No player has beaten Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic in the last three years. For at least one day, however, Troy Matteson took control at TPC Deere Run.
Matteson tied the low round of the year on the PGA Tour in shooting a bogey-free round of 10-under 61 to take the lead by three shots over Ricky Barnes.
The round equals a pair of 61s carded at the Nicklaus Course at PGA West during the Humana Challenge, shot by Ryan Moore (second round) and Robert Garrigus (third round).
Seven players are tied for third place at 6 under par, including three-time defending champion Steve Stricker. Stricker is joined by Garrigus, Scott Piercy, K.J. Choi, Brian Harman, Luke Guthrie and Gary Christian.
Of the 156 players in the field Thursday, 99 finished under par.