John Deere Classic 2026: Round 1 Pairings Set as Spieth Seeks Long-Awaited Win No. 14

Spieth Eyes First Win in Four-Plus Years

The 2026 John Deere Classic kicks off Thursday, July 2 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. All eyes will be on Jordan Spieth, who hasn't lifted a PGA Tour trophy since the 2022 RBC Heritage — a drought of more than four years.

Spieth has shown promising signs this season, recording eight top-25 finishes including two T11 and two T12 results. But the conversion from contention to victory has remained elusive.

Why This Course Sets Up Well for Spieth

Spieth is a two-time John Deere champion (2013, 2015), giving him deep course knowledge at TPC Deere Run. Comfort with a layout often translates into the kind of relaxed execution that unlocks wins for players working through prolonged droughts.

His Round 1 grouping: - 8:35 a.m. ET off No. 10 - Alongside Ben Griffin and Jackson Koivun

Japanese Players in the Field

Ryo Hisatsune tees off at 8:46 a.m. ET, while Keita Nakajima and Gordon Sargent are grouped together at 2:51 p.m. ET — a pairing worth tracking for Japanese golf fans.

Strokeslab Perspective

From a Strokes Gained lens, Spieth's path to a win likely runs through SG: Putting and SG: APP consistency. TPC Deere Run's fast greens reward precise iron play and confident putting — exactly the areas where Spieth has historically excelled at this venue.