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This seems to be a course I either play pretty well or I have a bad round, no middle ground.

2026 John Deere Classic - 1st Rd - Pin Position

Not a great start to my tournament week.
My practice session went well, but the round itself did not. Double bogey on 10, bogey on 3, 9,12, and 17, and birdies on 6, 14, 15 and 18.
Out in 36, home in 37 for a 73.
Tomorrow will be better.

Ian

Looks like I am second out today, Ian just beat me.

While I was striking the ball pretty well, my judgement/feel was not the greatest today.

Did not get off to a bad start with a birdie in the first three holes, but I was typically leaving the ball short with both the second shot and long putts and thus putting pressure on myself, the poor feel meant I ended up in a couple of bunkers as well.

So decided early in the round that the best option was to just knuckle down and try to make as few mistakes as possible, no miracle shots, just try to make the next shot as easy as possible with the goal of no bogies or worse, and certainly no water!

It paid off, while not a spectacular round it was a solid one, not a bogie in sight, some good putts for par, but you do need a bit of luck. 2 birdies at #2 & #5 to go out in a 2 under 33. Coming home another two birdies at #16 & #17 to post another 2 under 34, so a solid round of 67.

I think I am looking to just have a solid week, and if I can get on a roll well and good.

Des

Ian tough start there mate, I have found this course can bite in my practice rounds and once it gets it teeth in it does not let go.

Des

Got off to a great start--nice putts for birdie on one and eagle on two. Good long lag putts for par on 3 and 4. A short birdie on 5, and then a 21-yard putt for birdie on 6. After that, I got on the rollercoaster. Lousy distance control on my approaches. Those longish curvy putts I just can't figure out. A bogey here, a birdie there. Anyway, a 31-35 split for a 66. Certainly acceptable.

https://youtu.be/w_SOHWgsg6k?si=X6ZntfBsI5U0mn4B

Held it together well there Doug.

2026 John Deere Classic - 1st Rd

Video link to 1st Rd.
https://youtu.be/GnepUA8ASAs

Kept a clean card for round one but missed a few easy putts. https://youtu.be/26WbWITu8gg

Opening round was a bit of a scorcher both in the weather and on the scorecard, not as good as my practice round 61 (#humblebrag LOL) now I just need to be able to follow it up these next 3 rounds! Started out missing the first green but made par putt, birdie on #2, #4, #6 and #9 to go out in 31 shots, back nine started with a missed makeable birdie putt at #10, rotten 3 putt bogie at #13 only blemish on my card, made birdie at #14, made 45 foot par saving putt at #16, birdie from 5 feet at #17, finished with a par at #18 to come back in in 35 shots. 31-35=66 12 fairways, 12 greens, 25 putts.

Jim