Deere Season Drama — Breaking Down the 2025 John Deere Classic Through 54 Holes
As the dust settles on Moving Day at TPC Deere Run, the 2025 John Deere Classic is shaping up to be a Sunday showdown loaded with scoring potential and league implications. With a modest purse of $8.4 million and 500 FedEx Cup Points on the line, the stakes may not be major-level, but in Golf’s Greatest Gamble, the side action and leaderboard shakeups are very real.
Let’s dive into the leaderboard, examine the league selections, and look ahead to what promises to be a thrilling final round.
Leaderboard Highlights (Thru 3 Rounds)
Davis Thompson has been the man to beat through three rounds, following up a scorching 63 on Friday with a bogey-free 67 on Saturday. Sitting at -18, he’s firmly in control and chasing his second win of the season. With precision iron play and a putter that’s stayed hot all week, Thompson is the odds-on favorite heading into Sunday.
Hot on his heels is Chris Gotterup, who has quietly put together rounds of 66-69-67 to sit just a couple strokes back. Gotterup is still searching for his first PGA Tour victory, but with his blend of power and confidence, he’s more than capable of running down the leader on Sunday.
Also in the mix:
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Lucas Glover (-11): A late Saturday push keeps the veteran in the hunt, despite a shaky opening round.
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Kurt Kitayama (-12): Three steady rounds have him within striking distance.
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Denny McCarthy (-12): His putter is always dangerous, and he’s lurking.
GGG League Selections Recap
Of the 20+ picks this week, a number of popular names failed to even reach the weekend, creating a rare opening for less conventional picks to score big. Here's how things are shaping up for Golf’s Greatest Gamble participants:
Big Misses (MC Hammer Time):
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Tom Kim (OWGR 58): A surprise early exit at -4, falling just one shot short of the cut. Brutal beat.
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Jason Day: Despite a Friday 66, his 74 on Thursday proved too costly.
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JT Poston & Ben Griffin: Disappointing showings for players with prior success here.
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Aaron Wise: Missed cut at even par — a risky pick that didn’t pay off.
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Luke Clanton & Sami Valimaki: Both at -3 or -2, close but no dice.
Alive and Thriving:
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Davis Thompson: A sharp pick that looks like it could swing the week in a big way.
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Chris Gotterup: Currently the highest-upside contrarian pick in the mix — a win would change the season.
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Lucas Glover: Quietly trending up. He’s been here before and could post early.
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Denny McCarthy & Kurt Kitayama: Consistent scorers who will likely bring home solid payouts.
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Eric Cole & Jake Knapp: Hovering around the top 20 — solid floor, but unlikely to win without a Sunday surge.
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Chris Kirk: A third-round 79 torpedoed a strong opening effort. Ouch.
Sunday Storylines & Predictions
Can Davis Thompson close? He’s held the lead before on Saturdays only to falter late. But this time, his game looks more polished and composed.
Will Gotterup or McCarthy go low early and apply pressure? Both have the firepower to post a 63 or 64. Don’t be surprised if one of them sets the clubhouse target and makes Thompson sweat.
Best Bet to Leapfrog the Field: Lucas Glover. He’s trending in the right direction and has the veteran savvy to go deep on a Sunday when others tighten up.
Dark Horse Watch: Michael Thorbjornsen — the Stanford standout carded a Friday 65 and could vault into the top 10 with another solid round.
League Prediction:
If Thompson holds on, it’s a game-changer for any team that picked him. But if Gotterup wins? That might be the single biggest value pick of the season.
Expect some leaderboard chaos late in the day, and with Side Action Week 4 in play, there’s more than just bragging rights up for grabs.
Projected Top 3 League Picks by Value (if standings hold):
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Davis Thompson
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Chris Gotterup
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Kurt Kitayama
Final Thought:
Whether you're chasing leaderboard glory or dodging the Sutton Fine, Sunday at the John Deere Classic has all the ingredients for a memorable finish. Buckle up — we’re in for a wild ride in Silvis.
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