{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/680a0159fcccdba3a5365c3e/6a471fca2d7a15a979601dbc?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Co-Leaders Go Low & Spieth’s Trash Can Relief - July 3rd, 2026","description":"<p>On July 3rd, 2026, Round 1 of the John Deere Classic delivered fireworks as Lucas Glover and Zac Blair surged to the top of the leaderboard with matching 63s amidst wild rules rulings and controversial course redesigns.</p><p><br></p><h3>JOHN DEERE CLASSIC CO-LEADERS</h3><ul><li>Lucas Glover and Zac Blair set the pace at TPC Deere Run with matching 63s. Glover dialed in his swing by fixing a \"lifty\" backswing, while Blair leaned on a conservative strategy to ease his FedEx Cup points stress.</li><li><strong>Supporting stat or quote:</strong>&nbsp;Blair highlighted his bogey-free round with a spectacular 9-wood eagle.</li><li><strong>Human angle or fun fact:</strong>&nbsp;Glover credited his sudden turnaround to an emergency swing fix with his coach, Jason Baile, proving that sometimes the smallest tweaks yield the biggest results.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><h3>SPIETH'S WILD RIDE &amp; ZACH JOHNSON'S ROAST</h3><ul><li>Jordan Spieth shot a chaotic 70 featuring a bizarre Rule 16.3 relief from under a Michelob Ultra trash bin, while 50-year-old Zach Johnson fired a brilliant 64 while managing the sweltering heat.</li><li><strong>Supporting stat or quote:</strong>&nbsp;Spieth on his ruling: \"So it does not have to be as embedded? I mean, that is perfect.\" / Johnson on Fowler's missed putt: \"I think Rickie threw up a little bit in his mouth.\"</li><li><strong>Human angle or fun fact:</strong>&nbsp;In true Jordan Spieth fashion, he managed to turn his trash can drop on the 15th into a miraculous birdie before ultimately double-bogeying the 18th hole.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><h3>THE 4TH HOLE CONTROVERSY &amp; MENTAL RESETS</h3><ul><li>The redesigned 4th hole is dividing the locker room, with Lee Hodges loving it while Zac Blair despises the blind shots. Meanwhile, Davis Riley abandoned his cut shot to fire a 65.</li><li><strong>Supporting stat or quote:</strong>&nbsp;Joel Dahmen shot a 66 after taking a mental reset trip, noting, \"Scar tissue is a real thing out here.\"</li><li><strong>Human angle or fun fact:</strong>&nbsp;Davis Riley's swing change (\"I have not hit the panic button yet\") paid off instantly with a spectacular hole-in-one on the 16th hole.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><h3>Quick Hits</h3><p>Ben Griffin's historic comeback to shoot 69 after a 6th-hole quadruple-bogey, alongside Adam Svensson's slam-dunk eagle on 14 • Chris Gotterup's 66 aided by a \"foul pole\" bounce and his frustrations over the 2028 PGA Tour restructuring (\"it is something that we have no say over\") • Jackson Koivun's nervous pro debut (\"if I am not feeling nerves, then that means I do not care\"), Preston Stout's aggressive mindset shift (\"my goal is to win\"), and Seamus Power's withdrawal due to a recurring back injury.</p>","author_name":"Golf.ai"}