John Deere Classic: Steve Palmer's halfway analysis, third-round tips

Sky Sports Golf red button, 6pm Saturday

Jhonattan Vegas arrived at the John Deere Classic having missed his last three cuts and was chalked up as a 70-1 chance, but the Venezuelan leads at the halfway stage and has been slashed to 4-1.

Vegas fired a second-round 62 to reach 13 under par, enough for a one-shot advantage over Andrew Landry, while Lucas Glover carded an albatross in a 64 which claimed third spot.

The low scoring is set to continue over the weekend at arguably the easiest venue on the US Tour schedule, so the chasing pack will all be looking to register their own round in the low-60s.

Sam Burns, Cameron Champ and Jason Dufner have all run their race – they missed the cut – but even those who qualified by a shot, ten behind, will not have entirely given up.

Matt Wolff, who won the 3M Open last week in spectacular fashion, made the cut by just three shots in the 3M and was eight shots behind after 36 holes. Wolff has set himself a similar weekend mission from nine shots adrift of Vegas at TPC Deere Run.

More realistic title contenders, if Vegas fails to sustain this sudden return to form, are Russell Henley (18-1), one of the best putters in the world, dual St Jude Classic champion Daniel Berger (11-1), former John Deere champions Brian Harman and Ryan Moore (both 33-1), and rising star Doc Redman (66-1). All five are close enough if good enough.

Third-round twoball punters are pointed towards Harman, who appears to have rediscovered his A-game and is competing at a venue he adores. Harman can see off Bud Cauley in the 5.41pm contest, while Moore, who is skipping next week's Open because his wife is due to give birth, can do likewise to Chris Stroud in the 5.14pm match.

Recommendations
B Harman to win twoball
2pts 19-20 Coral, Ladbrokes

R Moore to win twoball
2pts 8-13 general

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