? COURSE: TPC Deere Run, 7,268 yards, par 71. Built on the
site of a long-ago tribal village and Arabian horse farm, D.A.
Weibring's 1999 design makes skilled use of rolling woodlands alongside
the Rock River. Dramatic elevation changes frame several holes, notably
the downhill 14th that measures 358 yards but can be drivable in the
right conditions. Typically a place that yields low scores, Deere Run
carved a place in the history books four years ago when Paul Goydos
carded just the fourth 59 recorded on the PGA TOUR. Eventual winner
Steve Stricker shot 60 that day.
? FIELD WATCH: Defending champion Jordan Spieth and Steve
Stricker, a three-time John Deere winner, top a lineup with three of the
current top 20 in the world rankings. Zach Johnson, champion in 2012,
is the third member of the trio. … Johnson and Chris Kirk, No .7 in
FedExCup points, are among 10 of this season's PGA TOUR winners to
commit to Deere Run. … David Duval, the 2001 Open Championship winner,
makes his eight start of 2014 as he prepares for his past-champion entry
at Royal Liverpool. … Reigning NCAA champion Cameron Wilson is in on a
sponsor exemption, as are fellow college standouts Bobby Wyatt (Alabama)
and Jordan Niebrugge (Oklahoma State).
? 72-HOLE RECORD: 258, Steve Stricker (2010).
? 18-HOLE RECORD: 59, Paul Goydos (1st round, 2010).
? LAST YEAR: Speith became the PGA TOUR's first teenage winner
since 1911, holing out from a greenside bunker to end regulation and
denying Johnson back-to-back Deere titles in a playoff that went five
holes and also featured David Hearn. Spieth finally ended it on the
fourth play at No. 18, when he was the only man to find the green after
driving into tree trouble. The 19-year-old Texan became the first teen
to win a PGA TOUR event since Johnny McDermott captured the 1911 U.S.
Open. Spieth, who left the University of Texas midyear, arrived at Deere
Run on special temporary status following a pair of top-10 finishes in
March. Victory elevated him to full membership.
? STORYLINES: Johnson, a Cedar Rapids native, has finished
outside the top three just once in his past five visits and holds a
current string of 20 consecutive rounds in the 60s at Deere Run. He also
was runner-up in 2009 and shared third in 2011. … Despite recent top-5
finishes at the Masters and THE PLAYERS, Spieth remains in quest of his
first win since last year's breakthrough. He's currently No.6 in the
FedExCup points race. … Stricker tries again to become the tournament's
first four-time winner. His run from 2009-11 remains the last time
anyone has won a PGA TOUR event in three consecutive years. … The final
British Open berth next week awaits the highest top-5 finisher who
hasn't already punched his ticket to Royal Liverpool.
? SHORT CHIPS: A total of 19 entrants at Deere Run already
have qualified for next week's British Open lineup. A charter flight
awaits them Sunday night, provided by Deere Classic officials each year
to fly them across the Atlantic. … Stricker is one of just five men to
win the John Deere Classic more than once in its 43-year existence.
Weibring also captured three titles, with two each by Deane Beman, Scott
Hoch and David Frost. … The field boasts four former University of
Illinois standouts ? Stricker, D.A. Points, Scott Langley and Luke
Guthrie. Friday traditionally is designated as Illini Day at Deere Run.
Last week's winner - dfs.
Updated Standings
1. dfs - 7940
2. Bill - 7913
3. 2952 - 6858
4. NMT - 6667
5. Sea - 6473
6. Ocala - 5838
7. Bobcat - 5768
8. NiA - 5341
9. DL - 5324
10. Lizard - 4943
11. 67810 - 4397
12. Ed - 4335
13. pdubb - 2947
14.g2f - 2758
Good Luck!
This post was edited on 7/13 7:45 PM by DFSNOLE
Field
