Best PGA Picks this Week for the John Deere Classic

Before the PGA Tour heads overseas to Scotland, players head to TPC Deere Run for the John Deere Classic.

Most Likely to Win the John Deere Classic

Current golf odds price Ben Griffin and Chris Gotterup (+1400) as co-favorites to win the John Deere Classic.

Including Griffin and Gotterup, oddsmakers price 10 players inside +3300 to win in Illinois. Amongst those players: Jackson Koivun, Keith Mitchell, J.T. Poston and Jacob Bridgeman.

Jordan Spieth (+3300) also joins the field, as does Rickie Fowler (+3500).

Best John Deere Classic Picks

Jacob Bridgeman (+3300)

Within a pretty weak field, the price looks pretty appealing on Bridgeman, a PGA Tour signature event winner this year.

Last week at TPC River Highlands, Bridgeman improved on approach in each round. He went from -2.5 SG: APP in the first round to +1.2 in his final round.

In his first two rounds, Bridgeman averaged -1.25 SG: APP compared to +0.95 over the weekend.

Should he continue that weekend momentum at TPC Deere Run, Bridgeman offers bettors a high ceiling.

Over the last six months, he ranks second in percentage of rounds north of 2+ SG: TOT. Even over the last four months – removing his win – he still ranks 10th.

Bridgeman also ranks second in par 4 birdie or better rate this year and first in Par 4 Efficiency: 351-400 yards.

All told, Bridgeman ranks fourth in my mixed condition model. Those factors, along with good results at the Amex and Pebble Beach, inform interest at this price point.

Eric Cole (+3300)

A T-38th at the Travelers is slightly misleading on Cole, who raced out to contention after the second round.

He gained five strokes in the first round to lead after Thursday. Cole followed it up with a +2.1 SG: TOT output on Friday.

Of his SG: TOT output on Thursday & Friday, 62% came on approach. Over the last four months, he spiked to 2+ SG: TOT at the seventh-highest rate in the field.

Cole lost ground over the weekend at TPC River Highlands. Still, I remain encouraged by a player with top-10s at Colonial and Muirfield Village.

Now he returns to TPC Deere Run, where he produced a T-7th two years ago. He should thrive at an easy course given his past performances on comparable setups.

This year, Cole ranks fifth in SG: TOT on “easy” or “very easy” setups. He also ranks 16th in par 4 birdie or better rate over the last six months, including fifth over the last three.

At fourth in my model, Cole offers higher win equity than these odds imply.

Zach Bauchou (+9000)

It’s mostly the price that’s driving interest in Bauchou, who ranks sixth in my mixed-condition model.

He recorded two top-20 finishes this season, including a T-13th at the American Express. Recently, he posted his two best ball-striking events of the entire season.

At Colonial, Bauchou finished with a +1.59 SG: BS average, up from +1.43 at TPC Craig Ranch. Over the last four months, he ranks fifth in percentage of rounds north of 2+ SG: TOT.

Albeit in a small sample size, Bauchou ranks 10th in SG: TOT on “very easy” or “easy” courses since last year. In 2026, his placement rises to third overall.

He simultaneously ranks 30th in par 4 birdie or better rate over the last six months. Over the last three months, he has improved to 17th in the category.

Those factors, in my estimation, render him worth a flier at a big number in a weaker field.