Key Fantasy Stats Derre Run

John Deere Classic

August 11th – 14th, 2016

TPC Deere Run

Silvis, IL

Par: 71 / Yardage: 7,268

Purse: $4.8 million

with $864,000 to the winner

Defending Champion:
Jordan Spieth

by Sal Johnson

Founder, Chief Data Officer, GOLFstats

E-mail me at:
sal@golfstats.com

This is based on the most vital stats from TPC Deere Run, based on data from last year’s John Deere and using data from all the players in the field with stats from 2016.
The most important thing to realize about TPC Deere Run, is that it’s one of the rare courses on tour that benefits short hitters and those that hit it long have no real advantage, matter of fact those that hit it long have to throttle back a bit because they run out of fairway. The course plays at 7,268 hards but the fairways are always firm and get a lot of role. In a era in which courses have six or more par 4s over 450 yards, Deere Run only has three par 4s over 450 yards. On top of that all three par 5s are accessible in two even for the shorter hitters, so you can see why the winners ranks of late have short hitters like Zach Johnson, Steve Stricker and Sen O’Hair winning.
Lot’s of birdies are always made on the course, last year 1,803 were made with only Glen Abbey and TPC Louisiana seeing more birdies made. The greens are easy to read and do well on them so this course also caters to players who don’t putt very well. Now the tournament is being played six weeks later and that shouldn’t change anything because the fairways will still have a lot of run and the hot summer days will give the ball as much carry as it had before.
So in looking at our four categories, we see how much driving makes a difference. But instead of looking for those that hit it long, those that hit it short will at least have as much of a chance as the longer hitter. The fairways are easy to hit so driving accuracy means very little. Putting average is important because this is a course that is easy to putt, not much undulation in the greens so poor putters have a good chance this week. Last is birdies, those at the top will make a lot of them and it’s a requirement to win. The course is pretty easy, last year with played to an average of 69.65 so a shot and a half under par. It’s ranked 43rd hardest in a field of 52, but of the nine that have played easier only one course TPC Louisiana saw a full field play the course. Normally we would say that a non-marquee name will win, but that isn’t the case. In the last eight years we have seen Steve Stricker win three times, Jordan Spieth win twice along with Zach Johnson and Kenny Perry so the event has see some marquee champions.

*Driving Distance: Measurements off the tee to see who drives it the furthest or the shortest

*Driving Accuracy: Who hits the most fairways.

*Putting Average: The average number of putts in a round, based on the year.

*Birdies: Players that make the most birdies

One thing, on driving distance we re-ranked the players from shortest hitter being number one to the longest being last.

Players from this year’s field with stats from 2016:

Click any column title in the table header to sort columns.

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