Round 3, John Deere Classic

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Jul. 12, 2009
By PGATOUR.COM staff

The first groups are ready to tee off in today's third round of the John Deere Classic. Here's how it sets up:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
8:15 a.m. CT No. 1		Darron Stiles, Steve Stricker, Tim Petrovic Stiles has a three-stroke lead, but Stricker shot 61 Saturday. It's one hot group.
8:06 a.m. CT No. 1		Jerry Kelly, Ryan Palmer, Brandt Snedeker Kelly shot 9 under Saturday at a course he always plays well, and Snedeker is feeling good again.
7:12 a.m. CT No. 1		Ken Duke, Kenny Perry, Spencer Levin Don't count the defending champion out. He's eight strokes back, but he has 36 to play.

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent Brett Wright previews Sunday's third round:

Darron Stiles has won four Nationwide Tour events and is the leading career money winner on that Tour with well over $1 million. He has played in over 100 PGA TOUR events, so even though you may not know his name, he is no rookie.

Stiles has played with all these guys many times. He says he has a new comfort level out here on TOUR. He travels with his wife Kim in a motorcoach that is a home-away-from-home. He is working with PGA Professional Mike Breed on his putting. He said Mike has helped him to "stop thinking" while on the course and "just let it happen." I look for Darron to come out playing aggresively in Round 3 in the same grouping as five-time winner Steve Stricker, who is three strokes back, and one-time winner Tim Petrovic, who is four back. There is a logjam of players six, seven and eight shots behind Stiles, but this is Stiles' tournament to win or lose. He has his destiny in his golf bag right now.

Lurking behind Stiles is Stricker -- a very streaky player -- and he is playing great; he tied the tournament record with a 10-under 61 in Round 2. He will have to force Stiles' hand by making birdies early. Also chasing in the last few groups will be Petrovic, Ryan Palmer, Brandt Snedeker, Jerry Kelly and Scott Verplank to name a few. All these players know how to win. Never count out one of the hottest players on TOUR in Matt Bettencourt -- who has finished no worse than tied for 50th in his last five starts, including two top 10s. He is six shots back.

Snedeker has been working with PGA Professional Todd Anderson from Sea Island, Ga. His injuries from the first part of the season are now gone, and he told me that he and his caddie Scott are really starting to have fun on the course again. His last two tournaments have yielded ties for 45th (Travelers Championship) and fifth (AT&T National). Look for the man with red hair from Tennessee to post some red numbers on Sunday.

If Stiles cannot get something going early, this could be a 20-player shootout on a golf course that's drying out and becoming a little more firm. The greens are still moist, and with little wind, the best players this week will all be flag hunting and making birdies in wholesale fashion. You will not want to miss Sunday's 36-hole finish.

Stat of the day

Prior to Saturday's 29 on the back nine (Stricker's first nine), Stricker has had two other 29s in his career; the most recent came at the 2001 U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee.

The Film Room

	PGA TOUR Today Win McMurry updates action from the second round of the 2009 John Deere Classic and previews what to watch for Sunday. Watch it
	Shot of the Day Steve Stricker drains his approach on the par-5 17th for eagle during the second round of the 2009 John Deere Classic. Watch it
	Round 2 highlights The second round of the John Deere Classic finally gets under way with Steve Stricker shooting a course-record 61 and Darron Stiles taking the lead into Sunday. Watch it

Thus far at TPC Deere Run

Round	Leader	Low round (par 71)	Key links
	Lee Janzen, Darron Stiles (-7)	64: Lee Janzen, Darron Stiles	Daily Wrap-Up \| Live Report Transcript archive \| Notebook
	Darron Stiles (-13)	61: Steve Stricker	Daily Wrap-Up \| Live Report Transcript archive \| Notebook