Jordan Spieth is the big gun in the field aiming to launch the celebrations, as the John Deere Classic starts on American Independence Day.
But sadly, the chances of Spieth returning to the event with a bang after a nine-year absence look bleak.
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Spieth announced himself to the golfing world by winning this event as a 19 year old in 2013. He won again in 2015, having also triumphed at the first two Majors played that year, the Masters and US Open
He would also go on to claim the Claret Jug in 2017. But those glory days are becoming a distant memory as the 30 year old Jordan struggles to recapture some of that old sparkle.
He has not won in over two years, and the fact that he has returned to the John Deere for the first time since 2015 shows he is desperate to find a spark before flying over to the UK for the Open.
Desperate golfers are not the type to back, especially at a best-priced 22-1. There are some tasty-looking alternatives, who will hopefully swell the coffers in the build-up to Royal Troon on July 18.
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Golf tips
Sungjae Im is the bookies favourite at 16-1, and he probably deserves that billing after his impressive third place at The Travelers last time out, his third top ten in his last four starts.
But the ultra-consistent Korean has not pulled up any trees in two previous starts at the John Deer, and I prefer the chances of defending champion Sepp Straka, second in the market at 18-1.
After starting the day in a share of 14th place, Straka stormed through the field last year with a final round 62 to win by two shots – despite a double bogey at the last.
He went on to finish joint runner-up at the Open, and he is bound to feel plenty of good vibes this week.
Straka’s last two performances have, admittedly, been pretty mediocre. But there were three top fives in quick succession before that, and the Austrian should put up a strong title defence.
He just about gets the top pick over Denny McCarthy, who never really lit the touch paper at the Rocket Mortgage last week.
McCarthy has shown a real liking for this event. He shot 15 under for the first three rounds in both 2022 and 2023 to charge into contention – but closing rounds of level par and one under meant he had to settle for eight and sixth place finishes.
It could be a case of third time lucky, and at 20-1 the American is just about worth backing each way.
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The other player who catches the eye near the top of the market is 25-1 shot Davis Thompson, one of the men who finished in the logjam for second place at the Rocket Mortgage.
That was his second runner-up finish of the year, and it followed a top ten at the US Open. So even though this is Thompson’s first outing at the John Deere, he will be high on confidence.
Most of the longshots have precious little to recommend them – apart from last year’s runner-up Alex Smalley. His recent form is nothing to write home about, but it was a similar story last year. At 125-1 he could be a decent each way option.
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