Last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit brought us smiles and tears. Having had the overnight or joint overnight leaders after each of the first three rounds, Sunday’s action was eagerly awaited. Akshay Bhatia and Aaron Rai continued to play well, and Davis Thompson was on the move. Their closest rivals were the unreliable Cameron Young and the hopelessly out-of-form Cam Davis. The latter somehow took a one-shot lead into the clubhouse, but Akshay hit an astonishingly good approach shot on the 18th. Caramba! He missed the 4-feet putt. So, no play-off but a highly satisfactory T2, T2 and T2 plus an overall profit of 18.5 points.
The John Deere Classic is another low-key event played on one of the circuit’s easiest courses. The picturesque Par-71 set-up favours short-course lovers. Jordan Spieth is the only outstanding player in the field. He won his first tournament here but has been in dire form for a long time and does not make our short-list. The key stats here are scrambling, putting average, strokes gained putting. and greens in regulation.
With all this in mind, here are my MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (Name and Current Price) selections for the John Deere Classic. Bets should be placed by 1pm on Thursday. Bookies are paying 8p generally – but be wary of Bet365, who are only paying 5p – but to ¼ odds
DAVIS THOMPSON 25/1: One of our tips last week in Detroit, his excellent T2 was the latest in a string of brilliant performances, highlighted by a 9th in the U.S. Open. The 24-year-old former World #1 Amateur Champion is very much ready to win.
SAM STEVENS 50/1: Another simmering up-and-comer, the 27-year-old has finished 10th, 14th and 10th again in three of his last four outings. His putter is hotter than most and he oozes confidence.
SEPP STRAKA 16/1: The Austrian needs to put his national football team’s surprise Tuesday defeat by Turkey out of his mind and focus on retaining his title at Deere Run. The World #24 has been in sparkling form recently and they all have him to beat.
BEN GRIFFIN 60/1: He caught my eye when finishing 2nd to Robert Macintyre, ahead of the likes of Rory and Tom Kim in the Canadian Open; this real short-course specialist ticks a lot of boxes and could surprise.
CHANDLER PHILLIPS 100/1: Another outlier but past winners of this have often excelled in the Valspar Championship and/or the Charles Schwab Challenge and he ticks both these boxes. He’s had top 15s in two of his last four events.
AARON RAI 20/1: It would be rude to desert him after his splendid T2 finish for us last week. His wonderful ball-striking and scrambling will be great assets at Deere Run and he looks sure to go close again.
NICK DUNLAP 40/1: The superb putter has never looked back after securing his first win in the Amex Championship in January. He’s been in the top 25 four times, including a 12th and a 10th in the past four weeks.
Bet 1 point each way on all.
Beware after R3, MAVERICK MCNEALY 25/1 (a big danger here despite his frustrating career record) and BEN KOHLES 110/1 (a likeable young outsider).
Good Luck – Sandy Lane
PROFIT OR LOSS THIS POST: +36.40