They love their golf and love their tournament at the John Deere Classic at the TPC Deere Run.
They love it more than Brazil loves Olympic golf.
The John Deere drew more spectators and local hero Zach Johnson’s gallery was bigger Thursday than anyone of the 60 competitors in the first round of the Olympic golf event.
Johnson, winner of the 2015 Open Championship, didn’t let his fans down. He opened with a six-under par 65 and has a share of the lead after the first round.
Johnson had a solid six-birdie, no-bogey day. He started on the back nine and midway through his round got hit with a rain delay. He turned four under and added two more coming home.
In with him are Pat Rodgers and Ryan Moore. Rodgers played in the event as an amateur. The Deere likes to invest in young up-and-coming players, often giving them sponsor’s exemptions and Rodgers was one of them. So was a guy named Jordan Spieth.
The field was hit by a three hour, thirty minute rain delay and not everyone finished when darkness halted play.
The first round will resume Friday morning. Andrew Loupe will have a shot at grabbing the first-round lead. He was eight-under par through 14 holes when play was called.
