The PGA Tour heads to Illinois three weeks out from the Open Championship
The professionals not already qualified for the 150th Open Championship, and are not in next week’s Scottish Open have reached their final opportunity, state side, to qualify for the final major championship of the year.
A part of the Open Championship qualifying series the winner of the John Deere Classic (JDC) will earn entry into the Open Championship to be played this year at St. Andrews.
One of the weaker non-opposite event fields on the schedule, the lure to watch the JDC would be to witness someone unexpected punch their ticket to Scotland. Additionally, the winner’s share of the $7.1 million purse will provide the winner some nice spending change while in Scotland.
In a week where there are no major stars in the field, the PGA Tour is hoping on a compelling story line will bolster the rating in a week the Tour is up against the 2nd LIV Golf event.
More LIV Golf Defections
With LIV golf gearing up for its 2nd event in it’s inaugural season, the announcement of the entry list for this week’s event featured several more PGA Tour defectees.
Matthew Wolff (25) and Carlos Ortiz (31) are the latest professionals to jump ship for the rival LIV Golf league. Despite the announcement by the PGA Tour of increased purses and additional events and tweaks to the season structure to entice the membership to stay put, Wolff (77th OWGR), and Ortiz (119th OWGR) have decided to sign with the Saudi-backed league.
LIV Golf will be on U.S. soil for the first time in Oregon at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club for the first LIV Golf Invitational Portland. Not all have seen this as a positive and the membership at Pumpkin Ridge is reportedly divided on the association with upstart rival league.
A television partner has yet to be found to broadcast the events, however the LIV Golf Portland Invitational can be stream on LIV Golf’s YouTube channel.
PGA Tour’s LIV Response
The PGA Tour also announced a 13 year strategic alliance with the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour). The DP World Tour was seen as vulnerable to being purchased by the backers of the LIV Golf league.
The strategic alliance builds on the 2020 agreement formed between the two leagues in response to the threat of upstart golf leagues that would rival the dominance of the two main tours.
PGA Tour brass agreed to increase its investment in DP World Tour Productions from 15% to 40%. The PGA Tour will also assist the DP World Tour in increasing the purses of its events over the coming years.
The top 10 players on the DP World Tour will receive invites to compete in PGA Tour events. Additional details of the alliance outlined routes for Sunshine Tour, and Australasian Tour members to the DP World Tour.
Notable in the field at the JDC?
The highest ranked player Daniel Berger (25th OWGR) has withdrawn from this week’s JDC citing his back not being completely 100%. Berger was the only top-50 player in the field this week.
Other fan favorites in the field
Jason Day, Charles Howell III, Brandt Snedeker, Jason Dufner, Anirban Lahiri, Maverick McNealy, Emiliano Grillo, Harry Higgs, Charley Hoffman, Peter Malnati, Scott Stallings, Nate Lashley
Players to Watch
Sahith Theegala
After a brutal finish at last week’s Travelers Championship, Sahith Theegala is looking to rebound this week. Sahith was leading the tournament entering the final hole with a great chance to secure his first PGA Tour win. However, his drive found the fairway bunker and he made the decision to go for the hole despite his ball being close to the face of the bunker.
After a lengthy discussion with his caddie, Sahith decided to go for the hole instead of laying up. His aggressive non-lofted swing resulted in his ball hitting the face of the bunker. Sahith looked up for his ball as he normally would and then realized that it was back at his feet.
“I thinned it”. Theegala mentioned in his post round press conference. “We even talked about the need to hit it fat if anything….. I hit that one thin and almost (hit) the next one thin” Theegala further explained.
He needed two strokes to get out of the sand, and eventually bogeyed the hole finishing tied for 2nd place and two shots back of eventual winner Xander Schauffele.
Despite the heartbreak on the 18th hole last week at the Travelers, Sahith has been playing well which lead to his 2nd place finish this past week which he also mentioned in his interview.
This will be Theegala first trip to TPC Deere Run for the JDC, and with a win could punch his ticket to the Open Championship. With two top-5 finishes in the last three events entered, Sahith is primed for success this week in Illinois.
Joseph Bramlett
This will be Joseph’s third trip to TPC Deer Run, and is seeking his first made cut in the event. Joseph placed tied for 37th in the U.S. Open earlier this month. Bramlett qualified for the U.S. Open by surviving “golf’s longest day”, advancing out of the Rockville Maryland qualifying site. He also finished tied for 57th in last week’s Travelers Championship.
Cam Champ
This will be Cam’s third trip to TPC Deer Run. His best finish was an 11th place finish in 2021. Cam has missed the cut in his last 4 events and could use a good showing this week with a made cut.
JDC Tee Times
Theegala: Thursday – 1:54 pm; Friday – 8:29 am
Bramlett: Thursday – 9:46 am; Friday – 3:11 pm
Champ: Thursday – 8:18 am; Friday – 1:43 pm
How to watch
Golf Channel:
Thursday & Friday: 3 pm – 6 pm
Saturday & Sunday : 1 pm – 3 pm
CBS:
Saturday & Sunday: 3 pm – 6 pm