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Jack Johnson is skipping three majors for the John Deere Classic, and the Iowa native paid for the decision Thursday with an eagle-birdie finish for a seven-under 64 that left him one shot off the lead in Illinois.
Joint leaders Lucas Glover and Jack Blair played in the morning and each posted a 63, a good start for both heading into the final two months on the PGA Tour. Both are outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup.
The British contingent was led by Matt Wallace, who remains in contention at four under after a six-birdie and two-bogey 67 after finishing runner-up at the Italian Open last week.
Matt Wallace remains in contention after the first round
Johnson, 50 in his first year on the PGA Tour Champions and already with two wins, has considered nothing more than the John Deere Classic — even with the U.S. Senior Open at Scioto, Ohio, this week.
He used his putter off the green for a 45-foot eagle on the 17th and closed out his round with a shot to within 12 feet for a closing birdie.
“I love being here, and obviously I’m comfortable,” said Johnson, who won the John Deere Classic in 2012. “My scorecard, I know that’s one element this week, but it’s not everything. I can’t stress it enough. I’m grateful for a partnership with John Deere and feel like a long-time son.”
“Much Affinity, Much Affection.”
Glover, who will be on the PGA Tour board next year, is ranked No. 119 in the FedEx Cup. His exemption from winning back-to-back weeks in 2023 — including a FedEx Cup playoff event — ends later this year. Blair is ranked 160 and is playing where he can with Corn Ferry Tour events.
“Playing golf professionally is stressful, especially for me,” Blair said. So every start is important. Just trying to do a good job to play well, on whatever tour I’m playing. At the end of the day it’s still golf, which is fun.”
Glover began the year recovering from surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder, and putting together a round like his 63 encouraged that good golf is still out there. And it helps to live in a property that brings back good memories.
“Even struggling like I did this year, you pull into the driveway where you’re successful, it gives you a good feeling. Yeah, always liked it here,” Glover said.
Stefan Jaeger and Lee Hodges join Johnson at 64. Jaeger is ranked No. 60 at the FedEx Cup, looking to make sure he’s in the top 70 in six weeks to qualify for the postseason.
Jordan Spieth, playing just his second time at Deere after winning in 2015, had a double bogey on the 18th hole midway through his round and closed with a bogey for a 69.
Scoring was good as usual, with 20 players at 66 or under. This included NCAA champion Preston Stout, who took over as world number one amateur as Jackson Koivun turned pro.
Koivun made his professional debut and it was a struggle. He wound up with a 73, putting him in danger of missing the cut.
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