The 2023 John Deere Classic is set to commence this week, with a host of players vying for a share of the $7,400,000 purse. The tournament has seen its fair share of winners in the past, but which players are in the running for a victory at the TPC Deere Run this season?

Furthermore, with the defending champion in the field, will a former winner make another leap in his PGA Tour trophy count?

Power rankings at the 2023 John Deere Classic

While some of the high-profile names will be in action this week, a few have been making waves for quite some time. Among them is Englishman Callum Tarren, whose driving distance could be a threat at the TPC Deere Run. The 32-year-old is among the best in the field in terms of club head speed and approach shots.

However, he could be wary of his own form. Tarren has finished in the top 10 merely once this season, with inconsistency turning out to be his biggest enemy.

Apart from him, Eric Cole seems to be another contender at the event. The Californian has an eye for birdies and eagles, which has helped him to decent finishes in recent events. The 35-year-old has played at the tournament before, when he missed the cut at one-over par in 2021.

Furthermore, Adam Schenk looks like another hot prospect for the title. While his form has been inconsistent of late, flashes of brilliance have helped him log top-10 finishes this season. He even secured a T4 finish at the 2021 edition of the tournament.

Elsewhere, Canadian golfer Adam Hadwin seems to have gotten a second wind. The 35-year-old recently took some assessment from his wife, which has undoubtedly worked wonders.

A one-time PGA Tour winner, Hadwin nearly made it two at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Unfortunately, he eventually settled for a T2 finish. He lost the battle in a playoff, but in a weaker field at the TPC Deere Run, the Canadian can work wonders.

Finally, talk about 30-year-old Denny McCarthy, who has been the nearly-man over the last few competitions. Indeed, he finished runner-up at the Memorial Tournament before securing another top-10 finish at the Travelers Championship.

Encouragingly, his stats speak glowingly. McCarthy has been one of the best putters on the Tour, ranking fourth in strokes gained while putting. He also ranks among the higher echelons in other areas, which gives hope for a maiden PGA Tour triumph.

Prize money at the 2023 John Deere Classic

This year’s purse at the John Deere Classic has been adjusted for a slight bump. With the purse standing at $7.4 million this year, players could hope for a better balance and a good performance this weekend.

The winner of the tournament will receive a paycheck worth $1,332,000.

Who won the last edition of the John Deere Classic?

30-year-old J.T. Poston triumphed last year at the TPC River Highlands, marking only his second win on the PGA Tour. The ‘Postman’ won despite a lowly two-under par in the final round.

Who do you think will win the John Deere Classic this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Watch This Story | Weeks after Greg  Norman’s LIV ladies series comment, LGPA Commissioner clears the air on rumors: ‘We’re really bullish