Golf best bets: 3 outright bets to target for the John Deere Classic

The PGA Tour rolls on to Illinois this week for the 2023 John Deere Classic, and if you're not a diehard golf fan, this would be the week to take off and spend some time with the family. Only four of the top 40 players in the OWGR are in the field at TPC Deere Run this week, making this arguably the weakest field of the entire season. World No. 34 Denny McCarthy is the betting favorite at +1400, while Cameron Young (+1600), Russell Henley (+1800), Ludvig Aberg (+2000), and Adam Hadwin (+2200) round out the top five. 

We may not be watching much of the John Deere Classic this week, but that doesn't mean we can't bet on it. Here are the three outright I clicked submit on when the odds opened up Monday morning.

Eric Cole (+3300 BetMGM)

Eric Cole has been knocking on the door of his first PGA Tour win all season, and this is the perfect week for him to break through. The 35-year-old is on fire with his irons and his putter, as he's gained strokes on approach in nine of his last 10 starts and gained strokes putting in four straight. I think Cole should be priced lower in this weak field, so give me the 33/1. 

Taylor Montgomery (+5000 BetMGM)

Like the Rocket Mortgage Classic, the John Deere Classic is going to be a low-scoring birdie fest. Ten of the last 13 winners at TPC Deere Run finished at 20 under par or better. That brings us to Taylor Montgomery, who ranks ninth on the PGA Tour this season in birdie average (4.27 percent). The rookie struggles off the tee and with his irons, but he ranks second on Tour in strokes gained: putting and first in putting from 10-15 feet. This tournament is essentially a putting contest, so I'll take a chance on the best putter in the field. 

Cameron Champ (+12500 BetMGM)

Look, Cameron Champ has been abysmal all season. He's missed 15 cuts in 20 starts and has lost strokes to the field 17 times in his last 18. There's no statistical argument to be made that Champ will even make the cut this week, but this is a three-time PGA Tour winner in one of the weaker fields you'll ever see in a standalone tournament. Champ plays his best golf in birdies fests, too, so this is worth a sprinkle on a proven winner.