2023 John Deere Classic: Top 10 Power Rankings at TPC Deere Run

Denny McCarthy is one of the top names that come to mind when thinking of PGA Tour players poised to break out for their first win.

He’s come tantalizingly close in his half-decade on the PGA Tour, including as recently as a month or so ago at the Memorial Tournament. McCarthy looked in control with the lead on the back nine on Sunday at Jack’s Place before a late stumble resulted in a solo second-place finish.

Undeterred, McCarthy has continued to play good golf after the heartbreak. He finished T-20th at the U.S. Open at a course in Los Angeles Country Club that didn’t suit his game all that well.

On a better venue for him in TPC River Highlands, McCarthy improved to T-7th at the Travelers Championship.

With a week off last week, McCarthy looks like a great pick to be rested and ready to contend at the John Deere Classic.

The former Virginia Cavalier has a decent history at TPC Deere Run with T-34th (65-69-66-73) in his debut in 2018 and T-6th (66-65-66-71) in his fourth appearance last year.

Typically an elite putter, he was only 29th in the field in strokes gained putting. He did flash great ball striking, coming in at sixth in SG approach and ninth in SG tee-to-green. McCarthy hit all 18 greens in round three.

He was probably frustrated he didn’t go lower than a 66 given all the birdie looks one of the top putters in the world had. McCarthy has led the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting in the past, was second in 2021-22 (.818), and is fourth (.784) in 2022-23.

"“Yeah, got to make birdies. Yeah, no other way around it at this place. You can’t just coast around making pars around here,” McCarthy was transcribed by ASAP Sports in 2022."