The reigning Masters champion gave the 8th hole at Royal Troon, called “Postage Stamp,” as an example as to how holes don’t need to be lengthened to be more difficult.

“No. 8 is a good little way to almost step back in time and control your ball a bit more.

“You don’t have to make a par-three 230 yards to make it a great hole. It can be 120 yards.

“I think holes like 12 at Augusta and 17 at Sawgrass, the best par-threes in the world are short par-threes. They’re not overly long par-threes.”

“It leaves a lot of opportunity for you to hit a shot.

“If I don’t hit the green on No. 8, it’s mostly likely going to be a bogey unless you’re in the front of the green.

“If you miss it in the right bunker or the left bunker — if you hit it in the left bunker, you’re going to be glad to be making a bogey because it’s probably going to plug, and you’ll be hitting up-and-down for your bogey.

“I think great little, short holes like that are fun.

“I think it’s an underrated skill for guys nowadays to be able to control your ball, and I think it’s something we need to encourage in our game, not just building golf courses longer and longer.

“You can make a short hole with a small green, and it’s pretty dang tough.”

One of the major obstacles of Royal Troon this week will be the bunkering. The fairway bunkers on the course are extremely penal and most will require a splash out into the fairway rather than a shot at the green.

“One of the things I liked that the R&A changed this year from last year was the bunkering,” he said.

“Last year I thought it was a bit silly how they flattened out each bunker.

“The bunkers are still a penalty enough when the ball isn’t up against the lip.

“It was a bit of luck whether or not your ball would bury into the face because you have a flat bunker and a wall that’s going to go right into it.”

“As long as you build a little bit of slope into it, you can allow guys the opportunity to get out of the bunker.

“If you’re on the greens, it allows for opportunity for guys to either take on the lip or play smart and play sideways.

“It leaves more opportunity for great shots and risk and reward around the greens and the fairways because you have an opportunity to hit a great shot or just play it safe and go out sideways.

“I love how they changed how they rake the bunkers this year with the more traditional sloping coming off the walls.”

Scheffler is set to begin his quest for a second major championship of 2024 on Thursday.

More from the 19th Hole

This week, McIlroy’s friend and fellow Irishman, Shane Lowry, has come to the defense of the four-time major champion.

While speaking with BBC Sport NI, Lowry said the criticism makes his “blood boil”.

“It makes my blood boil, to be honest,”

“They don’t see how hard Harry works and how good he is for Rory.

“Just because he’s not standing in the middle of the tee box like other caddies who want to be seen and heard doesn’t mean that his voice isn’t heard by Rory.

“When you get to tournaments, he’s always there before Rory, he’s always walking the course. He works harder than any of the caddies out here.”

Lowry added that he still believes Rory will get another major.

“He’s the best caddie for Rory and I’ll argue that with anyone who wants to argue it with me,”

“It’s tough for him. Northern Ireland and Ireland is a small place. I’m sure it’s tough for Harry to go home and deal with all that but he’ll be alright.

“That’ll make the next one they get together all the sweeter.”

McIlroy will try to add to the tally once again this week at Royal Troon, where he finished T5 back in 2016.

More from the 19th Hole

After McIlroy came up short at the U.S. Open last month, Chamblee criticized his iron play.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love Rory’s golf swing, it’s beautiful. It’s beautiful. But he’s now finished in the top-ten in the last six U.S. Opens and he’s averaging in those six U.S. Opens – because I just looked here in strokes gained approach – about 30th. Guess what they do not do? Win U.S. Opens.

“The guys who win U.S. Opens finish first, second, third, fourth. Brooks Koepka in U.S. Opens – first, second, most greens and best iron shots, strokes gained approach.

“Rory consistently underperforms in his iron play – and that is the most important statistic.”

In the lead up to this week’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, Brandel is questioning McIlroy’s major championship preparation, after posing the question “Why does Rory’s game deteriorate in the biggest moments?”

Speaking at Royal Troon, Chamblee said

“When you look at what the best athletes do when they play to a higher level, they are being themselves.

“They are extraordinary athletes; they don’t have their minds cluttered up and, of course, their focus narrows the closer they get to the lead because of the confidence they get from that.

“So, it seems to me that Rory over time has enquired a lot from swing instructors or putting instructors or sports psychologists or deep dives from YouTube.

“With this generation, there is an epidemic of people doing deep dives on YouTube and getting cluttered up with curiosity.

“When I see Rory, it looks to me like he has either too many swing thoughts in his mind or he has too many voices in his head, it’s the only logical conclusion that I can draw.

“Why can one person be so obviously different getting into the lead or close to the lead and so obviously different when he has the lead.”

McIlroy will look to finally get over the line this week at Royal Troon, where he finished T5 back in 2016.

More from the 19th Hole

The results have certainly not been a reason for optimism, but Tiger’s former coach, Hank Haney, believes Woods still has a chance to compete for an Open Championship.

A lot of people thought Augusta was Tiger’s best chance to ever win again, it’s wasn’t, it was always the Open Championship for multiple reasons, he can hit shots like this, slower greens mean fewer 3 putts and no one has more knowledge about playing links golf. Based on what… https://t.co/1ImmrZWVFs

— Hank Haney (@HankHaney) July 15, 2024

“A lot of people thought Augusta was Tiger’s best chance to ever win again, it’s wasn’t, it was always the Open Championship for multiple reasons, he can hit shots like this, slower greens mean fewer 3 putts and no one has more knowledge about playing links golf. Based on what he’s done so far this year it’s kind of looking like now or never. His swing looks really good in practice.”

???????Tiger Woods’ swing is ________. @TWlegion | @TaylorMadeGolf

pic.twitter.com/PMpX0POARY

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 15, 2024

Woods’ swing looks good ahead of this week’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, however, his swing has not been the problem of late.

Time will tell if Tiger is able to remain healthy and if his body can work through the wear and tear of a 72-hole tournament against the best players in the world.

More from the 19th Hole

“There is a time for all sportsmen to say goodbye, but it’s very difficult to tell Tiger it’s time to go. Obviously, he still feels he can win. We are more realistic.”

“At Pinehurst, he did not seem to enjoy a single shot and you think, ‘What the hell is he doing?’” Montgomerie said. “He’s coming to Troon and he won’t enjoy it there, either.”

Woods spoke ahead of the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon and responded to Montgomerie’s comments.

“Well, as a past champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60. Colin’s not. He’s not a past champion, so he’s not exempt. So he doesn’t get the opportunity to make that decision. I do,” 

“So when I get to his age, I get to still make that decision, where he doesn’t.”

This morning, Montgomerie took to his X account to defend his comments on Tiger.

If Golf Writers want my thoughts on Tiger please ask me direct, rather than taking a quote from an interview out of context. Wishing Tiger an enjoyable and successful week.

— Colin Montgomerie (@montgomeriefdn) July 16, 2024

“If Golf Writers want my thoughts on Tiger please ask me direct, rather than taking a quote from an interview out of context. Wishing Tiger an enjoyable and successful week.”

More from the 19th Hole

This marks the tenth time that Royal Troon will host the Open Championship. The last time we saw the course host The Open was 2016 and it provided one of the best major championship final rounds of all time when Henrik Stenson outlasted Phil Mickelson in a shootout. 

Royal Troon Golf Club is a par 71 measuring 7,385 yards. The front-nine typically plays relatively easy and will give players plenty of birdie chances. However, the back-nine is a lot more challenging and will provide a difficult finishing stretch. 

There are 156 players in the field this week, with the top 70 and ties making it to the weekend. As expected, almost all of the world’s top players will be in attendance this week, seeking a highly coveted Claret Jug.

The Latin motto of Royal Troon is “Tam Arte Quam Marte”, which means “as much by skill as by strength”.

Past Winners at Royal Troon

• 1950: Bobby Locke (-1)
• 1962: Arnold Palmer (-12)
• 1973: Tom Weiskopf (-12)
• 1982: Tom Watson (-4)
• 1989: Mark Calcavecchia (-13)
• 1997: Justin Leonard (-12)
• 2004: Todd Hamilton (-10)
• 2016: Henrik Stenson (-20)

Past Winners at The Open Championship

• 2023: Brian Harman (-13)
• 2022: Cameron Smith (-20)
• 2021: Collin Morikawa (-15)
• 2019: Shane Lowry (-15)
• 2018: Francesco Molinari (-8)
• 2017: Jordan Spieth (-12)
• 2016: Henrik Stenson (-20)
• 2015: Zach Johnson (-15)
• 2014: Rory McIlroy (-17)
• 2013: Phil Mickelson (-3)
• 2012: Ernie Els (-7)
• 2011: Darren Clarke (-5)
• 2010: Louis Oosthuizen (-16)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).

Key Stats For Royal Troon

Let’s take a look at the most important metrics at Royal Troon to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds. This should give us a good starting point for building our betting card.

Strokes Gained: Approach

Henrik Stenson was one of the best iron players of his generation, and that proved to be the difference in 2016. As the course motto suggests, skill is more important than power this week, and iron play should be the most important factor. 

Total Strokes Gained: Approach in past 24 rounds:

1. Scottie Scheffler (+1.63)
2. Xander Schauffele (+1.13)
3. Tony Finau (+0.98)
4. Collin Morikawa (+0.80)
5. Tom Kim (+0.79)

Strokes Gained: Links Golf

Royal Troon is a true links test. This statistic will show us who’s been the best on links courses over their past 36 rounds (minimum 12 rounds). 

Strokes Gained: Links Golf over past 36 rounds:

1. Cameron Smith (+2.41)
2. Robert MacIntyre (+2.15)
3. Collin Morikawa (+1.97)
4. Rory McIlroy (+1.84)
5. Scottie Scheffler (+1.75)

Strokes Gained: Total in Major Championships

Over the past few years, recent major form has been a strong indicator of performance at the following major. I suspect we may see some familiar names atop the leaderboard this week. 

Strokes Gained: Total in Major Championships over past 36 rounds:

1. Rory McIlroy (+2.83)
2. Scottie Scheffler (+2.72)
3. Ludvig Aberg (+2.48)
4. Xander Schauffele (+2.44)
5. Will Zalatoris (+2.24)

Strokes Gained: Total (Windy Conditions)

Wind is always going to be a factor when playing in an Open Championship. Even if the wind speed doesn’t get extremely high, it will still be a factor in club selection and execution.

Total Strokes: Total (Windy Conditions) in past 36 rounds:

1. Scottie Scheffler (+3.18)
2. Xander Schauffele (+2.09)
3. Matthew Southgate (+1.91)
4. Rory McIlroy (+1.79)
5. Jon Rahm (+1.61)

Strokes Gained: Putting

Good putters tend to win Open Championships at St. Andrews. Adding putting to the model will help to eliminate golfers who won’t be able to hole enough putts to contend.

Strokes Gained: Putting in past 24 rounds:

1. Mackenzie Hughes (+1.05)
2. Robert MacIntyre (+1.01)
3. Xander Schauffele (+0.90)
4. Bryson DeChambeau (+0.86)
5. Alexander Bjork (+0.86)

Strokes Gained: Ball Striking on Small Greens

The greens at Royal Troon are the smallest of any in the Open Rota and are one third the size of the greens at St. Andrews. Players who’ve excelled at hitting into small greens will have an advantage. 

Strokes Gained: Ball Striking on Small Greens over past 24 Rounds:

1. Scottie Scheffler (+2.40)
2. Ludvig Aberg (+1.43)
3. Viktor Hovland (+1.37)
4. Tony Finau (+1.33)
5. Xander Schauffele (+1.30)

Statistical Model

Below, I’ve reported overall model rankings using a combination of the six key statistical categories previously discussed.

These rankings are comprised of SG: APP (27%); SG: Putting (14%);SG: Links Golf (15%); SG: Windy Conditions (15%) ; Strokes Gained: Ball Striking on Small Greens (15%), and SG: Majors (15%)

1. Xander Schauffele
2. Collin Morikawa
3. Rory McIlroy
4. Scottie Scheffler
5. Viktor Hovland
6. Corey Conners
7. Tommy Fleetwood
8. Patrick Cantlay
9. Brian Harman
10. Tom Kim
11. Aaron Rai
12. Shane Lowry
13. Ludvig Aberg
14. Tony Finau
15. Tom Hoge
16. Sahith Theegala
17. Christiaan Bezuidenhout
18. Robert MacIntyre
19. Russell Henley
20. Si Woo Kim

2024 Open Championship Picks

Jon Rahm +2500 (FanDuel)

I’ve resisted the temptation to bet Jon Rahm at a major thus far in 2024, but now seems like the right time to take a swing at one of the world’s most talented players at what I believe is a very fair number.

Rahm would be the first to tell you he’s had a relatively weak season by his extremely lofty standards, but he’d also tell you that he’s one major away from a great season. It hasn’t been all bad on LIV thus far for Rahm. He’s finished in the top ten in all but one of his LIV starts, and the one where he failed to do so was because of an injury.

The Spaniard seems to be healthy now, and heads to a major that he’s been excellent at over the course of his career. In his last four Open Championships, he’s finished T11, T3, T34, T2 respectively. He’s been fantastic on the coast and on links tracks, and Royal Troon should suit him well.

Rahm didn’t finish as well as he’d hoped at LIV Andalucia (T10), but there were some positives to take away from the performance. He ranked 1st on the week in greens in regulation and 16th in total birdies. He ranks 4th in the field in Strokes Gained: Total in windy conditions, 13th in Strokes Gained: Total at Major Championships and 15th in Strokes Gained: Total on Links courses.

Rahm may not be having his best season, but if he gets in contention over the weekend, he’s more than capable of beating anybody in the world.

Tommy Fleetwood +2500 (FanDuel)

It’s been frustrating at times backing Tommy Fleetwood to win golf tournaments, but I’ll be giving him one last shot at the Open Championship this week. His inability to cross the line and win events is undeniable, but he’s been one of the best Open Championship players of his generation.

Over his past five Open’s, the Englishman boasts finishes of T12, 2, T33, T4 and T10 respectively. Last year, Tommy was in the final pairing on Saturday before Brian Harman ran away with the tournament, so the T10 doesn’t tell the whole story of how well he played.

The week calls for some wind, rain and chilly temperatures, which should suit Fleetwood well. As hard of a time as he’s had winning in the U.S., he’s been very solid in the UK. He had six DP World Tour victories and has beaten some world class players in doing so.

Fleetwood has been one of the best major championship players in the world over the past three seasons. In his past 36 major rounds, he ranks 6th in Strokes Gained: Total, only trailing Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and Will Zalatoris. He’s played his best golf in the biggest events and has risen to the occasion against the best of the best.

Tommy is one of the best links players on the planet and can change the narrative that he can’t close with a win at Royal Troon Golf Club this week.

Viktor Hovland +3000 (DraftKings)

I believe in the long-term ceiling of Viktor Hovland about as much as I do for any player in the world. 2024 hasn’t gone according to plan for the 26-year-old, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s a top-5 talent in the field.

Hovland has missed the cut in two of his three major starts this year but had a chance to win the PGA Championship deep into his final round on Sunday. He also finished T15 at the Memorial Tournament a week later, so has shown flashes of the form that won him the 2023 Tour Championship.

The betting odds for Hovland have risen to a point where I feel it’s an auto bet for the foreseeable future at this number. He ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Total at majors and has four top-7 finishes in majors since 2022. He’s also been excellent in Open Championships. Over his last three Open’s he’s finishes no worse than T13, with his best being a T4 in 2022.

I trust Hovland on links in the wind and I have no doubts that he is a viable threat to win this week’s Open Championship.

Joaquin Niemann +6600 (BetRivers)

Joaquin Niemann has been disappointing in majors so far throughout his career, but his talent is simply too great to ignore at deeper prices on the odds board.

In addition to the enormous talent of Niemann, I also believe the course fit for Royal Troon is too strong to ignore. The Chilean has a lower ball flight and is a fantastic wind player. In his past 36 rounds, he ranks 17th in Strokes Gained: Total in windy conditions.

Niemann has been great on LIV and is first in the individual standings. He’s won two events and has three additional top-3 finishes on the season as well. He started slowly last week at LIV Andalucia but finished strong, posting rounds of 68 and 69 on Saturday and Sunday at Valderrama. The week played windy and difficult and therefore should serve as a solid warmup for Niemann heading into the season’s final major.

The questions on whether or not Niemann has what it takes to perform in majors are fair to this point, but I’m betting on the talent once again.

Louis Oosthuizen +6500 (FanDuel)

I bet Louis a few months back at 130-1 and he was 110-1 as recently as Sunday on plenty of books, however, the number has taken a Monday dive.

The Oosthuizen popularity is warranted, as he can most definitely still compete with the world’s best on certain golf courses, with Royal Troon being one of them. The South African has had his best season since 2021, which is a year that saw him finish in the top-3 of three of the year’s four majors. This season, four top-five finishes on LIV to go along with two DP World Tour wins last fall.

Oosthuizen has finished in the top-20 in three of his last four Open Championships, and of course, won The Open at St. Andrews back in 2010. Opens have been kind to older players, and at 41 years of age, it may be the only one of the four majors in which Louis can still truly contend.

Don’t let the LIV “retirement” narratives fool you, Louis is still a good golfer who can contend at Royal Troon.

Akshay Bhatia +12500 (FanDuel)

It still may be too early for Akshay Bhatia to win a major, but at triple-digit odds, the 22-year-old is absolutely worth a punt with how talented he is. Bhatia has the upside to be a future top-5 player in the world and has shown in 2024 that the enormous hype he received as a teenager was warranted.

Bhatia comes into the Open Championship scorching hot. After winning in April, Akshay has once again hit his stride and finished in the top 22 in his last four events, culminating with a T2 in his most recent start at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He missed a short putt to win, but that is part of the growing and maturation process of a young player.

It’s early in his career, but Bhatia has already shown the world he’s one of the most reliable players on the PGA Tour when it gets windy. He’s also a prolific birdie-maker, so if the scoring is easier than expected this week, he can keep up with the scoring.

Bhatia is a high upside play that could pay huge dividends if he brings his best stuff with him across the pond.

*Featured image courtesy of LIV Golf*

Barkley’s quirky swing, which is much improved in recent years, still leaves a bit to be desired.

Over the weekend, a video of Barkley golfing was taken, and the 61-year-old was pretty hard on himself after a bad shot.

Just a warning, the following content is NSFW.

Charles Barkley HOT mic ?? ?

? “God dammit, you fat F—K!!” ?

pic.twitter.com/qWVs5xUOPO

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 14, 2024

More from the 19th Hole

Viktor Hovland is among the stars who chose to stay on the PGA Tour. While speaking with The Times, the Norwegian explained his decision.

“I have no hard feelings against the guys that went. I completely understand because there are a lot of grey areas at the moment but, for me, I did not think their product was appealing enough to go. Obviously, they’re throwing out a lot of money, but I’ve already made a lot of money. I’m not a very materialistic person. It’s nice to make life easier for yourself, but that’s not what gets me up in the morning.”

“At the end of the day, the question is ‘What’s going to make me a better player?’ And hey, in 20 years, if I’m on the back end of my career, playing LIV Golf wouldn’t be too bad. It might have been a pretty cool opportunity but, right now, it’s something I think I’d probably look back [on] and regret.”

Hovland seems content with his decision to stay on the PGA Tour but added that he does wish the PGA Tour was more transparent with the players when the LIV threat surfaced.

“A lot of the players I’ve talked to want more transparency. And if you claim you’re representing our best interests, you at least meet with the people involved.

“Now we’re in this stalemate or whatever you want to call it, but it’s not something that required the prediction of 20 different chess moves.

“I’m not a guy that just wants to blindly follow people and be told what to do,” he said. “I want to understand everything.”

Hovland will tee it up this week at Royal Troon with sights set on his first major championship.

More from the 19th Hole

During his pre-tournament press conference, Rory McIlroy, who was the leading point scorer in the 2023 Ryder Cup, was asked for his thoughts on the Bradley appointment.

“I think it has come as a surprise for everyone. We had dinner in London on Sunday night with Luke [Donald], and he told us then.

“Its’ an interesting appointment. The youngest captain since Arnold Palmer I think was a playing captain as 34. But he knows Bethpage very well. He went to university in the area. He’s obviously very passionate about the Ryder Cup.

‘It’s certainly a departure from what the US have done over the last few years, and time will tell if that’s a good thing or not.”

When he was asked how the room reacted while the European team was out to dinner, he said “disbelief.”

“I think disbelief, probably. I think Keegan was probably in disbelief, at some point, too, but it’s certainly an interesting pick.”

McIlroy got off to a hot start at the Scottish Open, where he is the defending champion. He will have to chase down Ludvig Aberg, who is leading after he completed his first 36 holes.

More from the 19th Hole

It’s in the R&A’s rule book how much time you can take so in my eyes they are cheating.. ?????

— Thomas Pieters (@Thomas_Pieters) July 7, 2024

Yesterday, LPGA Tour superstar, Nelly Korda, spoke on the subject of slow play as well.

The 25-year-old is preparing for the Evian Championship this week, where Carlota Ciganda was disqualified last year for slow play.

After last year’s event, Nelly supported the decision that led to Ciganda’s disqualification.

“I really like Carlota. She’s a great person. I enjoy playing with her. I am a fast player, but I would say at the end of the day the rules of golf are the rules of golf, and it’s good that it’s being enforced.”

This week at her pre-tournament press conference, she doubled down on her stance.

“If I was a spectator and I was out here for five-and-a-half hours to six hours, you know, it’s tough to watch. You want to watch a sport that’s continuously moving and not continuously stalling. I would say I think it’s really important for the rules officials to enforce the rules of golf.”

“I just think the faster people play is better for the game,” Korda said. “The rules need to be enforced and we have seen that. I think the LPGA Tour is doing a better job. I still think there is some room for improvement, and it’s going to be better for the game of golf if there aren’t three groups on one hole.

“I know there is tough golf courses and conditions too that you need to take into account. But at the end of the day, the more we improve the pace of play the more people are going to be interested in watching, coming out and not just watching on TV.”

Korda comes into the major championship missing her last three cuts after winning six of eight events to start the season.

More from the 19th Hole

The New York Jets star took to X once again on Wednesday, saying golf was harder than football.

Never thought I would say this, but golf is harder than football.

— SAUCE GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) July 10, 2024

The Spaniard is yet to win a LIV event and has also been extremely disappointing in majors as well. He finished T45 at The Masters as the defending champion, missed the cut at the PGA Championship and was forced to withdraw from the U.S. Open with an infection in his toe.

LIV Critics have attributed Rahm’s lack of major success to the fact that the LIV schedule is lighter and doesn’t require the players to practice as much as they had previously. At this week’s pre-tournament press conference at Valderrama for LIV Andalucia, Rahm was asked if the move to LIV is the primary reason for his struggles.

“Is the format less competitive than before?” said the reporter.

“No.” Rahm answered.

“It’s not easy to win golf tournaments, I’ve been close. I just haven’t gotten it done.”

While he didn’t attribute his less than stellar season to being on a new tour, he did admit it wasn’t his best when asked to rate his performance this season.

“There’s been weeks where I feel like I scored a lot better than I felt.”

“And there’s been a couple weeks where it could have been better.

“I haven’t won yet so that would deduct quite a bit from it.

“I would say maybe six to a seven out of 10 if I had to say. But the year is not over.

“[There is] still a lot to play for.

“It would not be unheard of to see a player finish strong and change that to maybe a nine out of 10.”

Rahm will begin his quest to turn his 2024 season into a “nine out of 10” this week in his home country at LIV Golf Andalucia.

More from the 19th Hole

After his final round at Pinehurst, Rory sped off in his courtesy Lexus, choosing not to speak with the media. A decision that drew criticism from some media members and golf fans alike.

At this week’s event, McIlroy was asked if he regretted that decision.

“Absolutely not. No. There’s nothing that I could have said that was – not that – I mean, it would have been good because you guys would have been able to write something about it or have a few quotes from me. No offence; you guys were the least of my worries at that point.”

Despite the disappointment, the four-time major champion is already focused on winning the next one.

“Yeah, I stewed on what happened at Pinehurst for a couple of days, but then, yeah, thankfully I can go home and look at what I’ve achieved in the game and sort of feel okay about myself.

“Yeah, look, it was a great opportunity. It passed me by but hopefully, when I get that next opportunity, it won’t pass me by.”

McIlroy will tee it up at the Renaissance Club this week as the defending champion at the Scottish Open.

More from the 19th Hole

Bradley is just 38 years old, which makes him the youngest Ryder Cup captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.

With Bradley being chosen, plenty of other candidates who would have been considered more traditional picks, were passed over. Among them was Stewart Cink, who many considered to be one of the favorites to land the captaincy after Tiger Woods declined.

While speaking at The Renaissance Club on Tuesday, Cink expressed his disappointment.

“I’m disappointed that I wasn’t chosen to be the captain, of course. I was really hoping to be in that role. I love the United States and I love the players. I have so much respect for the players and the Ryder Cup, and Keegan has great energy and he’s playing great. He’ll do a really good job. I know he wants a team win and his roots being there in New England, he’ll be a great captain.”

Cink acknowledged that the choice of Bradley was against the grain and may resonate with the younger players on the team.

Rory made some crucial mistakes over the past few holes at Pinehurst No. 2, including choosing to hit a seven iron on the 15th which most agree was too much club. Both Hank Haney, who is Tiger Woods’ former coach, and Smylie Kaufman, who’s a former pro turned Golf Channel analyst, have criticized Rory’s caddie, Harry Diamond for not stepping in.

On June 18, Haney posted the criticism to his X account.

“I will say this, if Steve Williams was Rory’s caddie I can promise you he would have never hit a perfect flighted 7 iron that rolled over the green on 15 into a terrible lie because he would have hit an 8 iron and sent it straight up in the air and held the green.”

“Wrong club, wrong shot, bad plan.”

While appearing on Golf’s Subpar podcast, Smylie Kaufman also said he believes Diamond should have done more to help Rory.

“I felt like (caddie) Harry Diamond really should have stepped in on the 15th hole.”

“He did not have the right club in his hands. And I felt like Rory could have taken control of the championship on 15 if he just hits it in the middle of the green. And he hit a good shot. But it just was the wrong club.

“And never, never was a 7-iron for Rory. Especially with a right flag. If the wind was down off the right, it’s not exactly a flag and a wind condition and the heat to be able to land it in a hula hoop, where you got to hit this kind of soft, spinny, fade 7-iron. It was an 8-iron all day, hit it in the middle of the green.”

On Tuesday, McIlroy came to the defense of his caddie in his Scottish Open pre-tournament press conference.

“Just because Harry is not as vocal or loud with his words as other caddies, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t say anything and that he doesn’t do anything,” said the Northern Irishman.

“These guys that criticize when things don’t go my way, they never say anything good when things do go my way.

“Where were they when I won Dubai earlier year, or Quail Hollow, or the two FedEx Cups that I’ve won with Harry, or the two Ryder Cups, or whatever? They are never there to say Harry did such a great job when I win, but they are always there to criticize when we don’t win.

“At the end of the day, they are not there. They aren’t in the arena. They are not the ones hitting the shots and making the decisions.”

McIlroy added

“Someone said to me once, if you would never take advice from these people, you would never take their criticisms, either. I certainly wouldn’t go to Hank Haney for advice. I love Smylie, but I think I know what I’m doing, and so does Harry.”

McIlroy will tee it up at the Renaissance Club this week as the defending champion at the Scottish Open.

I am ready for a Q & A … any Questions any one?

— Pablo Larrazabal (@plarrazabal) July 6, 2024

One question he received was from former DP World Tour player and current LIV golfer, Thomas Pieters.

Pieters asked the Spaniard why slow play isn’t penalized much on the DP World Tour.

Why is slow play accepted on the European tour?

— Thomas Pieters (@Thomas_Pieters) July 7, 2024

Another DP World Tour player, Romain Langasque responded to Pieters’ question.

Actually a really good question !! maybe because slow player just accept to pay find ! They pay to be slow ???? https://t.co/YuA6hC6spW

— Romain Langasque (@Lancaisse) July 7, 2024

“Actually a really good question !! maybe because slow player just accept to pay [fine] ! They pay to be slow ????”

Pieters had an interesting response to Lagasque’s comment. The Belgian said that he believes players who play slow are cheating.

It’s in the R&A’s rule book how much time you can take so in my eyes they are cheating.. ?????

— Thomas Pieters (@Thomas_Pieters) July 7, 2024

“It’s in the R&A’s rule book how much time you can take so in my eyes they are cheating.. ?????”

What do you think? Is slow play cheating?

More from the 19th Hole

Bradley is just 38 years old, which makes him the youngest Ryder Cup captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. In 2023, Bradley was a contender for a captain’s pick at Marco Simone, but ultimately was not chosen. Not even a year later, he’s been made the captain of the 2025 team.

The 2025 Ryder Cup will take place at Bethpage Black, which is a course Keegan is extremely familiar with. He played his college golf at St. John’s University, which hosted tournaments at the course throughout his collegiate career.

Bradley only played in two Ryder Cups, going 4-3 cumulatively in his matches.

“I am incredibly honored to accept this opportunity to captain the United States Team at the 2025 Ryder Cup,” Bradley said in a statement released by the PGA of America. “I would like to thank the PGA of America Ryder Cup Committee for their trust in me as we embark on this journey to Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York.”

After the drubbing in Rome, it appears the United States team is looking for a spark in the form of a local player who can rally the team and crowd at Bethpage.

More from the 19th Hole

The Renaissance Club is a 7,293-yard Par 71. The Tom Doak design is a links style golf course and should provide players with the chance to acclimate to links golf as part of their preparation for the Open Championship.

The Scottish Open will play host to 156 golfers and the field is incredibly strong. The only notable exception amongst the top players on the PGA Tour are Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns and Tony Finau. 

Past Winners at the Genesis Scottish Open

• 2023: Rory McIlroy (-15)
• 2022: Xander Schauffele (-7)
• 2021: Min Woo Lee (-18)
• 2019: Aaron Rai (-11)
• 2018: Bernd Wiesberger (-22)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).

Key Stats For The Renaissance Club

Let’s take a look at the key metrics for The Renaissance Club to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds.

The modeling will have some limitations this week, as half the field has been playing primarily on the DP World Tour. Therefore, the more recent statistics for the players’ DP World Tour performances will not be included in the Strokes Gained metrics.

1. Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach will once again be the most important statistic this week. The course record is held by Bernd Weisberger, who has been one of the most precise iron players in the world throughout the course of his career.

SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds

1. Corey Conners (+0.94)
2. Xander Schauffele (+0.94)
3. Aaron Rai (+0.93)
4. Sepp Straka (+0.93)
5. Ludvig Aberg (+0.88) 

2. Strokes Gained: Off the Tee 

Off the Tee will certainly be a factor this week. The Renaissance club features relatively tight fairways, and longer hitters have fared well here in the past as well.

SG: Off The Tee over Past 24 rounds

1. Min Woo Lee (+0.93)
2. Rory McIlroy (+0.91)
3. Keith Mitchell (+0.89)
4. Kevin Yu (+0.75) 
5. Viktor Hovland (+0.73)

3. Course History

This statistic will factor in players who have had success at The Renaissance Club. 

Cours History Over Past 8 Rounds

1. Rory McIlroy (+3.55)
2. Tom Kim (+2.35) 
3. Byeong Hun An (+2.30)
4. Tommy Fleetwood (+2.23)
5. Robert MacIntyre (+2.12) 

Strokes Gained: Putting (Slow)

The greens in Scotland are typically much slower than many of the players who play primarily on the PGA Tour are used to. Therefore, it makes sense to evaluate which TOUR players have had success on slower greens.

Strokes Gained: Putting (Slow) Over Past 24 Rounds:

1. Mathieu Pavon (+1.84)
2. Justin Lower (+1.54) 
3. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+1.48)
4. Marcel Siem (+1.23)
5. Mark Hubbard (+1.17)

Par 3 Scoring

With five Par 3’s on the course, it’ll be crucial to play them effectively in order to contend.

Par 3 Scoring Over Past 24 Rounds

1. Andrew Novak (2.92)
2. Sam Stevens (2.92)
3. Xander Schauffele (2.95)
4. Jordan Smith (2.95)
5. Erik Van Rooyen (2.96)

Strokes Gained: UK and Ireland

This statistic will tell us who’s played well in this region of the world. 

Strokes Gained: UK and Ireland Over Past 36 Rounds

1. Rory McIlroy (+2.59)
2. Jordan Spieth (+2.22)
3. Tom Kim (+2.12)
4. Tommy Fleetwood (+1.83)
5. Xander Schauffele (+1.72)

The Genesis Scottish Open Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the six key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: App (27%), Course History (13%), SG: UK and Ireland (13%), SG: OTT (21%) Par 3 (13%), and SG: Putting (Slow) (13%).

1. Xander Schauffele
2. Rory McIlroy
3. Byeong Hun An
4. Tom Kim
5. Tommy Fleetwood
6. Collin Morikawa
7. Keith Mitchell
8. Corey Conners
9. Viktor Hovland
10. Aaron Rai

2024 Genesis Scottish Open Picks

Viktor Hovland +2000 (FanDuel)

It was a rocky beginning to the 2024 campaign for Viktor Hovland, but recent results point to his return to top form in the near future. Last year’s Tour champion has finished in the top-25 in four of his past five starts including a solo 3rd place finish at the PGA Championship.

Hovland should be a great fit for the Renaissance Club. Last year, he finished in a tie for 25th but there certainly seems to be room for growth given his skill set and what the course demands. In his past 36 rounds in the UK and Ireland, Hovland ranks 6th in Strokes Gained: Total. He also ranks 10th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 6th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee over his past 24 rounds. The Norwegian has historically been a great putter on slow greens and should be able to maneuver his way around the greens with little difficult at the Renaissance Club. Last year, he gained 2.7 strokes around the green for the week.

Hovland has slowly been building towards his peak form this season, and I believe he will put it all together very soon. It just may be at the Scottish Open this week.

Tommy Fleetwood +2500 (FanDuel)

Time is running out in 2024 for Tommy Fleetwood to earn his first PGA Tour win, but this week’s Scottish Open is arguably his best chance to do so. The Englishman has become infamous for his inability to win thus far in the United States, so a trip across the pond should do wonders for Tommy’s confidence.

Fleetwood has been incredibly consistent over his past six starts. He hasn’t finished worse than 26th and five of the six of those starts came in either a major or a signature event, so he’s been competing against the best of the best. Over his past 24 rounds, Tommy ranks 16th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and 21st in Strokes Gained: Putting on slow greens.

Fleetwood has been absolutely incredible at The Renaissance Club. Since the Scottish Open has become a PGA Tour event, he’s finished T4 in 2022 and T6 in 2023. In both of those starts, he’s gained strokes substantially in all major statistical categories. When the Scottish Open was a DP World Tour event only, Fleetwood lost in a playoff to Aaron Rai in 2020.

While playing in the UK, Tommy Fleetwood is a completely different player. The seven-time DP World Tour winner is a great player in America, but when it comes to links golf across the pond he is amongst the super elite. It’s hard to see a scenario in which “Tommy Lad” is not in contention down the stretch this week.

Tom Kim +3000 (FanDuel)

Tom Kim was playing some incredible golf before finally running out of steam at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, where he missed the cut as the tournament favorite. It was a much-needed break for the young star, as he played nine consecutive events before taking last week off.

Now that the South Korean is regrouped and recharged, I like his chances at the Scottish Open. Over the past two seasons, Tom has finished 3rd and T6 at this event. He’s a player who’s shown that he repeatedly plays well at “his” spots and the early returns certainly indicate that this is one of them.

In his past eight rounds at the course, Kim ranks 1st in Strokes Gained: Total. He also ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained in the UK and Ireland over his past 36 rounds, showing he enjoys playing in this region. Over his past 24 rounds, he ranks 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 11th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. The 22-year-old is a strong play both in terms of course fit and recent form.

Tom has had a few close calls of late, including coming up just short in a playoff against the best player in the world at the Travelers Championship. Luckily for Tom, Scottie won’t be here this week.

Nicolai Hojgaard +8000 (FanDuel)

Another player who’s been a different player across the pond is Nicolai Hojgaard. At just 23 years old, the Dane has won three times on the DP World Tour including the Italian Open and the DP World Tour Championship. He’s beaten some high-end players in those tournaments and has also played in last year’s Ryder Cup in Rome.

While his finishes on the PGA Tour have been disappointing, he is still striking the ball extremely well. He’s gained strokes on approach in three consecutive events and ranks 25th in the field in Strokes Gained: Total in the UK and Ireland over his past 24 rounds. In his wind at last year’s DP World Tour Championship, he finished at -21, beating Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland by two strokes. If the scoring is easier this weekend, Nicolai is the type of birdie-maker who can keep up.

It’s been a disappointing year thus far for Hojgaard, but I still believe the sky is the limit for this unique talent.

Amongst the people analyzing Rory’s performance on that Sunday at Pinehurst is golf analyst Smylie Kaufman. While appearing on Golf’s Subpar podcast, the former pro said he believes McIlroy’s caddie, Harry Diamond, should have done more to help Rory.

“I felt like (caddie) Harry Diamond really should have stepped in on the 15th hole.”

“He did not have the right club in his hands. And I felt like Rory could have taken control of the championship on 15 if he just hits it in the middle of the green. And he hit a good shot. But it just was the wrong club.

“And never, never was a 7-iron for Rory. Especially with a right flag. If the wind was down off the right, it’s not exactly a flag and a wind condition and the heat to be able to land it in a hula hoop, where you got to hit this kind of soft, spinny, fade 7-iron. It was an 8-iron all day, hit it in the middle of the green.”

Diamond’s place as McIlroy’s caddie has been called into question for almost a decade now, but many argue that Rory isn’t looking for a caddie to give an enormous amount of advice anyway.

“I don’t really ever see Harry stepping in a ton. Rory always, if he has a question, he’ll ask, but for the most part, Rory kind of goes and does his thing and he’s got a lot of feel,” Kaufman added. “In my head, as a player, when you execute a shot exactly how you’re supposed to and it ends up in a terrible spot, you have to look at, all right, what happened here. Because that’s what happened at the 15th hole.”

McIlroy would on to bogey holes 15, 16 and 18 and missed two putts under five feet on the latter bogeys. He would lose by one shot to Bryson DeChambeau, who made a magnificent up and down from the fairway bunker on the 18th hole to seal his 2nd U.S. Open victory.

Rory has shown no desire to move on from Diamond at any point and at the moment it doesn’t seem to be under consideration from the Northern Irishman.

The four-time major champion will tee it up at this week’s Scottish Open for the first time since his U.S. Open defeat.

More from the 19th Hole

Amongst those players was the Iron Heads’ Scott Vincent. Incredibly, the Zimbabwean played well despite almost missing his tee time after the airline misplaced his clubs.

Vincent’s tee time was 12:30 and he arrived at 12:34, which led to him narrowly escaping a disqualification. He did, however, receive a two-stroke penalty for being late. He then had to use a set of borrowed clubs for his first round of the important event.

Despite the penalty and the unfamiliar clubs, the 32-year-old was able to fire a 5-under 68, which left him just two shots off of the first-round lead.

After the round, Vincent spoke about his clubs and how he was able to adapt to the unique situation.

“A lot of people had clubs, bits and pieces, but obviously it is hard to make up a full set when you do not have anything, so we have a bit of a mixed bag here.

“I have talked a lot to myself about adapting, no matter what, whatever the situation might be. And so just being able to go out there with none of my stuff, even golf shoes, I am taking in the moment, and we will just take it as it comes.”

Vincent ended up finishing 13th for the week after posting rounds of 68-71-74-71.

More from the 19th Hole

Among the players who aren’t exempt into majors is Ian Poulter. The 48-year-old could have chosen to attempt to play a qualifier to get in like Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood did, but he chose to skip it.

While speaking to talkSPORT, the Englishman gave his explanation.

“My world ranking is not high enough to get into The Open Championship.

“I had the ability go and qualify and I didn’t. 

“I was on holiday with the family in Switzerland instead.

“That is what LIV Golf has given me, a bit more family time.

“I still have got a busy schedule with LIV playing 14 tournaments.”

This will make the 8th consecutive major that Poulter will miss.

He will tee it up this week at LIV Andalucia at Valderrama.

More from the 19th Hole

“I compliment the boys who came over, the first movers, They came on with massive amounts of headwind,” Norman said while speaking with the host, Haslinda Amin.

“The vitriol and hatred was just disgusting, to be quite honest with you, considering what these guys have done for the game of golf, how they have carried the game of golf, and the institutions they represented.

“It was disgusting.”

The PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian Private Investment Fund are still working on a deal, but there is no imminent end in sight. LIV officials, including Norman, have maintained that LIV will continue to exist as its own entity regardless of what happens with the negotiations.

“We’re in our infancy for growth. Take venues, for example. We started out a couple of years ago doing nine and five – nine in the US and nine international – and now that’s flipped.”

“The global scene has opened its arms to us in a significant way.”

“Ultimately, we’ll end up taking the game on a global basis.”

LIV’s next event will be in Spain at Real Club Valderrama July 12-14.

More from the 19th Hole

After the win, the 43-year-old went on the Sky Sports Golf podcast and shared his goals for the future.

“The big plan is to perform better in the big events now, which I have not achieved ever in my life,” said the German.

“The Rolex events, the majors, the big ones – that is the only way to get into the top 50 in the world, get into the Ryder Cup and qualify for The Masters.”

“That is my big goal going to the Scottish Open and The Open. I will not throw this away with partying anymore.

“I have three or four weeks off after The Open and this will be party time, trust me – massively, but these three weeks I’ll be working hard.”

Siem has a long way to go to make Luke Donlad’s 2025 Ryder Cup team, but if he does, the Ryder Cup fist pumps Siem would inevitably provide would be legendary.

THAT. IS. CLUTCH! ?@SiemMarcel saves his first birdie of the back nine for the last to force a play-off against @tommckibbin8!#ItalianOpen pic.twitter.com/OW8xA8aGPg

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 30, 2024

More from the 19th Hole

Ben Parsons of Bunkered is in attendance for Garcia’s qualification efforts at Lancashire Links and caught an interesting exchange between Sergio and a rules official on camera.

Sergio Garcia’s group given an official warning for slow play on the 8th. Garcia complaining that he’s having to wait 3-4 minutes for fans to move on every tee shot. @WestLancsGC pic.twitter.com/3SDUbtVQ9d

— Ben Parsons (@_benparsons) July 2, 2024

Sergio Garcia furious at his slow play warning at Final Open Qualifying – saying fans are causing the delays. Here he is taking his anger out at two R&A officials.

“You’re right, we’re always wrong.” pic.twitter.com/hO2mzYgSRa

— Ben Parsons (@_benparsons) July 2, 2024

The Spaniard received a slow play warning and wasn’t happy about it.

“You’re right, we’re always wrong,” Garcia can be heard saying.

For context, Garcia not happy that he’s been put on the clock when it’s taking marshals “3-4 minutes” to move fans walking on his line on tee shots. https://t.co/doiWXY2UO6

— Ben Parsons (@_benparsons) July 2, 2024

Parsons added that Garcia was upset with the slow play warning because it was taking marshals a long time to clear the fans watching his group, which of no fault of his own.

At the moment, Garcia is on the back nine of his first 18 holes and three back of first place.

pulling hard for @TheSergioGarcia and the rest of the LIV GOLF family as they attempt to bypass the archaic OWGR and QUALIFY for The Open today! ???

COVERAGE HERE ALL DAY???

pic.twitter.com/TXKk0NU8EQ

— 54 Golf (@_54Golf) July 2, 2024

The Fireballs GC Captain will tee it up next week at LIV Valderrama in his home country.

More from the 19th Hole

TPC Deere Run is a 7,268-yard par 71 located in Silvis, Ill., in the Quad Cities area. The course historically fails to present a major challenge to golfers with easy-to-hit fairways and Bentgrass greens. Most players will have short approach shots into the greens and the event often turns into a bit of a putting contest.

The John Deere Classic will play host to 156 golfers and as expected, the field is considerably weaker than we have gotten used to this season, but better than the John Deere field last year. 

A few of the notable golfers who will make the trip to the Midwest include Jason Day, Sungjae Im, Jordan Spieth and defending champion Sepp Straka. 

Past Winners at The John Deere Classic

• 2023: Sepp Straka (-21)
• 2022: J.T. Poston (-21)
• 2021: Lucas Glover (-19)
• 2019: Dylan Frittelli (-21)
• 2018: Michael Kim (-27)
• 2017: Bryson DeChambeau (-18)
• 2016: Ryan Moore (-22)
• 2015: Jordan Spieth (-20)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).

Key Stats For TPC Deere Run

Let’s take a look at five key metrics for TPC Deere Run to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds.

Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach is historically the most predictive statistic at TPC Deere Run.

It’s a relatively short course with extremely wide fairways. Lack of distance off the tee will not be a major hindrance to golfers since the majority of approach shots will allow for a short iron or wedge onto the green.

SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds:

1. Patton Kizzire (+.95)
2. Aaron Rai (+.93)
3. Sepp Straka (+.93)
4. Kevin Yu (+.84)
5. Kelly Kraft (+.78) 

Strokes Gained: Total on Easy Courses

Similar to last week, players who excel at easy courses will have an advantage at TPC Deere Run. 

Strokes Gained: Total on Easy Courses Over Past 36 Rounds:

1. Nick Dunlap (+2.31)
2. J.T. Poston (+2.20)
3. Kevin Yu (+1.69)
4. Eric Cole (+1.67)
5. Sungjae Im (+1.55)

3. Birdie or Better Percentage

Scores can get extremely low at TPC Deere Run as the course will offer plenty of birdie opportunities. Twelve of the 18 holes on the course historically average under par.

Birdie or Better Percentage Over Past 24 Rounds:

1. Maverick McNealy (25%)
2. Nick Dunlap (+24.5%)
3. Patton Kizzire (+24.5%)
4. Justin Lower (+24.3%)
5. Sean O’Hair (+24%)

4. Course History

This statistic will show us who’s played well at TPC Deere Run over their past 36 rounds. 

Proximity 125-150 Over Past 36 Rounds

1. Bud Cauley (+1.88)
2. Greyson Sigg (+1.86)
3. Alex Smalley (+1.76)
4. Lucas Glover (+1.69)
5. Maverick McNealy (+1.67)

5. Strokes Gained: Putting (Midwest Bentgrass)

With green in regulation percentages definitively higher at TPC Deere Run than the average TOUR stop, the winner will likely be determined by who can catch the hottest putter.

SG: Putting (Bentgrass) over Past 24 rounds

1. Brandt Snedeker (+1.12)
2. J.T. Poston (+1.04)
3. Callum Tarren (+.84)
4. Beau Hossler (+0.83)
5. Denny McCarthy (+0.83)

The John Deere Classic Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the six key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: App (27%), Birdie or Better (18%), SG: Putting Midwest Bent (19.5%) Strokes Gained: Total on Easy Courses (15.8%), and Course History (15.8%).

1. Patton Kizzire
2. Keith Mitchell
3. Sungjae Im
4. Maverick McNealy
5. Michael Kim
6. Kelly Kraft
7. Sam Ryder
8. Daniel Berger
9. Greyson Sigg
10. Seamus Power

2024 John Deere Classic Picks

Denny McCarthy +3000 (DraftKings)

Denny McCarthy has yet to win on the PGA Tour but has multiple close calls, including a playoff loss at the Valero Texas Open earlier this year. The 31-year-old has shown that he can contend at courses where distance off the tee isn’t a prerequisite, and that will be the case once again at TPC Deere Run.

McCarthy is an excellent putter, and the John Deere Classic is an event where a hot putter can carry a player to victory. Denny has had some solid results at the course, finishing in a tie for 6th in each of the past two years. In his five trips to TPC Deere Run, McCarthy has gained more than two strokes putting in four them.

While the putter is extremely consistent for McCarthy, the rest of his game is up and down. In his most recent start at the Travelers Championship, he gained 2.88 strokes on approach, which was the most he’s gained in the category since his runner-up in Texas. A repeat iron performance this week would surely be enough to get him into contention in a weak field.

McCarthy has two playoff losses in his career to two incredibly talented players in Viktor Hovland and Akshay Bhatia. The fact that he hasn’t won yet is a bit unlucky. If he gets in the mix again, I could see the third time being the charm for McCarthy.

Nick Dunlap +4000 (DraftKings)

The John Deere Classic has been an excellent spot for up-and-coming players and Nick Dunlap certainly fits the bill. The 20-year-old won the American Express earlier this season and is beginning to look more and more comfortable as a PGA Tour player.

Last week, Dunlap struck the ball brilliantly. He gained 5.1 strokes on approach and 3.2 strokes off the tee on his way to a tied for 1oth place finish at Detroit Golf Club. Over his past 24 rounds, he ranks 2nd in birdie or better percentage and 1st in the field in Strokes Gained: Total on courses with easy scoring conditions.

Dunlap’s victory earlier this season at -29 showed that if a “birdie fest” breaks out, he has the skill set to take advantage and go low at TPC Deere Run.

Beau Hossler +6000 (FanDuel)

It’s been an inconsistent year thus far for Beau Hossler, but he’s begun to show life over his past handful of starts. Last week at Detroit Golf Club, the former Texas Longhorn put forth one of his better ball striking weeks of the season. He ranked 16th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and 10th in the field in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green. Hossler was disappointing with the putter, which is unusual as he’s typically one of the better putters on the PGA Tour. Therefore, I’d expect some positive regression in that category this week at TPC Deere Run.

In his three starts at the John Deere Classic, Hossler has finished in a tie for 26th in two of them, missing the cut in the other. He’s gained strokes putting in all three starts, showing he has a good feel for the greens at Deere Run. Once a highly regarded prospect, the now 29-year-old is the type of player who will need to rely on a hot putting week to finally break through.

Hossler doesn’t have the ball speed and power that many of the up-and-coming stars on the PGA Tour have, making it difficult for him to compete at the longer tracks on the schedule. TPC Deere Run is a course where accuracy and putting can theoretically carry him to his first career victory.

Jhonnatan Vegas +9000 (FanDuel)

It’s been a long road back to health for Jhonnatan Vegas. The 39-year-old has been battling right arm issues (first elbow, then shoulder) for the better part of two years, but finally seems to be making significant progress on his return to full strength.

Last week, Vegas began to look like his former self. The Venezuelan ranked 5th for the week in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking at Detroit Golf Club. He gained 4.3 strokes on approach and 3.1 strokes off the tee.

After his Friday round, Vegas was asked how he was feeling.  “Maybe I’m not feeling a 100% yet, but I’m seeing a lot of improvements, which is what I like.” Of course, I’d rather hear he was 100%, but the fact that he said he is feeling better combined with his best ball striking week in years is enough for me to take a chance on him.

The Venezuelan has had some success at TPC Deere Run. He finished T3 in 2014 and T11 in 2021. If he takes another step forward this week, he could find himself in contention and revitalize his career.

Neal Shipley +11000 (FanDuel)

Neal Shipley turned professional a few weeks ago but has been turning heads since the U.S. Open. After getting into two majors this year as a result of his runner-up finish at the 2023 U.S. Amateur, he finished as low amateur in both the Masters (T54) and the U.S. Open (T26).

Last week, Shipley finished in a tie for 20th at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and ranked 6th for the week in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green. He gained 5.1 strokes on approach and .8 strokes off the tee. He also ranked 6th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green but really struggled with the putter, ranking 69th. The 23-year-old is typically a pretty solid putter, so I’d expect a bounce back performance this week.

The John Deere Classic has historically been a solid spot for up-and-coming talents, and Shipley has a chance to make a name for himself this week at TPC Deere Run.

Troy Merritt +22000 (FanDuel)

Troy Merritt once again showed up last week at a spot in Detroit Golf Club that’s been kind to him over the years. He’s also been pretty good at TPC Deere Run. He has two top-20 finishes at the course including a T17 last season.

Merritt has quietly been finding some form of late. He’s gained strokes on approach in three straight events. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 18th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach. Last week, he finished in a tie for 17th, which was his best finish since the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May.

This is simply a value play on Merritt, as I believe he is priced at about 50 points higher than he should be.

Harry Higgs +30000 (FanDuel)

Harry Higgs has been scorching hot of late. In May, he won in back-to-back starts on the Korn Ferry Tour at the Advent Health Championship and Visit Knoxville Open. A few weeks ago, he finished 4th at the Compliance Solutions Championship.

Higgs hasn’t had much success at TPC Deere Run, but he also hasn’t come into the event with any form until this season. He’s typically been at his best in birdie fests and ranks 23rd in the field in Birdie or Better percentage over his past 24 rounds.

At 300-1, it’s worth seeing if the 32-year-old can keep the heater going.