2021 John Deere Classic: Top 10 power rankings at TPC Deere Run
The John Deere Classic is turning a half century. The PGA Tour event debuted in 1971 and was slated to hold its 50th edition in 2020. The pandemic had other plans, but it’s better late than never to celebrate the big 5-0.
The JDC has never been one of the Tour’s more illustrious events, but the Quad Cities galleries come out in full force annually. The tournament has leaned into what can be perceived as a tough spot on the schedule the week before the Open Championship.
It’s combatted that predicament by chartering a plane to take Open participants overseas Sunday night. What the tournament may lack for established stars, it aims to make up for in inviting up-and-coming talent. Its sponsor exemptions skew toward current or recent college stars.
Or perhaps young pros without PGA Tour status, like Jordan Spieth when he won his first event at age 20 in 2013.
This year’s field is absent a top-10 player in both the Official World Golf Rankings and FedEx Cup standings. No. 16/23 Daniel Berger is the highest ranked player in both categories.
Four players from the top 50 in the OWGR are in the 156-player field.
It’s been a fairly dry summer in the Midwest. Possible storms early in the tournament could add moisture to a course that generally plays fairly soft.
TPC Deere Run has produced its fair share of horses for courses over the years, like fan favorites Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker. It’s hosted this event since 2000, so we have a lot of course history to work with.
The D.A. Weibring layout measures 7,268-yard par-71.
You’ve got to go low to take home the recognizbale leaping deer trophy. Michael Kim set the tournament 72-hole record of 27-under 257 in 2018. TPC Deere Run is also the site of Paul Goydos’ 59 in round 1 in 2010. That same round and year, Stricker fired 60 en route to victory.
Since 2010, the tournament winner has reached 20-under or better eight times with 18-under and 19-under for the other two.
The course’s main challenge is the treeline and thick rough that can be penal if you miss the wide, soft fairways. The greens are slow, fairly flat and receptive. There is water on several holes, as well as woods and other hazards that can penalize very wayward shots.
The fairways, tee boxes and greens are bentgrass and rough is Kentucky bluegrass.
A sampling of key stats this week include proxmity from 100-150 yards, birdie percentage and par-5 scoring.
It’s a far cry from the links golf we look forward to next week, but the JDC tends to produce some tight finishes. Nine of the last 10 editions were won by two strokes or fewer.