Johnson among leaders at rainy event
SILVIS, ILL . Going head-to-head with the first Olympics golf competition in 112 years wasn’t the only thing working against the John Deere Classic this year. The PGA Tour stop, moved off its usual July dates for its 46th staging because of the Olympics, also encountered weather problems.
Thursday’s first round was marred by a 3-hour, 22-minute rain delay before any of the 156 starters finished. Play resumed in the late afternoon, but players with afternoon tee times were on the course when darkness set in. They’ll have to finish their rounds Friday before the second round begins, and the weather forecast suggests another tough day at TPC Deere Run.
The Olympics and bad weather aside, the Classic has one thing going for it. Popular Zach Johnson is a clubhouse leader.
Johnson was in the featured first pairing with other past champions Steve Stricker and Brian Harman. Johnson, who is also on the tournament’s board of directors, was by far the best of that trio. He posted a 6-under-par 65 to share the first-round lead with Ryan Moore and Patrick Rodgers among the players who were able to complete their first rounds. Stricker, a JDC champion three times, shot 70, and Harman posted a 71.
Scott Brown also reached 6-under among the morning starters, but he made bogey on his last hole in the threesome that finished immediately after Johnson’s group. Brown, who needed only 25 putts, was joined at 66 by Scott Pinckney.
Andrew Loupe was the best of the afternoon starters, getting to the top of the leaderboard at 8-under after 14 holes before darkness halted play.
Johnson, who has six top-three finishes in 14 John Deere appearances, started his round at No. 10 and finished that side with four birdies on the last five holes, setting the stage for his 29th round in the 60s at TPC Deere Run since 2009, most of any golfer.
“I’m excited for the week,” said Johnson, who assessed his round as solid. “It’s a little bizarre playing this week rather than in July, but it’s never a bad time to be in the Quad Cities (the term that accompanies the nearby bigger cities of Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa).”
Johnson had played 12 holes when play was stopped.
“I used it to relax. I ate something. I worked out a little to keep myself loose,” he said. “It’s not ideal, but we’re used to it. You’ve just got to roll with it.”
Rodgers had three holes left when play was stopped. He went to his car and listened to music with friends until play resumed.
“The difficulty of the break was what it was,” he said. “It’s a little challenging, not knowing when you’re going back out.”
“The stop definitely through me off a little,” Moore said. “My restart wasn’t too good, but I finished with a 30-footer.”