Steve Stricker Favored at Sportsbook to Win John Deere Classic. The British Open is just over a week away and some golfers are tuning up by playing the John Deere Classic where Steve Stricker is the sportsbook favorite. Stricker is 12-1 at the offshore sportsbook while Tim Clark and Zach Johnson are the co-second choices at 14-1.
Sportsbook odds also list KJ Choi with a chance as he is 17.5 to 1. There are just two openings remaining to get into the British Open so this is a key tournament. The highest finishing player at the John Deere Classic not already in the British Open will get a spot. The other spot will go to the highest finishing player at the Scottish Open not already in the field.
The contenders to win the John Deere Classic this week look to be a select few. Steve Stricker is the fourth ranked player in the world so he is a logical favorite but Tim Clark might be a better pick. He is 7th in the FedEx Cup standings and fifth on the PGA Tour money list. It makes sense he is second on the odds board. Stricker is still favored though since he won the tournament last year. Kenny Perry won this event two years ago while the rest of the past winners of this tournament are not familiar names.
Last year it was Stricker winning with Johnson finishing second. Johnson has said that he really wants to win this week so he could be a good pick in a tournament that he considers his fifth major. Last week’s fourth place finisher Charlie Wi could be in contention again this week and he has appealing odds of 37-1 at the offshore sportsbook.
Not to be left out this week are former winner Kenny Perry at 22-1 and Rickey Fowler who is also 22-1. Bubba Watson has played well this year and he could be a profitable choice at odds of 29-1. Former winner Jonathan Byrd is one long shot that might have a chance. He has odds of 58-1 to win this week.
The John Deere Classic begins on Thursday and continues through Sunday.
The Golf Channel has live coverage of the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday while CBS picks up the coverage over the weekend.