John Deere Classic: Top 10 power rankings at TPC Deere Run

The PGA Tour’s three-week Midwest swing comes to a close in the Quad Cities for the John Deere Classic.

The PGA Tour has just five weeks left until the FedEx Cup Playoffs. It’s getting down to crunch time and we’ll see that in play at this week’s John Deere Classic.

The drama of this event comes more with what’s on the line for those in the field.

The top player not already qualified for next week’s Open Championship will hop on a charter jet to Royal Portrush.

There are no top-50 players in the world coming to TPC Deere Run, so everyone is trying to improve their status.

A lot of players in the 156-player field are outside the top 125 in the FEC standings and need to make a move.

And make birdies.

Deere Run has enough water, tree line and sand to keep players on their toes, but this is annually one of the Tour’s easiest tests.

Michael Kim lit up the 7,257-yard par-71 track to the tune of a tournament record 27-under to win by six last year.

Eighteen-under or better has won every year since 2008 and all but two years has the winner gone 20 deep.

Most shots players are asked to hit are straightforward and driver is not advantageous on too many holes.

The bentgrass greens are slow and soft and the fairways are generous.

The rough can grow thick and the treeline, woods and water are enough to bring a big number into play if you’re off line.

Deere Run has hosted this event since 1999.

Without much top tier talent to come in and steal the show, I’m leaning toward young guys in good form and veteran horses for courses this week.

Let’s go: