John Deere Classic 2025 FRL Tips: Three to go low on Thursday

The John Deere Classic begins on Thursday, and our golf tipster Jamie Worsley has identified a trio of players with the potential to set the early pace at TPC Deere Run.

You can check out his John Deere Classic FRL Tips below...

*You can read Jamie's full in-depth John Deere Classic 2025 Betting Preview behind the link.

Round one of the John Deere Classic takes place tomorrow, and it’s going to take a barrage of birdies to end the opening day on top of the leaderboard. However, one half of the draw may well have the advantage.

It is forecast to be bright and warm throughout the first round, and with nothing but a gentle 6mph breeze early on, the morning starters couldn’t ask for better conditions. The wind speeds pick up around midday, just as the afternoon wave begin their rounds, with a constant, stiff 11mph predicted for much of the afternoon, and gusts approaching 15mph.

This, along with the fact that each of the last three first-round leaders at TPC Deere Run teed off in the morning, means I'll be focusing solely on those heading out early on Thursday.

1 pt Denny McCarthy each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 45/1

Start time: 06:56

Denny McCarthy has been the strongest first-round performer in this field over the last three months. When we combine that with his continually excellent performances at TPC Deere Run in recent years, he makes a lot of sense in this market from his early start time.

McCarthy is playing the best golf of his career in 2025. He hasn’t missed a single cut in 16 starts and has recorded eight top-20 finishes, the most recent of which came last time out in the Travelers Championship, finishing 12^th.

He remains one of the strongest putters on tour, ranking 6^th in this field. That being said, it’s his approach play that has particularly caught my attention – an area in which he has shown much improvement this year, ranking 20^th, and he arrives here after a strong showing with the clubs in the Travelers, ranking 13^th.

The American began the year in excellent first-round form, hitting the front on day one at both the Sony Open and Genesis Invitational. He has continued to find fast starts, opening with an eight-under 62 to finish day one in 2^nd place at the Truist Championship five starts ago.

McCarthy has really took to this course in recent years, recording consecutive finishes of 6-6-7 in his last three visits. He is also a perennially quick starter here, picking up four first-round top-10s in six starts overall, and he has shot 11 rounds of 66 or better.

1 pt Jake Knapp each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 50/1

Start time: 07:40

Jake Knapp has returned to the low-scoring form of earlier in the season recently, firing a 61 and a 63 in his last two events. He began solidly at TPC Deere Run on debut last year, despite struggling for form at the time, and can make an even better start this week with his game now in a much better place.

Knapp has produced many quality performances this season, including a 12^th-place finish in THE PLAYERS Championship – one of six top-25s. Although, it is last week’s finish of 4^th in the Rocket Classic that is his standout result of the year.

He’s a player that can take it seriously low when he gets going and we saw that in action in Detroit, as he fired a superb 11-under 61 in round two to break the course record. He also started with a seven-under 63 on his previous start in the Canadian Open, and who can forget his incredible 59 at PGA National earlier in the season.

Knapp shot a five-under 66 in his first ever round at this course last year, before eventually slipping to a 52^nd-place finish. However, his game has improved considerably since then – gaining strokes with his ball-striking and the putter this season – and if he’s in the mood tomorrow morning, there’s no player more likely to add another 59 in this event.

0.75 pts Jackson Suber each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 80/1

Start time: 08:13

Jackson Suber has found form with his irons and putter of late, which has engineered upgraded results and some strong starts. He showed that he isn’t afraid of going low on the Korn Ferry Tour last season and can take advantage of his early tee time to hit the front on day one.

Suber suggested he was close to finding form at the Charles Schwab Challenge three starts ago, where his seven-under 63 in round two was the joint-lowest round of the week. He carried that over into his next start in Canada, firing four rounds in the 60s to finish 18^th and improved further last week, getting to 20-under-par to finish 6^th in the Rocket Classic.

His approach play and putting have been sharp in those two most recent starts, ranking in the top 20 in each area across both – exactly what’s needed on a course that requires low scoring. He’s also opened strongly, sitting inside the top 20 after round one in his last two events.

Suber fired impressively low rounds of 60 and 62 on the Korn Ferry Tour last season. With the state of his game currently, and arriving in possession of a heightened level of confidence, he is a lively contender to claim the first-round lead tomorrow.

You can find all Jamie's latest Golf Betting Tips over on our dedicated golf Insights hub.