2026 John Deere Classic Preview | TPC Deere Run Course Success, Field Analysis, Player Profiles

With The Open Championship now just two weeks away, the PGA Tour heads to TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, for the John Deere Classic. Despite a weakened field, there will be plenty of eyes on TPC Deere Run this week as it will mark the official first start as a professional for Jackson Koivun, who now joins the PGA Tour as a full-time player after his dominant NCAA career at Auburn. Koivun was the low amateur at the US Open two weeks ago, finishing T23 in his last start as an amateur. This week presents one of the easiest opportunities for players, often playing as one of the lowest-scoring events on the schedule. And for a lot of players, it marks one of the last full-field opportunities as we head to Scotland and England for the last major of the year, with the FedEx Cup Playoffs fast approaching.

The Course

TPC Deere Run is one that is getable but requires players to be strategic. Designed by former PGA Tour winner D.A. Weibring alongside Chris Gray, the course features dramatic elevation changes, rolling fairways, and trees, creating a parkland layout that rewards aggressive shot-making rather than simply overpowering the course. Unlike many modern PGA Tour courses that rely on length, TPC Deere Run places a premium on positioning and precision. Elevation changes frequently alter club selection, while tree-lined corridors force players to shape tee shots rather than simply hitting driver everywhere. The course consistently ranks among the easiest on Tour, with rough that is manageable and green complexes that are receptive, creating numerous birdie opportunities.

Distance off the tee is helpful but far from essential. Players keep pace simply by finding fairways and leaving themselves comfortable wedge numbers. Players will often choose less than driver, removing some of the few defences that the course offers. The fairways are generous but heavily contoured, meaning drives can feed into awkward lies or poor angles, which highlights the importance of driving accuracy and makes it more valuable than average. This week you will see an emphasis on good drives gained, driving accuracy, and positioning over raw power.

Approach play is consistently the strongest predictor of success here, as TPC Deere Run produces one of the highest percentages of wedge and short-iron approaches on Tour. Expect a large volume of approaches from:

• 75-100 yards
• 100-125 yards
• 125-150 yards

Elite wedge players create frequent birdie chances, and because so many opportunities are created, players simply need to convert an above-average percentage from the 10-20 foot range. With the greens being relatively receptive and the bunkering being straightforward compared to many PGA Tour stops, scrambling essentially becomes less important here. This often becomes a putting contest among players already gaining strokes with their irons.

The Field

• Field: 144 Players
• Cut: Top 65 + Ties
• FedExCup: 500 Points (Winner)
• Purse: $8,800,000

Course Success

With a strong course history, what course success looks like at TPC Deere Run is relatively straightforward. The profile of previous winners is that of players who work with the course and manage it, with accurate driving being paired with strong wedge play and putting. The key separators per round here are Approach and Putting, not Off the Tee and Around the Green. Here are the most important stats for me this week:

• SG: Approach
• SG: Putting
• Good Drives Gained
• Approach 75-100
• Birdie or Better %

Player Profiles

Blades Brown

Odds: 70, 69/1, +6900

In an event with so much hype around one of the PGA Tour's future brightest stars in Jackson Koivun, the betting market seemingly has forgotten all about another one in Blades Brown. Currently tearing through the Korn Ferry Tour, where he has done everything but win this season. His form on the PGA Tour has been superb as well. Last month, in his two starts, he had a T9 at the Myrtle Beach Classic and a T14 at the Byron Nelson. In the seven PGA Tour events he has played this year, he has one missed cut and has finished T26 or better in five starts. I'm betting Blades anytime I can in this price range. He is that much fun to watch.

Key Ranks - Last 20 Rounds

• SG: Approach — 7th
• SG: Putting — 20th
• Birdie or Better % — 2nd

Denny McCarthy

Odds: 50, 49/1, +4900

With an event that becomes a bit of a putting show, you always want to have someone on your card who is largely known for that aspect of their game. I thought about two guys here for this spot. Factoring in the other make-up of TPC Deere Run and what you need, it came down to Jacob Bridgeman and Denny McCarthy. I went with the latter based on the bigger price and his course history here. In his last four starts, he has a T11, a T7, and two T6 finishes. When you think about success for Denny, a course like this is kind of his bread and butter. Driver Accuracy % is trending up over the last month, but he isn't going to blow you away with his recent numbers. For what it's worth, Bridgeman had a T5 here last year and I think he is still a consideration to be on your card.

Key Ranks - Last 20 Rounds

• SG: Putting — 14th

Emiliano Grillo

Odds: 70, 69/1, +6900

This one was an instant bet when the market opened. His price has softened a little since then, but it is still a play for me at this price in this kind of field. Coming off a T23 at the US Open and a T20 at the RBC Canadian Open, he gained strokes with the putter and is someone who finished outright second here last year, with a T2 back in 2022 as well. This track clearly suits his game, and he stood out at his opening price compared to others around him. He is accurate off the tee, and he is that streaky kind of scorer that fits really well for this event. He will be someone I look at for Top Finishes and First Round Leader, knowing that you are likely going to get a show. He has made four cuts in a row since the PGA Championship, which capped off a really ugly month of golf. Good spot for him to keep trending upwards.

Key Ranks - Last 20 Rounds

• Driver Accuracy % — 3rd
• SG: Approach — 22nd
• Birdie or Better % — 26th
• Proximity 50-100 — 11th

Zach Bauchou

Odds: 110, 109/1, +10900

From a price point, I think this is my best value spot for this week. His approach game and accuracy off the tee are trending in a big way over the last month and a bit. He missed the cut at the RBC Canadian Open but had a string of four T28 or better finishes prior to that, including a T6 at the Byron Nelson. From a metrics point of view, he ticks a lot of the boxes for the success profile here. The only worry for me with Bauchou is the putter and whether he can hang in for four days in a row in an event where you really need to. At this price, I will take that on because Deere Run isn't going to overpower you with green complexity.

Key Ranks - Last 20 Rounds

• SG: Approach — 17th
• Overall Proximity — 23rd
• Proximity 50-100 — 18th
• Birdie or Better % — 23rd

Lucas Glover

Odds: 170, 169/1, +16900

Glover's history here is incredible. In his last six starts here, he has a T5, T6, T10, T23, and won the 2021 event. The game isn't in the best place, but you're taking a guy with a really strong course history who is extremely accurate off the tee at a big price. With a weak field, this is the kind of event where you want to take some shots on guys at bigger prices. Brian Campbell missed six cuts in his previous eleven starts leading into winning here last year. Deere Run isn't a course that requires you to be firing heading into it.

Key Ranks - Last 20 Rounds

• Driver Accuracy % — 2nd
• Good Drive % — 3rd
• Overall Proximity — 7th