Previewing the John Deere Classic: Key PGA Tour Insights
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00As we get ready for this week on the PGA TOUR, what are a few things that people need to
00:08know about the John Deere Classic, a staple of any PGA TOUR summer?
00:12Well, you know what guys, I mean this is one of those classic summer birdie fests that
00:16has a little bit of a weaker field because guys are preparing and they're packing to
00:20go over to Scotland for the British Open.
00:22But you know what?
00:23There is an interesting field here and there was a lot of action on the odds board yesterday
00:27because when Friday's field list came out of the 156 that are playing, Patrick Cantley
00:32was there for the first time in his 13-year professional career.
00:36He was coming to the Quad Cities and everybody was like, whoa, what's this guy doing?
00:40You know what?
00:41He's had some great finishes lately, so he's probably trying to build towards the next
00:44major championship.
00:45And then on Monday, he withdraws.
00:47And there was all sorts of action in and around the odds board.
00:50Some of the other favorites like Sepp Straka, Sung Jae Im, you had to get there before the
00:54books adjusted.
00:55So it was a little bit active for a Monday at the John Deere Classic, which is usually
00:59kind of a sleepy tournament when it comes to week-to-week on the PGA Tour.
01:03If we take a look, Keith, at the tournament itself, being played at TPC Deere Run, 7,200
01:08yards, a par 71.
01:11What can we anticipate from this golf course?
01:12Do we anticipate a lot of scores going low or do we think that this golf course can hold
01:16up against these professionals?
01:18Donnie, I'm not sure.
01:20I mean, they could line all the tractors up they want there, but it's not going to hold
01:23up to these guys.
01:25Even the middle-tier guys are too elite for this place.
01:27And it's a bit of a rinse, rewind, repeat.
01:30For the third week in a row, we're looking for a very similar skill set.
01:33First and foremost, you've got to be able to putt at this place.
01:36You've got to get to 20 under par.
01:38I mean, the average winning score over the last five is 22 under par.
01:42So we're really looking for guys that can roll the rock.
01:44Now, the good news is that this place is far less difficult than last week.
01:48One of those Donald Ross screens in Detroit is that we're out here now, it's D.A. Weibring's
01:52design.
01:53I know.
01:54Not a classic.
01:55So therefore, you know, guys make a lot of putts here.
01:58The second thing is that we're looking for a combination of the wedge game.
02:01About 30 of your approach shots are coming from 100 to 150 yards.
02:04So guys that are great with a wedge in order to score.
02:07And then also we have three par fives on the property, and we have three par fours over
02:11475 yards.
02:13So I love a little bit of long iron play mixed in there, too, to capitalize on those scoring
02:17moments.
02:18And the third thing is that I just need guys that can make birdies.
02:21So that birdie or better percentage, I want guys that can absolutely just fill up the
02:25bucket.
02:26I don't care about bogey or double bogey because quite frankly, guys don't make them here.
02:30So I want guys that are aggressive players.