To not only my home state, but also the course I grew up right next to, we head over to TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois for the 2025 John Deere Classic. As this is a bit of a home event for me, I am biased in that this is one of my favorites to watch every single season.  

Let’s dive in!

 

John Deere Classic 2025: Daily Fantasy Golf Picks & Projections

The John Deere Classic has been a mainstay on tour since 1971. Originally known as the Quad Cities Open, this event was always a special one for me. Even as a smaller event, we've seen some interesting outcomes here, such as the inaugural event being won by a future PGA Tour commissioner in Deane Beman (who defended their championship the next year), or a sponsors exemption going to teenager Michelle Wie for the first time. Always a bit of a birdie-fest, let's take a look at the venue.

 

TPC Deere Run: Course Breakdown This Week

TPC Deere Run is one of the courses on tour that I have personal experiences with, as my grandfather worked here after his retirement from John Deere. Located in Silvis, IL this course has a 25 year history on the PGA Tour. Playing at Par of 71 and just under 7,300 yards, this event’s course record was set just last year by Davis Thompson at 256 strokes (or 28 under par).

They make up of this course is relatively straight forward. The par 3s all play between 158 and 226 yards, the par 4s all between 360 and 500 yards, and the par 5s all 560-596. This gives us clear yardage buckets for all pars on course. Known for it’s wide fairways and large greens, both of which are bent grass, this event is a ball-strikers paradise as the tree-lined fairways and long rough require some finesse and strategy that limit the ability to bomb-and-gouge this course. 

Given all of this information, our key stats are clear. Birdies or Better Gained is a must this week, as this is an absolute birdie-fest. Driving accuracy is the only major statistic that plays above average in terms of importance this week, which is no surprise given how tough this course can be when you miss the fairways. That said, in 2024 every major stat outside of driving distance saw a boost. When it comes to approach, there is a clear buckets to target, with 100-150 and the 225-250 buckets being well above tour average here. Short game will also see a bump this week, no surprise given the large greens and high GIR percentage we typically see here. Lastly, Par 5:550-600 will be of extra importance as well as these are the separating holes historically. 

Some top players in key stats this week:

Birdies or Better Gained: Stephan Jaeger, Jake Knapp, Luke Clanton, Sungjae Im, Alex Smalley, Jesper Svensson, Isaiah Salinda, Joe Highsmith, Kevin Yu, Si Woo Kim

SG: Approach: Ben Griffin, Henrik Norlander, Emiliano Grillo, Victor Perez, Bud Cauley, Lucas Glover, Joel Dahmen, John Pak, Sami Valimaki, Luke Clanton

Prox from 100-150: Max McGreevy, Andrew Putnam, Lucas Glover, Greyson Sigg, Eric Cole, Emiliano Grillo, Henrik Norlander, Denny McCarthy, Lee Hodges

 

John Deere Classic 2025 Field: Golf DFS

Unsurprising given this history of this event, this will likely be the weakest field we cover in 2025. Ben Griffin is the highest ranked player at 17th in the OWGR, and there are in-fact more players outside the top 200 than there are inside of it this week, and more unranked players than there are in the top 50. Davis Thompson is the defending champion in the field this week, though previous winners in the field include J.T. Poston, Lucas Glover, Dylan Frittelli, Michael Kim, and Zach Johnson are in the field this week. 

 

This Week’s PGA DFS Optimizer & Lineup Generator

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PGA Best Bets & Predictions: 2025 John Deere Classic (17-28 Overall, +5.10 Units)

  • Alex Smalley: Top 20 (+240)
  • Harry Higgs: Made Cut (+105) 
  • John Deere Classic One and Done Picks: 
    • Michael Thorbjornsen 
    • Alex Smalley
    • Lucas Glover
    • Taylor Moore
 

GOLF DFS PICKS THIS WEEK: Top Tier

Ben Griffin ($10,400 DraftKings/$12,200 FanDuel)

With Griffin, we’re just going to continue riding the hot hand. He picked up another top 15 finish at the Rocket Classic last week, which is not too dissimilar of a course. He maintains solid all around stats and his accuracy off the tee has really taken a turn over the last 8 events. He debuted here last year, and picked up a T5th finish which was one of only 2 that he picked up in 2024. 

Jason Day ($10,500 DraftKings/$12,000 FanDuel)

Day has consistently played well here, with 3 finishes in the top 25 over his last 4 starts here, and importantly has never missed the cut at this event. Since his return from injury at the US Open, he’s rattled off two strong events and looks to be continuing the great form he ended 2024 and started 2025 with. His approach play is the biggest area of concern for him here, but I truly think he’s turning a corner with those shots given his performance at Travelers. 

Luke Clanton ($8,700 DraftKings/$11,300 FanDuel)

In his debut here last year, he finished T2nd. While we have not seen him play super well in PGA Tour events this year, this event suits his game nearly perfectly. His big cut fits this course perfectly, and his iron play has remained solid here. He’s historically been a better putter on bent grass which is a plus, and I can’t think of a better option (especially when you see that price so low on DraftKings).

 

GOLF DFS PICKS THIS WEEK: MID-TIER

Bud Cauley ($8,600 DraftKings/$10,200 FanDuel)

Cauley is another one of those guys who lines up well for this course and has the results to back it up. He’s been accurate as anyone off the tee, strong on approach, and solid with the flat-stick. He’s going to need to hit the green, as he’s struggled with the wedges this year, but the upside is high as a guy with 3 top 20 finishes in his last 4 starts here. 

Michael Kim ($8,200 DraftKings/$10,100 FanDuel)

Kim is the boom-bust call in this bracket. In his last 5 starts here, he’s missed 4 cuts and won once. But his 2025 game has been solid, though has fallen off since the API. If his driver cooperates with him, he’s got the rest of the game to pull this type of win off. He’s not putt well here since his win, but has putt well through pretty much all of 2025. He’s also been very, very good with the wedges and on approach. If he can put a few things together, he can maybe get another win. 

Lucas Glover ($9.000 DraftKings/$10,000 FanDuel)

Glover has been a mainstay at this event, which is not surprising given his success here. He’s gotten a win and 4 top 25 finishes in his last 6 starts here and has played well on some of our comparative courses. He’s struggled with the flat-stick this year, but has pretty much always putt well at this event, and has been extremely accurate off the tee and strong on approach this year. He’s always in the conversation for this event, so it should be no shock to see him here.

 

 

GOLF DFS PICKS THIS WEEK: VALUE TIER

Alex Smalley ($7,900 DraftKings/$9,900 FanDuel)

Our 2023 runner up at this event, I’m going to take a shot on him here. While he hasn’t been playing the elite golf he played from the Sony Open through The Players, he’s gotten some good finishes over the last two months. He remains incredibly accurate off the tee, and has the game around the green and on approach to pull this one out. This is the perfect bounce back event for him.

Keith Mitchell ($7,800 DraftKings/$9,800 FanDuel)

Mitchell is the ideal type of boring golfer to have in lineups this week. He’s gotten some good finishes here over the years, with a T18th last year and T7th just 4 years ago. He’s remained a strong ball-striker and both long and accurate off the tee, he just needs the putter to come to life here. 

Jackson Koivun ($6,800 DraftKings/$8,000 FanDuel)

Koivun is here for one reason and one reason only: amateurs can play well here and have played well here. While there are a ton to pick from in this weeks field, Koivun is my favorite and has elite upside as he’s proven time and time again in college and in his few tour starts. He’s going to simply be a fun guy to root for. 

 

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