McWethy’s Tavern in the new clubhouse at Mistwood, fine dining in a golf atmosphere, visit Mistwoodgc.com. Callaway, we still make clubs and balls, see Callawaygolf.com.     ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory at the John Deere Classic and on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

ROUND 1 of the John Deere Classic is not in the books, the rain saw to that.

What was originally announced as a 3 hour and 22 minute rain delay by the PGA Tour, later became 3 hours and 30 minutes. But at that point, who’s counting.

With the delay that dropped over 1 inch of rain on the TPC Deere Run Golf Course, soggy conditions were what the golfers saw. The players were pulled off the course at 11:38 AM, and were allowed to return to the range as of 2:20 PM, and play resumed at 3 PM local time.

The morning flight did finish their rounds, and the entire afternoon flight did tee off before the horn sounded at 7:52 PM. At that time players were allowed to finish the hole they were playing.

In the clubhouse are finished leaders Zach Johnson, Patrick Rodgers and Ryan Moore at 6 under par. Tom Gillis who was in the first group out in the afternoon session was able to complete 16 holes at 6 under par. On the 16th hole Gillis missed a 10 foot birdie putt that would have left him at 7 under par.

The leader on the golf course is Andrew Loupe who reached 8 under par through 14 holes, Loupe had tee’d off on the 15th hole when the horn was blown, so he elected to try and finish the hole. He then elected to mark his ball on the 15th green with an 8 foot putt remaining for par.

Loupe played well last week and credited his caddie for keeping him going through round one today. Loupe held a short press conference for about 3 minutes in the press center and told reporters that,” considering the length of the delay I’m glad i was able to play as many holes as I did.”

Tee times resume at 7:00 Am on Friday to conclude round one, tee times for round 2 will begin at 8:20 and 10:20.

Johnson who serves on the JDC board of directors made it clear he really wants a second JDC title. Johnson got his first title in 2012 and has not been out of the top finishers in the JDC since 2011. Johnson said after his round he left the tournament in 2015 after not winning, as was not very happy all the way to St. Andrews where he won the British Open and his second major.

Click here to hear the Zach Johnson press conference after round one.

Three time JDC winner Steve Stricker finsihed his round at one under oar, Sricker struggled with the par 3 holes, recording bogeys on the three of them. Sticker called his game not sharp and admitted he needs a low round to get back into the championship.