John Deere Classic Power Rankings: Top 10 picks for TPC Deere Run

It’s hard to believe Zach Johnson’s only won this event once. Johnson, a member of the John Deere Classic’s Board of Directors, won the JDC in 2012.

Here are his results playing this event every year since 2002. He really gets into gear with a T2 in 2009: MC-MC-T20-T36-T33-MC-T69-T2-T21-T3-1-T2-2-T3-T34-T5

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native knows this course like the back of his hand and, along with Steve Stricker, are overwhelming fan favorites on site in the Midwest.

"“This tournament has meant so much to me and my family over the years. Just the experience I gained here I think with sponsor’s exemptions in the past,” Johnson said in 2012. “And then, you know, being a part of the board and knowing how they go about their business week‑to‑week, day‑to‑day giving back, it certainly fits the mold as to what I’m trying to do.”"

This year has been very steady, yet unspectacular year for ZJ. The 42-year-old has missed just one cut in 13 stroke play events but has yet to contend late on a Sunday.

Johnson finished four off the pace to place solo fifth at the Texas Open for his best result. He was T19 in his last start at the Travelers Championship and posted a solid T12 at the U.S. Open.

Johnson also took T36 at the Masters and earned four top-30s early in 2018.

In the 2017-18 season, Johnson is 26th in strokes gained around the green and 18th on approaches. He’s going to find plenty of fairways this week, too. ZJ should have a better week on these familiar greens than what he’s been able to achieve this season (90th in strokes gained putting).

He isn’t known as a birdie maker, but he’s 40th in the stat this season and certainly knows how to throttle up for the birdie barrage that is the JDC.