Preview and Predictions for the 2015 John Deere Classic

Brian Harman won last year's John Deere Classic with a flock of birdies down the stretch, holding off a surging Zach Johnson.

Sitting in the top 10 in his first-ever title defense was none other than Jordan Spieth. Would he be a one-hit wonder? The answer would be a resounding "no."

So that brings us to the 2015 JDC in Silvis, Illinois, for Harman's defense against Spieth, now a two-time major champion, and Johnson, a previous winner of this tournament. The three golfers represent the past three winners of this event.

This is the U.S. table-setter to next week's Open Championship. Let's see how it could shake out.

Where to Watch and Tournament Info

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Defending Champion: Brian Harman

Where

TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois

7,257 yards, Par 71

What

Total Purse: $4,700,000

Winning Share: $846,000

FedEx Points to Winner: 500

When

Thursday-Friday

4-7 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

Saturday-Sunday

1-2:30 p.m. ET, Golf Channel; 3-6 p.m. ET, CBS

The Biggest Storylines

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

Jordan Spieth Makes His Return

Way back in 2013, Jordan Spieth was this winless, ambitious 19-year-old who had been a pro golfer for just seven months. He then became the youngest golfer to win a tournament on the PGA Tour in 82 years at this very tournament.

"I didn't think it would happen this early," Spieth said, according to ESPN.com. "I had a plan. I guess the plan got exceeded."

He could say the same thing of his season to date as he makes his first return to competitive golf since winning the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

Spieth's steroidic strokes gained tee-to-green (1.615) and strokes gained total (2.155) pave the way to a possible return to the JDC winner's circle.

The Past Three John Deere Classic Winners Take Aim

Zach Johnson (2012), Jordan Spieth (2013) and Brian Harman (2014) all shoot for a second career John Deere Classic trophy.

Spieth was just 19 when he earned his first career win, and Harman was an ancient 26 when he won this event in 2014, also his first win.

Johnson, well, he's the most seasoned but no longer the most accomplished. That honor goes to Spieth and his green jacket and U.S. Open trophy.

This year's field is fairly weak, so the likely winner should surface from this threesome.

Rory McIlroy Busts Up His Ankle

It's not a storyline directly related to the John Deere Classic, but its magnitude is worth mentioning here: Rory McIlroy nuked his ankle playing soccer with his mates.

The injury's severity isn't known as of yet, but it was a ruptured ligament that could, and likely will, threaten his Open Championship title defense.

Kevin Maguire, a senior golf editor for ESPN.com, said:

"

Not only is it bad with three big defenses coming up (I'm tossing August's WGC-Bridgestone in there, too), but most of the top-tier golfers that play in the United States also tend to back-load their season schedules. So counting the Scottish Open, McIlroy would have likely played eight of the next 12 weeks, including the FedEx Cup playoffs. Now much of that is in jeopardy.

"

In the short term, yes, his title defenses and his ability to extinguish some of Spieth's flame are built on a bed of trepidation. In the long term, this could have adverse effects on his swing mechanics. Tiger Woods changed his swing through the years to cope with his tattered physiology.

Perhaps this injury is the just the beginning of McIlroy's battle with health as he exits his mid-20s and gets into the predictably fragile part of any athlete's career.

The Favorites

Stew Milne/Associated Press

Zach Johnson

Zach Johnson heads to Illinois off a solid effort in the Travelers Championship. He took sole position of sixth place on the back of great putting. He was sixth in total strokes gained and putts per green in regulation.

Helen Ross, a senior writer for PGATour.com, wrote, "Zach has finished third or better at the John Deere Classic in five of his last six starts, including a win in 2012. What's not to like?"

Will Haskett of PGATour.com added, "There is a major championship next week, but this week is a major to Zach. Impossible not to pick him."

His play coming off the Travelers and his affinity for Deere Run make him a strong contender. Spieth's eyes will be trained on St. Andrews.

Jordan Spieth

So long as Spieth is in the field, he's a favorite. There's no arguing. He's played his way into perpetual favorite-dom, and this week is no different.

He takes his stab on the home front instead of heading to the U.K. for the Scottish Open. Spieth said in an Associated Press story (h/t Fox Sports):

"

If I thought I wasn't going to play well next week because I played here, it would be a different story. I probably wouldn't be here. This is good preparation for me to get good feels, to get in contention and to find out what's on and what's off.

I'm here because I believe I can win this week. I believe it's advantageous for me to try and win this week.

"

It’s impossible for Spieth not to shift his focus to St. Andrews for his try at three majors in a row. That leaves the door open—albeit a narrow slit—for others to sweep in and steal this tournament from him.

The Dark Horses

Jessica Hill/Associated Press

Brian Harman 

Brian Harman appears to have rebounded from a ghastly stretch of five straight missed cuts from March 15 to April 12. In his last eight tournaments, he has three top 10s, including a tied-for-eighth-place finish at The Players Championship, a tied-for-10th effort at the Crowne Plaza Invitational and most recently a third-place finish in the Travelers Championship.

Harman even took the lead after the third round at the Travelers.

"It feels good to be back in contention," Harman said, according to William S. Paxton of USA Today.

And it's that kind of confidence that he could carry over into the John Deere Classic.

Robert Streb

Robert Streb earned himself a second-place finish in a playoff at the Greenbrier Classic after shooting four straight rounds in the 60s.

He also busted up his putter and had to use his sand wedge as his flat stick.

"It hit the bottom of the bag, and the (putter) head went flying," Streb said in an Associated Press story (h/t Emporia Gazette). "It was not my intent, but that was what happened. And so I said, well, let's see what we can do with a wedge."

He dropped in five birdies with the wedge. Five.

If there's a dark horse who can sneak up on the favorites, Streb's the one.

Kevin Kisner

Or maybe it's going to be Kevin Kisner.

Looking at his past eight events, you won't find another golfer besides Rory McIlroy or Jordan Spieth with better results.

He has three runner-ups—all in playoffs—over that stretch. It all started with the RBC Heritage; two tournaments later, he carded another P-2 at the Players. He finished in a tie for fifth at Colonial, a tie for eighth at the Memorial and was beaten in another playoff at the Greenbrier.

"It's tough to win out here, man. I've had a heckuva year," Kisner told Golf Digest's Alex Myers. "If I keep playing like this, I'll get plenty of wins."

If it goes to a playoff, bet against Kisner. Poor guy.

Prediction

Stew Milne/Associated Press

Winner: Zach Johnson

Here's the deal: The smart, safe pick is Jordan Spieth, but since this is the tournament prior to a major, he will probably fall just shy of victory.

Before the Masters, he finished second in a playoff at the Shell Houston Open. Before the U.S. Open, he took a tie for third in the Memorial. That means he's looking to tighten the screws, but not so much that he loses focus on what really matters: majors.

So who will be there? Zach Johnson, the 2012 winner and Illinois native. His game is sharp, and this course fits him like a golf glove. Third or better in five of his last six starts at TPC Deere Run? Go on, take Johnson.