2026 John Deere Classic Sleeper Picks: Bet on Eric Cole, Jacob Bridgeman at TPC Deere Run
The John Deere Classic gives second-tier PGA Tour players a real chance to win while many international stars and top names turn their focus toward the Open Championship. With TPC Deere Run known for low scoring and birdie runs, this week’s sleeper board offers value deeper down the odds list.
Peter Alexis - July 1, 2026, 5:30 PM EDT
4 Minute Read2026 John Deere Classic Sleepers: Can Eric Cole, Jacob Bridgeman Excel at TPC Deere Run on July 4th Weekend?
The John Deere Classic takes place July 2-5 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, one of the most reliable birdie-fest stops on the PGA Tour schedule. The timing matters, as many top international players and major-contending stars are either taking the week off or preparing in Europe ahead of the Open Championship.
That opens the door for typical second-tier PGA Tour names to contend. This is not a field where one elite favorite towers over everyone else, and the course rewards players who can make birdies in bunches, putt well on Bentgrass and stay aggressive for four rounds.
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2026 Travelers Championship Odds
2026 John Deere Classic Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Thursday, July 2nd - Sunday, July 5th, 2026
- Time: 7:00 AM ET
- Where to Watch: Golf Channel, CBS
Click here for complete 2026 John Deere Classic Odds
3 Best John Deere Classic Sleepers
Jacob Bridgeman (+3000) Check out the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Bridgeman is one of the better course-history sleepers on the board. He finished T5 at the John Deere Classic last year and did it with four rounds in the 60s, which is exactly the type of profile needed at TPC Deere Run.
The recent form also keeps him interesting. Bridgeman has been uneven since his Genesis Invitational win earlier this season, but he still posted a T11 at the RBC Canadian Open and made the weekend at the U.S. Open with a T39 finish. Those are stronger-field results than what he will see this week.
At +3000, the appeal is that Bridgeman already proved he can go low here. In a weaker field, with a course that fits his scoring profile, he does not need a career-best week to contend. He just needs to recreate the same TPC Deere Run comfort he showed a year ago.
Eric Cole (+3300) Check out the best odds at BetMGM Sportsbook
Cole is the required sleeper target because this course fits his scoring upside. He finished T7 at the John Deere Classic in 2024 at 21-under, opening with a 62 and adding a 64 on Saturday, which showed how dangerous he can be when his putter heats up.
His recent form also has enough flashes to justify another look. Cole opened the Travelers Championship with a 7-under 63 and held the first-round lead, eventually finishing T38 after cooling off over the weekend. That kind of volatility can be frustrating, but it also matters at a course where one hot round can immediately put a player in contention.
The concern is closing. Cole is still chasing his first PGA Tour win and has had plenty of weeks where he starts fast but cannot fully finish the job. Still, at +3300 in a softer field, his TPC Deere Run history and recent low-round ability make him one of the best pure sleeper plays on the board.
Denny McCarthy (+6200) Check out the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
McCarthy is the deeper course-history play. He has finished 11th or better in each of his last four John Deere Classic appearances, which is exactly the kind of repeated venue comfort that matters when looking beyond the top of the board.
He also enters with some current momentum after a T12 finish at the Travelers. McCarthy’s game is built around short game, putting and mistake avoidance, and that can work at TPC Deere Run if he gives himself enough birdie looks. This event often turns into a putting contest, and few players in this range are easier to trust on the greens.
The reason he is +6200 is that winning equity is always the question. McCarthy can stack strong finishes and still struggle to separate on Sunday. But in a wide-open field missing many of the sport’s biggest names, his course history is too strong to ignore at this price.
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