John Deere Classic
July 9-12
TPC Deere Run
Silvis, IL
Defending Champion: Brian Harman (-22)
FedEx Cup Points to Winner: 500
Total Purse: $4,700,000
This is the final tune-up on the PGA Tour before The Open Championship next week at St. Andrews. There’s 15 guys this week in the John Deere Classic who will be teeing it up next week in Scotland, including the second ranked player in the world, Jordan Spieth, who will be going for his third major of the year.
It still baffles me why Jordan Spieth is playing this week. Yes, I understand he made a commitment. Yes, I understand this is the spot of his first PGA Tour win. Blah, blah, blah. Jordan Spieth has a shot at history if he can win next week at St. Andrews, and if it were me, I’d be over there right now getting acquainted with the weather and golf course.
Since it’s not up to me on what Jordan Spieth does, I’ll be tuning in this weekend to watch the John Deere Classic and hope that he is able to catch the chartered plane with the other 15 players to whisk them over to Scotland come Sunday night.
Enough about Jordan Spieth, let’s take an in-depth look at the John Deere Classic and make some fantasy golf picks.
The Course
TPC Deere Run is the host this week’s of the John Deere Classic and you better make some birdies if you expect to win. It’s a traditional golf course running alongside the Rock River in Silvis, IL. TPC Deere Run was designed in 1999 by D.A. Weibring and features many elevation changes. The golf course can be stretched to 7,268 yards if needed and will play to a par-71. As mentioned above, we’ll most likely see low scores, so the fellas better bring their A-games. Don’t believe me, see the winning scores below over the last ten years:
2014: Brian Harman 262 (-22)
2013: Jordan Spieth 265 (-19)
2012: Zach Johnson 264 (-20)
2011: Steve Stricker 262 (-22)
2010: Steve Stricker 258 (-26)
2009: Steve Stricker 264 (-20)
2008: Kenny Perry 268 (-16)
2007: Jonathan Byrd 266 (-18)
2006: John Senden 265 (-19)
2005: Sean O’Hair 268 (-16)
Defending Champion
Brian Harman fired a final round 66 to beat out Zach Johnson in the 2014 edition of the John Deere Classic. This was Harman’s first win on the PGA Tour and I expect some good play again this week. He finished 3rd in the Travelers two weeks ago and took last week off, so he should be well rested and ready to defend. Look for Harman to be near the top again come Sunday.
John Deere Classic TV Schedule
Thursday – Friday
- Golf Channel: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM EST
Saturday – Sunday
- Golf Channel: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST
- CBS: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM EST
Draft Kings Fantasy Golf Picks
I have really gotten hooked on Draft Kings this year as it’s easy to understand and easy get started. It’s also one of the only daily fantasy sites that host PGA Tour events each week, so that got me hooked as well. I will be playing the below lineup in the two different leagues:
PGA GIANT $25 Double Up ($25,000 Guaranteed) – This is a 50/50 league. Entry fee is $25 and is maxed at 900 entries. All you have to do is be in the top 400 and you win $50. As of this writing, there are only 239 entries.
PGA $275K Drive the Green ($100K to 1st) – Yep you read that right. For a measly $3 entry fee, you can win $100,000 if you come in first place. You can enter up to four times, for a total of $12. I will be entering one lineup in this league.
Scott Langley – $8,300 salary
Langley had the share of the lead last week at The Greenbrier but faltered over the weekend. He ended up with a T-13 and over $100,000 in prize money, so it was a good payday. Let’s hope that money rubs off on him a little bit more and he rides this momentum into the John Deere.
Brian Harman – $9,600 salary
After a third place finish two weeks ago at the Travelers, Harman looks to defend his crown this year at the John Deere Classic. Look for Harman to continue his good play this week at John Deere before he makes his way over to St. Andrews next week.
Sean O’Hair – $7,300 salary
Sean O’Hair won the John Deere Classic back in 2005. Yes, 2005. Can you believe he has been around that long? While he’s missed four cuts out of his last six tournaments, he had a top-15 last week at The Greenbrier. Let’s hope maybe he gets some good memories from 2005 and plays well this week.
Danny Lee – $7,700 salary
I am going to ride Danny Lee’s victory last week at The Greenbrier Classic into this week. There’s been some pictures on social media of him out partying it up Sundayand Monday night, so I am hoping he settles down a bit to be ready for Thursday.
Patrick Rodgers – $8,000 salary
Rodgers is playing on a sponsor’s exemption this week at the John Deere Classic. In May at the Wells Fargo Championship, Rodgers finished T-2 after a sponsor’s exemption allowed him to get into that event. Let’s hope for another good finish this week.
Steven Bowditch – $9,100
Bowditch has been playing well lately. He won the Byron Nelson back in May and has had top-15 finishes that last two weeks at Travelers and Greenbrier. Bowditch is taking up quite a bit of points this week in Draft Kings so I am hoping he can score some points.
So there you go! The Front9Back9 fantasy golf picks for the John Deere Classic. Let us know what you think below or hit us up on Twitter @Front9Back9.
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