event, in addition to his solid T14 finish in the Travelers.
Top 40: Austin Eckroat (+150): This number has my attention for the two-time PGA Tour winner, especially considering Austin Eckroat finished T11 in this event last season.
Course breakdown: TPC Deere Run
Masterfully designed by D.A. Weibring and Chris Gray, TPC Deere Run is the Gold Standard of low-scoring properties on the PGA Tour. Playing as a 7,327-yard Par 71, this short track relies on elevation changes, rolling fairways, and thick hardwood trees to protect approach lines.
Because length off the tee isn’t a separator historically, the tournament often opens the door for multiple paths to winning and diverse skillsets. The primary defense here is the deep rough and strategic fairway bunkering. Still, hitting fairways leaves short irons and wedges into large, smooth bentgrass green complexes.
Simply put, pars won’t cut it this week, with the winning scores regularly eclipsing the 18-under mark. And, especially, players need to take advantage of the three Par 5s and three Par 4s that are under 400 yards.
- Short, undulating track minimizes a distance advantage
- Wedge and short iron approaches are at a premium
- Track features large and receptive bentgrass greens
- Circles on the card are a necessity
Players to watch
- Ben Griffin: Trading with the betting favorites, Griffin is heating back up after winning three times in 2025, and he also finished T5 here in 2024
- Jackson Koivun: Pair a T23 at the U.S. Open with Koivun’s T11 in this event last year, and the emerging star is definitely a player to have on your radar this week and throughout the rest of the 2026 season
Key stats & player profiles to target
- True strokes gained approach
- Birdie-or-better percentage
- Proximity distance from 75-150 yards
- Par-5 scoring
- Driving accuracy
Players to watch
- Denny McCarthy: Before finishing T11 here in 2025, McCarthy carded three consecutive Top 5s at TPC Deere Run, so his tee-to-green game and elite putting fit the demands of the track
- J.T. Poston: While the 2023 winner was derailed last week by a 12 in the final round, Poston preceded the Travelers with a win in the Memorial Tournament and a T4 at the U.S. Open
Outright picks: winners to bet
Pick 1: Ben Griffin (+1400)
The three-time 2025 winner is knocking on victory’s door again with four Top 10s across his past seven events while gaining true strokes across the board. In particular, Ben Griffin paces this field in true strokes gained tee-to-green while ranking 12th on approaches through his past four tournaments.
Course Fit: Finished T5 at TPC Deere Run in 2024
Recent Form: Improved ball-striking has my attention
Key Stat: Fifth in adjusted scoring average this season
Risk: Griffin has rarely had his entire game clicking in unison this year.
Pick 2: Jackson Suber (+5500)
I’m most encouraged about Jackson Suber ranking fifth in this field in Par 5 scoring and 10th in birdie-or-better percentage, so him rounding into form with true strokes gained across the board in the Travelers (T30) is a nice bonus.
Course Fit: Suber has excelled when scores need to be low in 2026
Recent Form: Pair of Top 5s across past five events
Key Stat: Fifth in field in Par 5 scoring this season
Risk: Suber missed the cut in the 2025 John Deere Classic.
Finishing position picks
Top 20: Denny McCarthy (+200)
TPC Deere Run fits Denny McCarthy’s eye, and he’s carded four straight Top 20s in this event. McCarthy also surged up the leaderboard last weekend at the Travelers to finish T14 in a much tougher field.
Course Fit: Impressive T11-T7-T6-T6 run in event
Recent Form: Carded a 66-65 weekend in the Travelers
Key Stat: Elite +1.21 true strokes gained at TPC Deere Run
Risk: McCarthy is 58th in this field in true strokes gained tee-to-green in 2026.
Top 40: Austin Eckroat (+150)
This number has my attention for the two-time PGA Tour winner, and especially considering Austin Eckroat finished T11 in this event last season while ranking second true strokes gained on approach and 11th in tee-to-green play.
Course Fit: Finished T11 with elite ball-striking here in 2025
Recent Form: True strokes gained putting in six of past seven events
Key Stat: Seventh in field in birdie-or-better percentage in 2026
Risk: Eckroat only has six Top 40s in 12 tournaments this season.
How to watch the John Deere Classic & tee times
How to watch:
- Thursday-Friday: 4-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
- Saturday: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Sunday: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. ET (CBS)
Tee times:
John Deere Classic betting FAQ
Who is the 2026 John Deere Classic favorite?
Ben Griffin and Chris Gotterup are +1400 betting favorites at BetMGM.
When is the 2026 John Deere Classic?
The 2026 John Deere Classic will be played from Thursday, July 1, to Sunday, July 4.
Where will the 2026 John Deere Classic be played?
The 2026 John Deere Classic will be played at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.
What are John Deere Classic FRL markets?
First Round Leader (FRL) markets center around which golfers will be in the lead following the first 18 holes of the tournament.
How do John Deere Classic matchup bets work?
When betting John Deere Classic matchups, you're selecting which golfer will score better between the two golfers listed in that specific market. There are 18-hole, single-round matchups, in addition to tournament-long, 72-hole matchups.
What is the John Deere Classic cut line?
The Top 65 golfers and ties after 36 holes will make the cut at the John Deere Classic.
Are John Deere Classic odds the same across all sportsbooks?
You'll see slight to significant variations in odds across sportsbooks for the John Deere Classic; it's always good practice to check multiple sports betting sites for the best odds.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
