Sign In $

PGA First Look: John Deere Classic

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2016-08-11 14:28:11

rotogrinders_user_11284

The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

Click here to follow Notorious on Twitter.

John Deere Classic Preview

Originally, I wasn’t going to do a preview for the John Deere Classic due to the size of the GPPs and double-ups on DraftKings this week. However, this is the event that I am more excited about as a fantasy golf fan and with their GPPs flying off the shelves, I’m hopeful that they will add some more on Tuesday or Wednesday. While I am a huge fan of the Olympics and will certainly be watching, I prefer two things about the John Deere: Shot Tracker and the fact that there is a full field with a cut. This is the one event that really got shafted because of the Olympics. Not only is it being played later in the season than usual, but it happened to be the same week as the games in Rio.

Thanks to the scheduling, this week’s field isn’t quite as strong as it usually would be at this event. While that may not be ideal, there are still nine of the top 100 golfers in the world teeing it up on Thursday. The John Deere Classic is held at the TPC Deere Run, which is a Par 71 that measures 7,268 yards. The total yardage may seem daunting, but it is misleading. The par fives and par threes are long, leaving us with a ton of short par fours. This event typically turns into a wedge-fest, which is why the likes of Zach Johnson, Jordan Spieth, and Steve Stricker have played so well here in the past.

This is a course that doesn’t really favor the accuracy or bomber types. As long as you are hitting greens and knocking it close to the pin, that’s really all that matters. If you are one of the few that hates to use course history, you may not want to look at the past results of this tournament because the same golfers perform well here each and every year, regardless of current form. In addition to the usual statistics that I look at each week, the birdie or better percentage from 125 yards and in should come in handy. Most approaches this week will be in the 75-125 yard range.

Cut Rule: Top 70 and ties will move on after the first two rounds.

Recent Winners of this Event: Jordan Spieth (2015), Brian Harman (2014), Jordan Spieth (2013), Zach Johnson (2012), Steve Stricker (2011)

Key Statistics

1) Strokes Gained: Tee to Green
2) Strokes Gained: Putting
3) Birdie or Better %
4) Greens in Regulation
5) Birdie or Better % from < 125 Yards

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2011-2015)

Golfer Salary S-Rank Odds O-Rank + / – OWGR Cuts 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
Luke List $6,600 62 104 35 27 283 0/1 500 500 125 500 500
Boo Weekley $7,000 35 72 20 15 158 2/4 69 96 27 77 500
Vaughn Taylor $6,900 40 98 32 8 112 4/4 44 500 48 45 74
Jason Bohn $6,600 62 98 33 29 113 3/5 12 124 22 90 30
Johnson Wagner $6,900 40 107 38 2 225 2/2 5 7 500 500 500
Tyrone Van Aswegen $6,600 62 114 41 21 256 1/2 55 78 500 500 500
Keegan Bradley $7,800 20 58 15 5 111 1/1 500 500 61 500 500
Spencer Levin $7,400 25 64 17 8 179 2/2 50 500 500 36 500
Sean O’Hair $6,900 40 128 44 -4 138 1/3 500 68 113 90 500
Retief Goosen $7,200 29 70 19 10 136 1/2 144 59 500 500 500
Blayne Barber $6,600 62 113 40 22 258 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Adam Hadwin $7,500 23 73 23 0 190 1/1 18 500 500 500 500
Bud Cauley $6,300 88 158 61 27 377 2/3 500 52 141 72 500
Hudson Swafford $8,000 18 63 16 2 228 1/2 35 144 500 500 500
John Senden $8,400 14 53 14 0 106 2/3 500 45 73 4 500
Billy Hurley $7,400 25 86 27 -2 144 1/3 97 96 500 8 500
Alex Prugh $6,700 54 133 47 7 515 3/3 28 37 500 500 45
Ben Martin $7,100 32 105 36 -4 134 1/2 500 78 500 500 38
Shawn Stefani $7,000 35 79 24 11 260 2/3 35 13 133 500 500
Michael Thompson $7,100 32 90 28 4 320 2/3 55 124 500 500 12
Sam Saunders $6,300 88 138 50 38 284 1/1 44 500 500 500 500
Will Wilcox $6,900 40 102 34 6 172 1/2 8 124 500 500 500
Derek Fathauer $6,500 70 143 52 18 268 1/1 55 500 500 500 500
Tim Wilkinson $6,000 116 204 76 40 375 1/2 50 96 500 500 500
Seung-Yul Noh $7,300 27 92 30 -3 257 2/3 50 500 86 19 500
Luke Guthrie $6,900 40 125 43 -3 425 3/4 14 27 119 5 500
Scott Pinckney $6,600 62 149 57 5 330 1/1 18 500 500 500 500
Ricky Barnes $7,900 19 91 29 -10 187 3/5 97 68 133 45 74
Cameron Percy $7,200 29 143 52 -23 392 2/3 62 500 73 500 7
Jamie Lovemark $7,700 21 83 26 -5 94 2/2 500 74 500 45 500
Henrik Norlander $6,800 47 143 51 -4 383 0/1 500 500 113 500 500
Brendon De Jonge $6,700 54 134 48 6 315 4/5 88 45 54 19 7
Patrick Rodgers $8,500 13 42 12 1 118 1/4 73 110 15 101 500
John Huh $6,500 70 188 71 -1 218 1/3 50 78 73 500 500
Tom Gillis $5,900 125 202 75 50 598 3/3 2 500 54 36 500
Steve Wheatcroft $7,100 32 81 25 7 276 2/2 8 500 500 58 500
Nick Taylor $6,400 79 170 66 13 312 0/1 144 500 500 500 500
Thomas Aiken $6,900 40 146 55 -15 166 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chris Stroud $8,200 16 73 21 -5 174 4/4 5 59 500 68 71
Andrew Loupe $5,900 125 217 79 46 171 0/2 88 78 500 500 500
Michael Kim $7,000 35 129 45 -10 319 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Harman $8,700 12 38 10 2 130 3/4 24 1 133 19 500
Kyle Stanley $7,000 35 156 59 -24 327 4/5 18 63 141 19 2
Scott Brown $8,100 17 73 22 -5 167 3/4 88 5 22 7 500
Mark Hubbard $6,800 47 122 42 5 361 1/1 24 500 500 500 500
Stewart Cink $6,800 47 183 69 -22 254 2/4 73 52 500 118 74
Troy Merritt $6,800 47 135 49 -2 110 2/3 115 20 500 500 30
Robert Garrigus $9,000 11 47 13 -2 215 2/3 24 110 500 25 500
Robert Streb $9,200 10 32 8 2 63 3/3 14 37 22 500 500
Stuart Appleby $7,200 29 132 46 -17 362 2/2 500 500 33 25 500
Rod Pampling $6,200 97 208 77 20 363 3/4 41 500 54 118 45
Chesson Hadley $6,300 88 175 67 21 275 0/1 126 500 500 500 500
Wes Roach $6,800 47 188 71 -24 406 1/1 500 59 500 500 500
Jerry Kelly $9,400 9 38 11 -2 101 4/5 17 3 4 36 103
Sung Kang $5,900 125 221 82 43 188 1/2 500 500 500 129 12
Scott Stallings $6,800 47 163 63 -16 306 1/4 500 141 141 149 22
Greg Owen $6,200 97 254 99 -2 252 1/1 500 500 61 500 500
Gary Woodland $10,000 7 24 7 0 56 1/1 500 500 48 500 500
Will MacKenzie $6,700 54 169 65 -11 421 2/3 132 27 500 500 30
Matt Jones $8,300 15 65 18 -3 87 1/3 500 500 7 118 116
Whee Kim $6,200 97 219 80 17 354 0/1 73 500 500 500 500
Eric Axley $6,100 106 183 68 38 634 0/2 132 110 500 500 500
Andres Gonzales $6,600 62 146 55 7 344 1/3 115 500 73 500 22
Steve Marino $6,000 116 200 73 43 286 1/2 500 96 500 500 65
Ken Duke $5,900 125 210 78 47 221 2/4 67 110 48 90 500
Kevin Na $10,500 5 21 5 0 34 1/1 500 13 500 500 500
Daniel Summerhays $10,600 4 20 4 0 53 4/5 8 13 4 109 74
Geoff Ogilvy $7,500 23 105 37 -14 267 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ryan Moore $10,300 6 22 6 0 59 4/4 24 7 22 8 500
Carlos Ortiz $6,400 79 156 59 20 442 0/1 115 500 500 500 500
Andres Romero $6,400 79 200 73 6 447 2/3 500 45 44 500 103
Michael Johnson $7,300 27 108 39 -12 630 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kelly Kraft $6,100 106 254 99 7 454 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Zac Blair $6,200 97 219 80 17 200 0/1 73 500 500 500 500
Wesley Bryan $9,700 8 35 9 -1 115 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Camilo Villegas $6,500 70 185 70 0 326 3/4 73 45 71 58 500
Aaron Wise $7,000 35 145 54 -19 827 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Rhein Gibson $7,600 22 96 31 -9 259 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Morgan Hoffmann $6,700 54 158 62 -8 239 1/3 500 124 15 500 103
Tyler Aldridge $6,400 79 227 86 -7 314 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Cameron Smith $6,600 62 149 57 5 178 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jon Rahm $11,400 3 13 3 0 135 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Angel Cabrera $5,800 132 227 86 46 433 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
John Merrick $6,400 79 225 84 -5 548 3/4 139 76 500 54 59
Andrew Landry $6,200 97 250 97 0 455 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jason Gore $6,700 54 265 103 -49 235 0/2 88 500 500 90 500
Tom Hoge $6,700 54 225 84 -30 277 0/1 73 500 500 500 500
Steve Stricker $11,800 2 12 2 0 85 5/5 35 11 10 5 1
Zach Johnson $13,000 1 7 1 0 22 5/5 3 2 2 1 3
Hunter Mahan $6,900 40 165 64 -24 213 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jordan Niebrugge $6,000 116 223 83 33 647 1/1 500 27 500 500 500
Dawie Van der Walt $5,700 140 350 120 20 350 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chad Collins $6,500 70 227 86 -16 269 1/2 97 70 500 500 500
Rob Oppenheim $5,800 132 288 111 21 346 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
George McNeill $6,100 106 240 92 14 249 0/1 139 500 500 500 500
Bronson Burgoon $6,800 47 233 91 -44 309 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Mark Wilson $6,200 97 227 86 11 432 3/5 123 63 86 45 30
Brice Garnett $6,400 79 321 115 -36 575 1/2 97 45 500 500 500
Hiroshi Iwata $6,000 116 275 108 8 201 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Richard Lee $6,000 116 244 96 20 1/1 500 52 500 500 500
Jeff Overton $6,400 79 241 93 -14 494 1/2 88 500 500 30 500
Austin Connelly $6,000 116 242 94 22 920 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
D.A. Points $6,200 97 275 108 -11 736 1/5 97 138 139 101 38
Martin Piller $6,400 79 263 101 -22 209 0/1 500 500 500 500 137
Erik Compton $5,800 132 275 108 24 471 2/3 115 500 44 13 500
Robby Shelton $6,200 97 229 90 7 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Gay $5,800 132 271 105 27 755 2/3 500 500 61 109 9
Derek Ernst $6,100 106 304 113 -7 632 1/3 73 63 73 500 500
J.J. Henry $6,700 54 263 101 -47 322 4/5 115 63 7 13 56
Rory Sabbatini $6,100 106 252 98 8 305 2/3 500 37 149 19 500
Matt Every $6,000 116 304 113 3 253 1/1 500 500 500 58 500
Abraham Ancer $5,700 140 371 123 17 535 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Miguel Angel Carballo $6,700 54 242 94 -40 571 0/2 500 135 500 142 500
Lee McCoy $6,100 106 271 105 1 482 1/1 69 500 500 500 500
John Rollins $6,500 70 292 112 -42 2/4 144 23 86 500 65
Dong-Hwan Lee $6,200 97 363 121 -24 462 1/1 500 20 500 500 500
Scott Langley $6,500 70 267 104 -34 482 3/4 35 27 33 500 152
Darron Stiles $6,000 116 340 118 -2 703 1/1 500 500 68 500 500
D.J. Trahan $5,800 132 329 116 16 1050 1/4 500 96 141 142 45
Steven Bowditch $6,100 106 425 128 -22 151 3/5 97 11 12 101 38
Brendon Todd $5,700 140 396 125 15 264 0/2 500 500 113 129 500
Tim Herron $6,500 70 271 105 -35 413 0/2 97 110 500 500 500
Peter Malnati $6,600 62 329 116 -54 211 0/1 500 141 500 500 500
Troy Matteson $5,700 140 398 126 14 3/5 132 151 27 2 71
Craig Barlow $5,700 140 425 128 12 735 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Lucas Lee $6,300 88 346 119 -31 560 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Dicky Pride $6,300 88 429 130 -42 555 3/4 500 27 48 25 116
Arjun Atwal $6,300 88 383 124 -36 714 1/4 97 110 500 101 18
Charlie Wi $5,600 147 504 139 8 881 0/4 126 78 125 500 116
Charlie Danielson $5,800 132 363 121 11 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ted Purdy $5,700 140 467 131 9 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Dudley Hart $6,000 116 500 136 -20 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Mark Hensby $6,100 106 475 133 -27 1/1 500 500 500 500 74
Daniel Chopra $5,600 147 500 136 11 0/2 500 96 500 139 500
Matt Weibring $6,300 88 500 136 -48 0/1 500 500 500 500 121
Jarrod Lyle $5,900 125 504 139 -14 0/1 500 500 500 500 116
Heath Slocum $5,800 132 488 134 -2 3/5 123 52 44 77 38
Marc Turnesa $6,500 70 404 127 -57 1058 1/2 500 72 500 90 500
Brian Bullington $5,600 147 833 148 -1 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Robert Allenby $6,300 88 625 144 -56 0/2 500 78 86 500 500
Tim Petrovic $6,400 79 488 134 -55 1032 2/5 97 110 54 129 30
Matt Bettencourt $5,700 140 546 143 -3 2/5 123 110 61 66 146
Frank Lickliter $6,300 88 700 146 -58 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Trevor Immelman $5,600 147 513 141 6 1/3 97 45 119 500 500
Ryan McClintock $5,800 132 979 151 -19 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chris Smith $6,500 70 467 131 -61 1063 0/3 97 148 500 500 150
Cameron Beckman $6,100 106 533 142 -36 2/4 97 76 500 118 45
Len Mattiace $6,100 106 875 149 -43 0/1 500 148 500 500 500
Shaun Micheel $5,900 125 688 145 -20 1/3 500 500 133 118 74
Ben Curtis $5,600 147 750 147 0 0/1 126 500 500 500 500
Mike Weir $5,900 125 929 150 -25 1/2 500 500 27 500 148

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend

Term Description
S-Rank Each golfer’s salary rank compared to the field, with one being the most expensive.
O-Rank Each golfer’s odds rank compared to the field, with one the biggest favorite.
+ / – The difference between a golfer’s salary and odds rank. The bigger the number, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this event in the last five seasons.
2011 – 2015 Columns Course history at this event over the last five seasons.

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on X – @RG_Notorious