John Deere Classic

July 12 - July 15, 2007
TPC Deere Run
Silvis, IL
Par: 71 / Yardage: 7,257
Purse: $4.1 million with $738,000 going to the winner
Defending Champion: John Senden

List of Champions & Scores

Results & Scores 2006 John Deere Classic

Box Score of 2006 John Deere Classic

Tournament facts:

Tournament information:

The John Deere Classic took center stage in 2005 when Michelle Wie attempted to become the first woman to make a PGA cut since Babe Didrikson Zaharias. After a first round 1-under, Wie found herself in prime position to make the cut. Through 14 holes in Round 2 Wie was 3-under for the day, 4-under for the tournament. Her momentum dissipated on Number 15 as she proceeded to severely pull her drive, then from there chip into a bunker, and eventually, make Double Bogey. Wie ended up missing the cut by one shot.

Course information:

With land and historical preservation paramount in his mind, Weibring drew up plans for the course that entailed very little molding, mostly just adjusting to the 170-acre venue. When the course was finished in 1999, Weibring had managed to disturb less than 60 acres of the site. After the course's completion, Weibring decided to name each golf hole to further pay homage to the surrounding area.

The resultant Par 71, plays at 7,257 yards for the tournament. It has a course rating of 75.1 and a slope rating of 130. The tee boxes and fairways feature a 0.325" and 0.4" cut, respectively, of Southshore Creeping bent grass, while the greens are a 0.115" cut of L-93 Creeping Bent Grass. The rough is a 4" cut of Kentucky Blue Grass. Lining the course is 78 bunkers and three water hazards that come into play on five holes.

The synergy of TPC Deere Run and its surroundings create the course's beauty, and its difficulty. The holes have very natural feels and incorporate the lay of the land if at all possible. Because of this, the course offers birdie opportunities for successful shot-making, but bad shots do not come with impunity.

Number 14 is the best example of this. The 358-yard Par 4 is driveable because it plays downhill, but those who attempt it do so at their own risk. If the drive comes up short, the player is faced with a blind approach shot to an elevated green. If the drive is long, the golfer runs the risk of having their ball trickle down the nearly 60-foot embankment that guards the rear of the green.

The course's signature hole, number 16, is known as Mother Earth. The scenic Par 3 lies on a 40-foot bluff that overlooks the Rock River. The hole requires all carry and is guarded in front by two large bunkers. Any slip-up in the approach could lead to a 4.

The Buzz:

After a successful week at the AT&T National, the players are raving over the tournament and even officials and Tiger Woods are looking for a possible long range commitment. The USA Today reported on Tuesday that AT&T National officials have offered Congressional a 20 year contract, which stunned the club. Still the major stumbling block is the U.S. Amateur in 2009 and the U.S. Open in 2011. With these the clubs hands are tied, they don't want the AT&T National in the off year in 2010. Look for a compromise as the tournament goes off to RTJ in 2009 for three years, the course was the site of the Presidents Cup. Then in 2012 the tournament could come back.

If it's not bad enough for the John Deere that people are talking about last week, they are also talking about next week and the British Open. On nice thing for the winner, if he isn't in the British Open will be given the last saved spot for the tournament, but that has created hassles because it's not easy to get to Scotland from the John Derre, last year John Senden didn't arrive at Hoylake until Wednesday, not giving him much time to get use to the course.

For those that do get to TPC at Deere Run, they love the course as players have given it rave reviews since it debut in 2000.

Here are some things to look for this week:

Photo: © Al Messerschmidt/Wire Images The 18th Hole of TPC Deere Run, home of the 2007 John Deere Classic..

• Key stat for the winner:
  Hitting lots of greens. Since the course was first used in 2000, the winners have finished T5th (Michael Clark II), 4th (David Goosett), 1st (J.P. Hayes), T5th (Vijay Singh), T23rd (Mark Hensby), T2nd (Sean O'Hair) and T2nd John Senden) in greens hit showing that if you hit a lot of greens, you will do well.
• Even though the fairways aren't that demanding, for J.P. Hayes (2002),Mark Hensby (2004) and Sean O'Hair (2005) this has proven to help in there victories.
• Being in the lead after the third round doesn't guarantee a victory, especially at the John Deere. Since 1995 only four players, David Toms in 1997, David Gossett in 2001, J.P. Hayes in 2002 John Senden last year have led going into the final round. In 2005 J.L. Lewis was the leader and shot 72 in the final round. John Senden last year put a dent in this stat with his victory after having the third round lead.
• Always think underdog or new player that has never won before. Since the event moved to the TPC course only one favorite has won (Vijay Singh in 2003).
• The tournament has the overall reputation of first time winners. Since 1973, 18 rookie winners including six of the last eight (J.L. Lewis in 1999, Michael Clark in 2000, David Gossett in 2001, Mark Hensby in 2004, Sean O'Hair and John Senden last year) have won the John Deere so the trend may continue this week.


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