Francesco Molinari should be too good for American duo

Round two
Starts 1.10pm Friday, live on Sky Sports Golf from 9pm

Steve Wheatcroft holds a one-shot lead heading into the second round of the John Deere Classic after posting a nine-under-par 62 on Thursday.

Available at 250-1 prior to the tournament, Wheatcroft is now a 28-1 shot to claim a first PGA Tour title and a late invitation to next week's Open Championship at Carnoustie.

Italian Francesco Molinari is the 4-1 tournament favourite after firing an opening 64 to lie two shots off the pace set by veteran Wheatcroft.

Molinari, aiming for a second win in as many weeks, looks a worthy favourite to win the 1.50pm threeball against Austin Cook and Scott Piercy.

The Italian's US playing partners were only able to get within five shots of him in round one and given his current form, Molinari should exert his class over Cook and Piercy again.

Of the later matches, veteran Steve Stricker looks a value bet to get the better of Zach Johnson and Wesley Bryan in the 7.10pm contest.

Stricker made TPC Deere Run his own between 2009 and 2011 with three consecutive victories and that intimate knowledge of the course should help the metronomic putter have another solid week.

Recommendations
F Molinari to win 1.50pm threeball
3pts 4-5 general
S Stricker to win 7.10pm threeball
1pt 9-5 BoyleSports

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