Ghim and bear it

Writing from Birdieville (a.k.a. Silvis), Illinois

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Patience may be a virtue, but professional golfers aren’t known to be especially virtuous when birdies are available almost for the asking. The temptation is there to push a little more than might be prudent, say, when a pin is tucked next to a bunker or water as tightly as a newborn into a crib.

Doug Ghim is learning that. In his eighth year as a professional, Ghim, who grew up in Arlington Heights, played for Texas on a team with Jordan Spieth, and lost a U.S. Amateur in a sudden-death playoff, is still searching for his first PGA Tour triumph.

Could this be the week? He put his stamp on the first round of the 54th John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run with a 9-under-par 62 that, like every round in the history of the game, could have been better. Failed birdie putts at the final two holes might have left a bitter taste once upon a time, but instead Ghim has positives galore in his head, and why not? The 62 is his best round on the PGA Tour in 488 circuits.

Patient pays off.

“You learn,” Ghim said. “There were times earlier in my career that you try to shoot a 62. Not to say we’re not trying to every day, but you kind of have to let it come to you. On Sunday, if you’re behind the pack, you’re going to have to try to. On Thursday, you’re just trying to keep yourself in it.

“Putting yourself in the pack is the most important thing.”

Ghim, the first Illinois native to lead any Deere round since Gary Hallberg of Barrington led the opening round in 1997, managed to put himself in front of it with a bogey-free circuit of the D.A. Weibring design, scattering six birdies across his card and punctuating it with an eagle 2 on the par-4 sixth hole via a 90-yard wedge to the bottom of the cup, plus a near-ace at the 16th. As noted, his 30-32 reading might have been even better – say, 30-30 – but for skidding a birdie putt on the 17th 10 inches by the hole and coming up just short on a 37-footer at the last.

Again, no worries, figured Ghim, who holds a one-stroke lead on Max Homa and Austin Eckroat entering the second round of this four-lap trophy dash.

“It comes and goes,” Ghim said of his patience. “There are certain times I do it really well. Sometimes it comes easier. You’re hitting your shots. Scottie Scheffler is making it look really easy right now. In Vegas last year, I played well and almost won. Was patient all week, didn’t try to knock the grass off the course.

“Sometimes it’s just a little harder. It’s something that every year I’ve gotten a little bit better at.”

Sitting tied for fourth at 7-under 64 are David Lipsky, Sam Stevens, Justin Lower and 2018 Deere winner Michael Kim, another quartet of morning glories.

It was a somewhat unusual day at Deere Run in that all of the better scores were posted in the morning. Austin Potgeiter, last week’s winner in Detroit, made some noise on the back nine in the afternoon with eagles on the 10th and 14th holes – the latter by pitching in from the rough for a deuce from 98 feet – but his sloppy bogey on the par-4 17th ruined any chance of threatening Ghim. Potgeiter ended up at 4-under 67.

The best afternoon score was 6-under 65, crafted by erstwhile Illinois grad Brian Campbell and Kris Ventura. They’re in an eighth-place gaggle, as are notables Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler. Camilo Villegas sits joint 17th at 5-under 66, Beau Hossler is in a pack at 4-under 67, and defending champion Davis Thompson moseyed in with a 3-under 68 largely thanks to an eagle on the par-5 17th.

Zach Johnson, possibly in his last Deere, scored 2-under 69, while Jason Day needs to go to the whip in the second round to make the weekend and a check after an uncharacteristic 3-over 74 and is tied for 137th when only the low 65 and those tied will advance.

Around Deere Run

Stephen Jaeger withdrew after an opening 3-over 74 that included a triple-bogey 7 on the par-4 fourth hole. … Joe Highsmith was even par for 17 holes before hitting his drive at the last into the copse of trees to the right of the 18th fairway. His escape shot caromed off a tree dead right into more trouble. He could only wedge backwards and lost 19 yards skittering a shot across to the left rough. Finally able to aim at the green, he missed it right, the ball settling into a depression with a bunker between him and the hole. Highsmith chipped it to the far left fringe and two-putted from 37 feet for triple-bogey 7.and enters Friday’s play at 3-over 74. … Ben James was the low amateur at 3-under 68. … Pierceson Coody was high man in the field at 8-over 79. … Carson Herron, Monday’s final qualifier, started his PGA Tour career with a triple-bogey 8 on his second hole via a tee shot into a hazard and scored 5-over 76. … There were 102 players under par and 112 par or better, leading to a course average of 69.579, the eighth-easiest first round in Deere history.

– Tim Cronin