John Deere Classic 2014: Tee times, TV schedule for Thursday

While many of the top golfers in the world are focused on sharpening their games before the British Open next week, some are merely still trying to play their way into the field at Royal Liverpool. There will be a mix of both this week at the John Deere Classic with several qualified players playing and a host of others who could qualify with a strong tournament. It all gets underway on Thursday with the first round from TPC Deere Run.

Defending champion Jordan Spieth headlines the field as he returns to the site of his first PGA Tour win. Winning the John Deere Classic sealed a trip to the British Open last year for Spieth. He’s already qualified for The Open this year, but will attempt to defend his John Deere Classic title. Spieth chipped in for birdie on the 72nd hole last year en route to a playoff win. He returned to the bunker on No. 18 last month and holed out again in his first attempt to recreate the shot. Spieth will tee off in one of the most-notable groupings of the first round, joined by Steve Stricker and Stewart Cink. Although Spieth is coming off a win at the John Deere Classic, few have had as much success in the event as Stricker. He’s won the event three times and his 26-under score in 2010 is the record-low for the event.

The trio will tee off at 1:45 p.m. ET, making them a likely fixture of the television broadcast. The Golf Channel will provide first-round television coverage with the broadcast running from 3 to 6 p.m. With Spieth and Stricker among the biggest names of the afternoon wave, they figure to be a focus of the coverage. The coverage will also be available online with a live simulcast stream from NBC LiveExtra.

A number of the best players in the world are either taking the week off in preparation for the British Open, or playing in the Scottish Open to get some reps on a similar golf course. That leaves lesser field for the John Deere, although there are a couple of other big names. Zach Johnson and Boo Weekley are among the recognizable names in the field. Both will tee off in the morning on Thursday. Weekley is set to go off the first tee at 8:40 a.m., playing with Kevin Na and Rory Sabbatini. Johnson will play with Ryan Moore and Russell Henley with the three scheduled to tee off No. 10 at 8:30 a.m.

Some of the field will be playing for more than the John Deere Classic this week. With the structure of the Open Qualifying System, the top unqualified finisher among the top 12 will receive a bid to The Open Championship. A player could ride a good round on Thursday all the way into an appearance at Hoylake. They will likely need to go low to do so, with scores at the John Deere traditionally finishing in the upper-teens or lower under par. Here is a full look at the coverage and tee times for Thursday. All times Eastern.

3 to 6 p.m. -- Golf Channel

Noon to 6 p.m. -- PGA Tour Radio on Sirius-XM (Ch. 93/208)