Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Diaz (62) leads Henley, Long at John Deere Classic

Written by 
Published in Golf
Thursday, 11 July 2019 11:23

The scores were predictably low in the opening round of the John Deere Classic, as veterans and young guns alike look to salvage a season or spark some Open momentum. Here's how things stand in the Quad Cities:

Leaderboard: Roberto Diaz (-9), Russell Henley (-7), Adam Long (-7), Martin Laird (-6), Andrew Landry (-6), Vaughn Taylor (-6), Ryan Palmer (-6), Zack Sucher (-6), Ryan Blaum (-6)

What it means: If you want to contend at TPC Deere Run, you've got to go low. Such was the case Thursday, where an otherwise solid 67 left players outside the top 15. The early contenders include a few recent winners, but they're staring up at Diaz, the 32-year-old, second-year Tour pro from Mexico. Henley,  who is in the midst of a lean year and might be saving some of his best golf for just the nick of time, is just two shots back with Long.

Round of the day: Diaz barely cleared 100 FedExCup points in his rookie season on Tour in 2017-18 but kept his card through the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. This season, he is No. 158 in points, so a strong finish this week would be huge – a win would give him a two-year exemption and Masters invite while bumping him to 50th in the FedExCup standings. He started strong Thursday at the Deere, birdieing four of his first five holes and three of his final four. An eagle at the par-5 10th was the highlight in his 9-under 62.

Best of the rest: Henley's two-year exemption for winning the 2017 Houston Open expires next month, and the veteran started the week 165th in points. But he's looking to make a move in the right direction after opening with a 7-under 64, dropping his lone shot of the day on his final hole. Henley has missed four cuts in a row but appears likely to extend his stay through the weekend after a round that included four birdies on each side and 14 greens in regulation. Long broke through for his maiden victory at the Desert Classic in January, but he's been rather quiet since with 11 missed cuts in 17 starts. He's again in the mix after joining Henley at 7 under, rolling in four birdies in a six-hole stretch from Nos. 12-17. It's his lowest round since a pair of 63s led to victory in Palm Springs six months ago.

Biggest disappointment: Tournament regular Zach Johnson had hoped the friendly confines might get his mediocre play turned around, but that wasn't the case in the opening round. Johnson went years without finishing  outside the top 5 at Deere Run, but he's in danger of a rare early exit after opening with a 1-over 72. It marked the first time Johnson shot over par at this event since the third round in 2008, breaking a streak of 40 straight rounds at par or better.

Main storyline heading into Friday: Henley has been known to get streaky with the putter, and he's a proven winner on Tour. After gaining more than 1.5 shots on the field on the greens during the opening round, he's one to keep an eye on heading into Friday. But don't forget about some of the rising stars in the field, including Matthew Wolff who opened with a 4-under 67 in his first round as a Tour winner.

Shot of the day: Hosung Choi gave the Illinois fans reason to cheer when he launched his tee shot on the par-4 14th to within 10 feet. The 324-yard shot set up an eagle, just the second of the day on the hole, and got Choi back to even par as he makes his second career Tour start.

Quote of the day: "Trying to find where the locker room is is new for me." - Long, who continues to adjust in the midst of his rookie season but is now contending for what would be his second win of the year.

Read 439 times

Soccer

Amorim: My Man United team will play without fear

Amorim: My Man United team will play without fear

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRúben Amorim has told Manchester United fans that his team will pla...

Andrés Iniesta buys Danish team after retirement

Andrés Iniesta buys Danish team after retirement

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFormer Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andrés Iniesta has become the...

Amorim: Not weighed down by Man Utd's history

Amorim: Not weighed down by Man Utd's history

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRúben Amorim has said he doesn't feel "the weight" of Manchester Un...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Jokic (personal) out for Denver's NBA Cup opener

Jokic (personal) out for Denver's NBA Cup opener

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThree-time league MVP Nikola Jokic will miss the Denver Nuggets' NB...

'It was for the better': How Ja Morant and the Grizzlies turned last season's woes into success

'It was for the better': How Ja Morant and the Grizzlies turned last season's woes into success

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJA MORANT DROVE the length of the court, kissed a hanging floater o...

Baseball

FanDuel, MLBPA settle player likenesses lawsuit

FanDuel, MLBPA settle player likenesses lawsuit

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMajor League Baseball's players union settled a lawsuit that accuse...

Sims to replace Sterling as Yankees radio voice

Sims to replace Sterling as Yankees radio voice

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Dave Sims is replacing John Sterling as Suzyn Waldman's...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated