PGA First Look: John Deere Classic

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

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Event Preview

It was great to see Xander Schauffele break through with his first PGA Tour victory. This week the tour heads to TPC Deere Run for the John Deere Classic. A quick glance at the field and you will immediately wonder where all of the best golfers in the world are. We have a putrid seven golfers that are ranked inside the top 50 in the world. Most of the big names on tour are playing across the pond at the Scottish Open. In case you didn’t know, the Open Championship is next week, so most of the golfers that have already qualified are playing in the Scottish Open in order to get acclimated to the conditions and time change.

TPCD

TPC Deere Run is a Par 71 that measures 7,268 yards. It is located in Silvis, Illinois and is routinely one of the easiest courses on the PGA Tour. The winning score has been at least 19-under par in each of the last five seasons. The key to succeeding here is simple: hit it in the middle of the fairway and then it becomes a wedge and putting contest. Do you know who two of the best are at hitting fairways, wedges, and putts? Steve Stricker and Zach Johnson. The two just so happen to have four combined wins here and a ridiculous 11 top ten finishes combined in the last eight editions.

Speaking of low scores, this event once featured a round that had a 59 (Paul Goydos) and a 60 (Steve Stricker). Basically, you need to make birdies here or you will find yourself too far behind the pack before you know it. I’m giving a big advantage to approach shots over off the tee stats and will be heavily weighing birdie or better percentage. We’ve also seen good putters play well here on a consistent basis, so I will be placing a small weight on that as well.

Cut Rule:The top 70 and ties will move on after the first two rounds. The MDF rule is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the initial cut.

Recent Winners of this Event: Ryan Moore (2016), Jordan Spieth (2015), Brian Harman (2014), Jordan Spieth (2013), Zach Johnson (2012)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Birdie or Better %
3) Driving Accuracy (Distance from edge of the fairway)
4) Greens in Regulation (Plus fringe)
5) Strokes Gained Putting

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2012-2016)

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Salary OWGR Odds DK Odds FD Odds FDRFT Odds 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Daniel Berger $11,300 $9,900 $17,900 20 13 0% 0% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Harman $10,900 $8,700 $17,000 26 17 0% 75% 0% 89 24 1 133 19
Kevin Kisner $10,400 $9,600 $16,600 24 20 -67% -150% 0% 500 35 20 500 109
Danny Lee $10,200 $9,200 $17,000 76 19 25% 50% -50% 500 3 110 500 30
Steve Stricker $9,800 $9,300 $16,400 81 24 -40% -40% 0% 52 35 11 10 5
Charley Hoffman $9,700 $8,900 $16,700 39 20 33% 43% 0% 500 500 500 98 500
Kyle Stanley $9,600 $8,400 $16,600 59 20 14% 33% -20% 22 18 63 141 19
Jamie Lovemark $9,300 $7,900 $16,000 84 30 -13% 18% 0% 34 500 74 500 45
Ryan Moore $9,200 $9,400 $15,800 43 33 -11% -150% 9% 1 24 7 22 8
Zach Johnson $9,100 $9,500 $16,400 74 25 20% -167% -14% 34 3 2 2 1
Charles Howell $9,000 $7,700 $15,900 56 35 -9% 0% -20% 500 60 23 33 77
Kevin Streelman $8,800 $6,800 $15,800 118 36 -8% 38% -18% 500 74 96 44 8
Robert Streb $8,700 $6,900 $14,900 134 49 -38% 5% -6% 143 14 37 22 500
Daniel Summerhays $8,600 $6,800 $15,700 92 33 29% 52% 23% 139 8 13 4 109
Bud Cauley $8,500 $7,400 $15,300 104 44 0% 0% 0% 8 500 52 141 72
Chez Reavie $8,400 $6,500 $14,800 130 58 -44% 21% -5% 500 65 500 15 68
Ben Martin $8,300 $6,700 $14,900 197 48 6% 33% 6% 2 500 78 500 500
David Hearn $8,200 $6,700 $14,900 191 52 -17% 13% -24% 500 67 45 2 77
Bubba Watson $8,100 $8,200 $14,900 44 49 11% -70% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
Kevin Na $8,000 $7,700 $15,500 69 38 30% -17% 0% 8 500 13 500 500
Nick Watney $7,900 $7,000 $14,400 287 68 -38% -71% -7% 500 500 500 27 13
Ryan Palmer $7,900 $6,900 $14,300 115 66 -29% -42% 10% 500 500 500 500 101
Bryson DeChambeau $7,800 $6,600 $14,900 144 51 13% 23% -18% 500 116 500 500 500
Kelly Kraft $7,700 $6,200 $14,000 160 72 -29% 6% 0% 5 500 500 500 500
Matt Jones $7,700 $6,100 $14,500 235 66 -13% 29% -8% 27 500 500 7 118
William McGirt $7,700 $7,600 $14,500 55 61 -4% -79% 0% 500 41 23 86 77
Nick Taylor $7,600 $6,100 $15,000 188 51 30% 50% -19% 127 145 500 500 500
Chad Campbell $7,600 $6,600 $14,700 165 56 19% 15% 4% 500 28 13 15 36
Chesson Hadley $7,600 $5,200 $13,300 281 100 -41% 53% 0% 74 127 500 500 500
Kevin Tway $7,600 $6,600 $14,400 190 69 -11% -15% -11% 500 500 52 500 500
Johnson Wagner $7,500 $5,600 $14,600 246 60 23% 59% 0% 5 5 7 500 500
Andres Romero $7,500 $4,800 $13,300 180 103 -32% 57% -8% 67 500 45 44 500
Lucas Glover $7,500 $6,500 $13,900 103 83 -19% -28% -9% 500 116 135 15 500
Chris Kirk $7,400 $6,200 $12,900 128 108 -29% -33% 4% 500 500 96 22 30
Rory Sabbatini $7,400 $5,000 $12,400 505 156 -103% 23% -8% 62 500 37 149 19
Ollie Schniederjans $7,400 $7,100 $13,900 132 79 -3% -119% -3% 500 500 500 500 500
Patrick Rodgers $7,400 $6,400 $13,300 177 101 -15% -26% -3% 27 74 110 15 101
John Huh $7,300 $5,400 $12,400 230 145 -74% 0% -3% 64 50 78 73 500
Brian Stuard $7,300 $5,000 $12,200 167 188 -105% 13% -5% 500 18 78 500 500
Wesley Bryan $7,300 $6,800 $14,400 41 66 32% -24% 4% 8 500 500 500 500
Maverick McNealy $7,300 $5,200 $12,800 123 -34% 36% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
Grayson Murray $7,300 $5,900 $12,600 151 127 -53% -29% 2% 500 500 500 500 500
Ryan Blaum $7,300 $5,900 $12,500 310 142 -68% -42% -5% 500 500 500 500 500
J.J. Spaun $7,200 $6,000 $12,700 135 124 -18% -27% 5% 500 500 500 500 500
Geoff Ogilvy $7,200 $5,700 $13,300 218 105 2% 19% -13% 16 500 500 500 500
Shawn Stefani $7,200 $5,500 $12,400 472 171 -59% -11% -9% 40 35 13 133 500
Tyrone Van Aswegen $7,200 $5,300 $11,900 306 217 -95% -15% -5% 74 55 78 500 500
Kyle Reifers $7,200 $5,300 $11,300 236 327 -155% -49% -7% 500 89 500 500 77
Sean O’Hair $7,100 $7,000 $13,700 72 74 35% -88% 14% 74 500 68 113 90
Cameron Percy $7,100 $4,700 $11,800 374 240 -84% 12% -3% 108 62 500 73 500
Curtis Luck $7,100 $6,000 $14,000 285 78 31% 17% -10% 500 500 500 500 500
Joel Dahmen $7,100 $5,100 $12,100 413 198 -63% 7% -3% 500 500 500 500 500
Luke List $7,000 $6,000 $12,800 137 112 13% -12% 10% 56 500 500 125 500
Scott Brown $7,000 $6,200 $14,000 142 77 38% 0% -6% 16 89 5 22 7
Steve Wheatcroft $7,000 $4,700 $11,900 475 213 -58% 18% -2% 27 8 500 500 58
Willy Wilcox $7,000 $5,700 $11,900 438 190 -49% -49% 4% 500 8 124 500 500
D.A. Points $7,000 $5,100 $11,500 223 248 -74% -7% 2% 108 98 138 139 101
Morgan Hoffmann $7,000 $6,200 $13,900 162 80 32% -9% -6% 3 500 124 15 500
Trey Mullinax $7,000 $6,200 $12,900 255 120 6% -52% -9% 500 500 500 500 500
Camilo Villegas $7,000 $5,500 $12,100 370 198 -53% -29% -4% 89 74 45 71 58
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano $7,000 $4,800 $11,200 648 283 -96% -8% 2% 500 28 96 500 500
Bryce Molder $7,000 $5,400 $12,200 290 179 -40% -12% 0% 500 28 13 27 500
K.J. Choi $7,000 $5,000 $11,400 289 265 -85% -9% 2% 500 74 500 33 13
Smylie Kaufman $7,000 $6,400 $13,000 145 124 0% -71% -18% 500 500 500 500 500
Hunter Mahan $7,000 $5,900 $12,500 702 132 -11% -31% 3% 89 500 500 500 500
John Rollins $7,000 $4,500 $10,800 377 -128% 2% 1% 89 145 23 500 500
Michael Kim $6,900 $5,800 $13,300 211 102 40% 18% -5% 47 500 500 500 500
Tom Hoge $6,900 $4,800 $11,400 530 285 -57% -9% -5% 139 74 500 500 500
Brad Fritsch $6,900 $4,500 $11,100 515 338 -72% 7% -6% 500 500 13 98 500
Scott Stallings $6,900 $5,800 $12,900 294 116 30% 4% -2% 16 500 141 141 149
Ben Crane $6,900 $5,700 $12,400 417 175 -7% -36% -13% 500 127 37 98 13
Zac Blair $6,900 $5,700 $12,300 309 183 -12% -42% -4% 56 74 500 500 500
Mark Hubbard $6,900 $4,800 $11,700 614 265 -45% -1% -10% 74 24 500 500 500
Brett Stegmaier $6,900 $4,900 $11,600 424 267 -48% -5% -6% 500 500 500 500 500
Richy Werenski $6,900 $4,500 $10,700 317 467 -103% -10% -3% 500 500 500 500 500
Andrew Loupe $6,900 $4,600 $11,100 353 288 -58% 5% 2% 16 89 78 500 500
John Merrick $6,900 $4,500 $11,100 1101 336 -70% 8% -6% 74 140 76 500 54
Chad Collins $6,900 $4,600 $10,800 378 446 -97% -18% -8% 108 98 70 500 500
Bob Estes $6,900 $4,600 $10,900 413 -88% -13% -10% 500 500 500 500 500
Steven Bowditch $6,900 $4,500 $10,600 1033 558 -110% -14% -4% 143 98 11 12 101
Chris Stroud $6,800 $5,700 $13,300 408 103 49% 23% -8% 74 5 59 500 68
Harold Varner $6,800 $6,000 $13,200 138 110 44% -10% -2% 500 500 500 500 500
Jonathan Randolph $6,800 $5,400 $12,900 307 118 40% 26% -7% 500 150 500 500 500
Ricky Barnes $6,800 $5,800 $12,500 271 125 32% -12% 10% 5 98 68 133 45
Sebastian Munoz $6,800 $5,600 $12,700 138 23% -5% -13% 500 500 500 500 500
Ryan Armour $6,800 $4,500 $10,800 521 375 -47% 4% 2% 500 60 500 500 500
Brian Gay $6,800 $5,400 $12,800 249 133 26% 9% -18% 133 500 500 61 109
Troy Merritt $6,800 $5,100 $11,900 301 183 7% 13% 9% 56 116 20 500 500
Cameron Tringale $6,800 $5,800 $12,700 252 127 30% -16% -4% 500 500 500 500 500
Jonathan Byrd $6,800 $5,100 $11,500 596 237 -10% -3% 5% 500 98 52 33 54
Davis Love $6,800 $5,600 $12,200 675 188 5% -31% -4% 500 500 37 72 500
Stuart Appleby $6,800 $4,500 $10,800 552 458 -67% -9% -11% 40 500 500 33 25
Brian Campbell $6,800 $4,700 $11,700 462 244 -12% 11% -3% 500 133 500 500 500
Mark Wilson $6,800 $4,500 $10,700 765 454 -64% -7% -1% 64 124 63 86 45
Dominic Bozzelli $6,800 $5,500 $11,900 168 223 -7% -38% -6% 500 500 500 500 500
Julian Etulain $6,800 $5,300 $11,700 447 267 -22% -32% -13% 500 500 500 500 500
Steven Alker $6,800 $4,500 $10,600 709 517 -72% -12% -2% 500 28 500 500 500
Max Homa $6,800 $4,500 $10,600 679 517 -72% -12% -2% 500 35 500 500 500
Alex Cejka $6,700 $5,300 $12,400 214 133 38% 19% 5% 500 55 500 500 25
Greg Owen $6,700 $4,500 $11,400 435 283 -4% 17% -3% 108 500 500 61 500
Brandon Hagy $6,700 $5,400 $12,900 276 118 52% 27% -4% 500 500 500 500 500
Tag Ridings $6,700 $4,600 $10,900 637 358 -19% -5% -3% 500 500 78 500 500
Derek Fathauer $6,700 $4,700 $10,800 250 327 -14% -11% 7% 500 55 500 500 500
Martin Flores $6,700 $4,700 $11,100 300 304 -8% -5% 1% 500 98 78 4 58
Rick Lamb $6,700 $4,600 $11,400 440 275 -3% 9% -2% 500 500 500 500 500
Peter Malnati $6,700 $5,400 $12,100 558 217 14% -29% -9% 27 500 141 500 500
Jason Bohn $6,700 $4,600 $10,800 503 377 -21% -7% 2% 56 12 124 22 90
Mark Anderson $6,700 $4,600 $10,900 411 417 -28% -13% -10% 500 140 500 500 76
Dylan Meyer $6,700 $4,500 $10,900 308 -11% 11% 4% 500 500 500 500 500
Miguel Angel Carballo $6,700 $4,500 $10,800 609 421 -29% -3% -5% 16 500 135 500 142
Matt Every $6,700 $4,500 $10,900 915 358 -18% 6% -2% 118 500 500 500 58
Brett Drewitt $6,700 $4,500 $10,700 678 454 -34% -7% -1% 500 500 500 500 500
Bobby Gates $6,700 $4,500 $10,500 658 -46% -17% -1% 500 500 500 500 30
Darin Fisher $6,700 $4,500 $10,400 833 -49% -19% -1% 500 500 500 500 500
George McNeill $6,700 831 917 -51% 100 140 500 500 500
David Lawrence $6,700 917 -51% 500 500 500 500 500
Boo Weekley $6,600 $5,400 $12,800 295 124 54% 18% -6% 47 69 96 27 77
Robert Garrigus $6,600 $5,200 $12,400 262 142 44% 19% -2% 22 24 110 500 25
Tim Wilkinson $6,600 $4,600 $11,500 380 256 19% 15% -1% 74 50 96 500 500
Billy Hurley $6,600 $5,700 $12,600 131 140 46% -19% -7% 34 98 96 500 8
Spencer Levin $6,600 $5,400 $12,700 305 125 53% 17% 0% 89 50 500 500 36
Vaughn Taylor $6,600 $5,900 $12,400 175 146 43% -49% -5% 108 44 500 48 45
Andres Gonzales $6,600 $4,500 $11,500 327 271 14% 19% -7% 64 116 500 73 500
JT Poston $6,600 $5,600 $12,200 196 177 38% -24% 1% 500 500 500 500 500
Seamus Power $6,600 $6,100 $12,300 337 174 39% -87% 1% 500 500 500 500 500
J.J. Henry $6,600 $5,200 $11,700 465 212 29% -4% 6% 74 116 63 7 13
Fabian Gomez $6,600 $5,400 $11,400 171 254 21% -41% 7% 500 98 500 73 500
Brendon De Jonge $6,600 $4,600 $10,800 819 431 -10% -15% -6% 118 89 45 54 19
Angel Cabrera $6,600 $4,900 $11,000 660 323 5% -18% 2% 40 500 500 500 500
Y.E. Yang $6,600 $4,800 $10,800 490 396 -6% -29% -2% 500 500 500 53 500
Wyndham Clark $6,600 $4,700 $10,900 388 -5% -21% -7% 500 500 500 500 500
Nick Hardy $6,600 $4,600 $10,600 433 -12% -17% 4% 500 500 500 500 500
Troy Matteson $6,600 $4,500 $10,500 579 -23% -16% -1% 149 133 151 27 2
Tim Herron $6,600 717 917 -27% 62 98 110 500 500
Roberto Castro $6,500 $5,000 $12,400 127 154 50% 24% -6% 500 44 138 68 500
Ryan Brehm $6,500 $5,200 $12,100 293 204 39% -3% -5% 500 500 500 500 500
Sam Saunders $6,500 $5,300 $11,500 332 254 31% -24% 1% 500 44 500 500 500
Cody Gribble $6,500 $4,700 $11,500 253 256 30% 7% -1% 500 500 500 500 500
Patton Kizzire $6,500 $5,200 $11,700 219 233 35% -10% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
Hiroshi Iwata $6,500 $4,700 $10,800 490 379 10% -20% 0% 56 500 500 500 500
Tyler Aldridge $6,500 $4,500 $10,600 804 575 -5% -15% -4% 67 500 500 500 500
Ryo Ishikawa $6,500 $4,600 $11,200 164 308 19% 3% -3% 500 72 500 33 500
Greg Chalmers $6,500 $4,500 $11,000 338 346 14% 6% -3% 500 69 37 125 500
Ken Duke $6,500 $4,700 $10,700 453 431 4% -26% 2% 74 67 110 48 90
Carl Pettersson $6,500 $4,800 $11,100 1030 304 21% -11% 1% 500 12 500 54 36
Nicholas Lindheim $6,500 $4,500 $10,600 473 500 -1% -10% -1% 500 500 500 500 500
William Lunde $6,500 $4,600 $10,900 516 396 8% -11% -8% 500 500 500 139 500
Shane Bertsch $6,500 $4,500 $10,500 750 -8% -18% -2% 500 500 500 500 90
Bobby Wyatt $6,500 $4,500 $10,600 699 513 -2% -11% -1% 500 500 63 500 500
Charlie Wi $6,500 $4,700 $10,500 577 -6% -40% 0% 118 127 78 500 500
Dicky Pride $6,500 $10,400 814 -9% 0% 52 500 27 500 25
Eric Axley $6,500 $10,400 570 917 -10% -1% 74 133 110 500 500

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
Site Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2012 – 2016 Columns Course history at this event in 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