Horse For The Course: PGA DFS Course History - 2026 John Deere Classic

June 29, 2026

Todd McGill's DraftKings, FanDuel PGA DFS picks for the 2026 John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run. Picks for daily fantasy golf based on course history.

It took until Monday morning to decide a winner, but the showdown last week at TPC River Highlands was as tightly-knit as expected. Viktor Hovland came back to the course and delivered one of the clutchest playoff performances we've seen in quite some time, defeating Scottie Scheffler to claim his eighth tour victory.

For the world number one, it was yet another close call and his second playoff loss this season. For the Norwegian, it was a gutsy performance that showed a ton of confidence amid a time when he has no qualms about sharing how much he's struggled this season. Both players, along with nearly every top player, will have a week off before heading across the pond in preparation for the year's final major.

Those less fortunate or still working out some kinks will be in Silvis, Illinois, for this week's John Deere Classic. This year's field has still drummed up some notable names, including Chris Gotterup, Ben Griffin, and Jordan Spieth, which is better than previous years.

For the most part, this tournament is notorious for first career victories or guys returning to lost glory. It doesn't rank highly on the priority list of top players and thus, experiences a tougher time yielding returning players consistently. There aren't many players with more than two or three years of experience, but some have figured out the key to success at TPC Deere Run in that short amount of time.

Horse For The Course is an article highlighting players in this week's field with elite course history and is part of our free PGA DFS content here at RotoBaller. For some of the favorite DFS plays of the week, check out the Core Four article written by my buddy, Joe Nicely, here at RotoBaller every Wednesday. It's part of our amazing PGA Premium package that includes an all-new PGA Research Station, Lineup Builder & Optimizer, and some of the best articles in the PGA DFS industry! You can sign up now using the Promo Code TDG for an extra 30% discount at checkout!

2026 John Deere Classic

As if this event needed any more help in the irrelevance department, coming off the heels of the US Open and a Signature Event is just nasty. But hey, someone's gotta do it, right? That being said, they were able to attract a few names of interest.

I already listed the top-ranked players earlier, but there are a few more names worthy of a little attention. Blades Brown, Jackson Koivun, and Mason Howell are giving fans another look at some of the emerging talent already–or soon to be–out on the PGA Tour for the long haul.

For players not already in the Open Championship field in a few weeks, this is the second-to-last chance for them to punch their ticket to Royal Birkdale. Like nearly every TPC course on the schedule, guys are capable of tearing Deere Run to shreds, with the winning score averaging -19.5 under par over the past 10 seasons.

Be sure to read our other top-notch weekly PGA DFS articles and Player News/Matchup Outlook Posts to help you win big!

TPC Deere Run

Par 71 - 7,327 | Greens: Creeping Bentgrass | Designed By: D.A. Weibring & Chris Gray

Notoriously one of the easiest courses on the PGA Tour, TPC Deere Run yields a ton of birdies thanks to players having many wedges and short irons into holes, combined with some of the largest fairways seen all season. However, this isn't a bomb-and-gouge course, as hole lengths don't create meaningful separation to give long hitters an advantage. As long as they can find it off the tee, they're in business.

Success this week rides on how well players can hit their approach shots and how many birdies they can make. There is also some importance in around the green performance, with bogeys here feeling like they're giving up more than just a shot to the field.

Because the recipe is so cut-and-dried, many younger players tend to succeed at this event more frequently than at more challenging venues. It's a little easier to settle in if the course isn't demanding perfection on every swing. Nonetheless, the player who comes out victorious by Sunday evening will have had their foot on the gas starting Thursday morning and never let it off.

Recent John Deere Classic Winners

• 2025: Brian Campbell (-18)
• 2024: Davis Thompson (-28)
• 2023: Sepp Straka (-21)
• 2022: J.T. Poston (-21)
• 2021: Lucas Glover (-19)

The Horse

Denny McCarthy

Notable Finishes: T6 ('22 & '23), T7 ('24), T11 ('25)

As one of the few players to have played this event in each iteration over the last five seasons, Denny McCarthy has been the poster child for consistency. He's averaging positive strokes gained across the board during that time, and is coming off a T14 last week in Connecticut.

The 33-year-old has been underwhelming all season long, but gaining strokes on approach for the second consecutive week and off the tee for the first time since April may be a sign that he's ready for another strong week at TPC Deere Run. The putting and short game are usually never the concerns, so as long as he can hit it well enough to capitalize on looks, McCarthy should be a decent DFS option.

Did you know RotoBaller has a Premium PGA DFS and Betting subscription? Check out the recent big winner below! Show your support for Todd by using the discount code TDG to save 30% on any PGA Premium Pass, this week only. Gain full access to all Premium articles, DFS and betting tools, Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, and weekly picks from proven winners!

GAIN FULL ACCESS HERE

The King of DFS did it again in R3 Showdown. @draftmasterflex pic.twitter.com/NojMJ9uJp8

— RotoBaller PGA (@RotoBallerPGA) March 8, 2026

It’s always fun to hit an outright, especially when it’s over 100/1 and with a player that has a story like Gary Woodland!

Catch my @Novig picks FREE every week @RotoBaller 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RDWt2asRnA

— Joe Nicely (@JoeNicely) March 29, 2026

The Ponies

Emiliano Grillo

Notable Finishes: P2 ('25), T2 ('22)

That's a heck of a round from the morning wave! 👏

It's a 67 for Emiliano Grillo. pic.twitter.com/Tx4KeS2hFI

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 20, 2026

It was an extremely close call last year for Emiliano Grillo, who matched the eventual winner, Brian Campbell, round-for-round until the playoff. It was his second runner-up finish here in three tries, averaging 0.954 strokes gained putting and 0.754 off the tee.

The 33-year-old is coming off back-to-back respectable performances at the RBC Canadian Open and the US Open, finishing inside the top 25 in both. He is a modest birdie-maker who can fire low rounds any given day. As long as the putter that carried him through his last two starts is still hot, he could find himself in the mix again this week.

Davis Thompson

Notable Finishes: 1st ('24), T18 ('25)

Davis Thompson takes a six-shot lead with a scorching 29 on the front nine. 🔥😳

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/Oi8mg1Sy8s

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 7, 2024

Davis Thompson had a respectable defense last year following his record-shattering victory in 2024. The former Georgia Bulldog has found success at TPC Deere Run thanks to a great wedge game that ranks in the top 25% this year across all of professional golf.

His biggest detriment this season has been a feast-or-famine output on the greens. However, the leading metrics for him at this event have been strokes gained putting (0.657) and around the green (0.672). If that continues to be the case this week, his ball striking should do enough to produce another solid performance.

Michael Thorbjornsen

Notable Finishes: T2 ('24), T17 ('23)

A magician around the greens! 🪄⁰
Michael Thorbjornsen fires a 64 (-7) to climb into second at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson. He gained +1.367 strokes around the greens on the field. #TP5 pic.twitter.com/lqh6MshcpA

— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) May 21, 2026

While not necessarily associated with the long-hitting archetype of a Michael Thorbjornsen, the 24-year-old has been in the conversation in two out of three attempts. But he may be the one player in the field this week who can actually make distance a factor.

Despite the off-the-tee prowess, Thor is a vastly underrated wedge and short iron player who is also serviceable on and around the greens. However, if he is to continue this run of success at this golf course, he'll need to tap into the scoring ability that has been scarce for him this season.

More PGA Analysis and Picks

If you read my articles @RotoBaller or listen to @TheTurnGolfPod I’ve been telling y’all it was #WinningSeason when golf came back! Shoutout to the entire @RotoBallerPGA squad and all you guys that support my work for all the ❤️ pic.twitter.com/07a4ynvbSU

— Joe Nicely (@JoeNicely) June 28, 2020

Congrats @tenndolly2 ???

Thanks for being a @RotoBaller PGA DFS Premium subscriber & checking out all the amazing golf content that @JoeNicely produces every week! https://t.co/tHKZVsPbbt

— RotoBaller PGA (@RotoBallerPGA) August 10, 2020