John Deere Classic Preview
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
This week’s PGA stop at the $4 million John Deere Classicdoes not feature any of the heavyweights of the golf world. Buta wide-open field, and one very intriguing entrant, still providesgolf bettors a variety of interesting options to bet on.
This is the 7th year in a row the JD Classic is being played at the par 71 TPC Deere Run course in Silvis, Ill. The last three winners of this tournament have all ended up at 16 under par after the four rounds.
Last year, Sean O’Hair hit 82% of his greens in regulation on his way to a two-stroke victory over Hank Kuehne and Robert Damron. O’Hair is listed within the sportsbook world at right around 30/1 to repeat as champion of this tournament.
16-year-old Michelle Wie is making her second career appearance at the JD Classic and fifth overall in a professional men’s event. Wie has not yet made a cut on the men’s tour, but she came pretty darn close last year, shooting 1-under par 141 (but struggling through the homestretch on Friday) to miss out by two strokes.
Most sportsbooks (there is somewhat limited wagering opportunity among sportsbooks for this tournament) have not posted individual odds on Wie to win this tournament, instead including her in the field. One book had her listed at 100/1. Bettors will have to shop around a bit to find odds on Wie making the cut.
Near the top of the betting boards, Chris DiMarco is listed at anywhere from 10/1 to 30/1 to win this weekend. Zach Johnson is posted at 15/1, Shigeki Maruyama at 20/1, Ben Crane at 22/1 and Jeff Sluman (who finished tied for 6th at the U.S. Open a few weeks ago) and Bo Van Pelt at right around 25/1.
Sluman also has made 14 of 16 cuts this year, and he has finished in the Top 10 five times in this tournament.
Stylish slammer Camilo Villegas is also listed at around 25/1 to win this weekend. J.B. Holmes is listed at anywhere from 25/1 to 50/1. And John Huston, Joe Ogilvie, Steve Stricker (who’s made eight of nine cuts this year) and Justin Rose are all posted at right around 30/1.
In a featured one-on-one tournament match-up, Johnson is listed as a –120 favorite over Stricker.
The field, which also includes names like Paul Azinger, Mark Brooks, John Cook, Skip Kendall, Jason Gore and Jeff Maggert, is listed at right around 1/1 to win this tournament at most
sportsbooks
.
Television coverage will be provided by the USA Network from 4 to 6 p.m. Eastern both Thursday and Friday. ABC picks up the weekend coverage, 2 to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
Most of the big names in golf are skipping this tournament in preparation for the British Open, which will be played next week.
