Janzen Stirs Memories with Impressive Start at John Deere Classic

Lee Janzen is in prime position after firing a 7-under 64 in the first round of the John Deere Classic, his best effort on the PGA Tour in over three years. The 44-year-old veteran, who hasn't won since capturing his second U.S. Open in 1998, was at 8-under after birdies on the 16th and 17th holes and maintained bogey-free golf until the 18th, where he faltered with a missed par putt. Janzen's impressive start has drawn attention, with the player himself expressing excitement at the prospect of winning.

Key Takeaways:

• Janzen's 7-under 64 in the first round is his lowest score on the PGA Tour in over three years, a testament to his hard work with coach Mike Bender.
• The 44-year-old veteran, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, is seeking his first victory since the 1998 U.S. Open.
• Janzen's performance is a marked improvement from last year's John Deere Classic, where he finished with a 70.
• J.J. Henry, Matt Bettencourt, and Dean Wilson are all one stroke back at 65, with Kenny Perry opening with a 68.
• Last year's winner Kenny Perry and U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover both shot 69, while David Duval struggled to a 75, putting him in danger of missing the cut.

Statistics:

• Janzen's score of 7-under 64 in the first round is his lowest on the PGA Tour since the 2005 Dean & DeLuca Texas Open.
• The veteran has two Top-10 finishes in the past three years, with his best being a tie for 5th at the 2018 Valero Texas Open.
• Janzen has spent four months working with coach Mike Bender, trying to repair his swing after a disappointing stint with Butch Harmon.
• In April, Janzen opened with a 6-under 65 at the Verizon Heritage, finishing tied for 4th.

Sources:

• [AP, undated]