Kevin Yu a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
Source: PGA Tour
There are certain places that particular players check all the boxes for. Kevin Yu is the person this week at the John Deere Classic, where he's making his third career appearance after finishing T6-T20 the past two years. From a statistical point of view, the important metrics are all those that Yu ranks highly in. The 26-year-old ranks inside the top 60 in driving accuracy (61.7%) and inside the top 40 in driving distance (307). He also ranks 11th in proximity from 50-125 yards (16' 6") and 19th in birdie average (4.15). At $10,500, it will be a huge surprise if he doesn't find a way to be a part of this tournament. J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Source: Data Golf
Site of his second career PGA Tour victory in 2022, J.T. Poston is returning to TPC Deere Run looking to find the same level of play we saw from him earlier this year. Approach play has been the biggest detriment as of late, losing 7.96 strokes in three of his last four starts. The putter tends to keep the 32-year-old in the game more than any other club in the bag. However, he's lost strokes at an alarming pace in two of his last three starts, with his performance at the Memorial (-2.01) being his worst putting performance in nine events. Sitting at 47th in the FedEx Cup race, Poston needs a couple of solid finishes down the stretch if he hopes to make it to East Lake. At $11,600 on FanDuel, Poston is worth the risk at a place that holds good vibes on greens he is unquestionably comfortable putting on.Thriston Lawrence a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Source: Data Golf
June was quite the month for Thriston Lawrence, who was the biggest surprise on the U.S. Open leaderboard (T8) before finishing T12 last week in Detroit. The game has made a dramatic turn in nearly all facets for the South African. He ranks near the top 30 in driving accuracy (64.32%), but the positive trend in approach play and putting has only come on within the last few starts. The 28-year-old has averaged +0.526 over his previous five starts in strokes gained on approach and +0.732 putting. With everything he's stirred up in recent events, he's certainly at a new level of interest in DFS formats for those willing to ride the hype train. Perhaps it isn't time to jump off just yet.Tom Kim Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Source: Data Golf
It has been a frustrating season for Tom Kim, who missed the cut in Detroit last week with rounds of 67-76. It was his 10th consecutive event losing strokes on approach, and he lost strokes off the tee for the eighth time in that same span. That's impossible to overcome on the PGA Tour stage, and is likely the reason he's making the start this week for the first time in his career, as he sits close to the top 100 bubble for the FedEx Cup. There is nothing to suggest that the 23-year-old is trending in a positive direction worth taking a chance on in DFS lineups.Si Woo Kim is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Source: Data Golf
It has not been a fun time inside the ropes for Si Woo Kim in recent weeks, having withdrawn from the Travelers Championship and finishing nearly dead last among those who made the cut last week in Detroit. Putting has gone as far south as one could imagine for such a highly-regarded player, as the fresh 30-year-old has lost an average of -1.92 on the greens over his last three events. That is heavily weighted by the -3.75 strokes he lost in Connecticut, but TPC Deere Run demands a level of putting prowess that the South Korean hasn't shown since May. Regardless of the ball striking, which remains a strength, it's unlikely that Kim will do enough on and around the greens to warrant much consideration at the hefty price of $11,700 on FanDuel.Ben Griffin is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Source: Data Golf
Hoping to build on his T5 finish here last season and continue his impressive run since winning the Zurich Classic in April, Ben Griffin should have a strong chance to capture his second win this season. The game that's been on display for the last 10 weeks or so doesn't exactly correlate with what's shown in season-long metrics. Over his last six starts, Griffin is averaging +0.941 strokes gained putting, +0.91 strokes on approach, and +0.588 off the tee. Two of which were at venues with shorter approach shots and a heavy reliance on making a ton of putts. There's a reason he is the leading DFS option this week, and those willing to deal with heavy ownership shouldn't hesitate to get him into lineups.Jason Day is a Fine Play With Limited Upside at John Deere Classic
It's a bit surprising to see Jason Day, who is inside the top 30 in FedEx Cup points and continues to show great form, make the trip this week to Illinois for one of the more mundane events on the PGALuke Clanton Looks to Have Another Strong Week at TPC Deere Run
Source: PGA Tour
Perhaps the biggest coming-out event of last season for Luke Clanton came at this week's John Deere Classic, where the then-amateur posted bookend 63s to finish tied for second. His distance off the tee is a help at most places (311.6), and while it certainly isn't a bad thing here, accuracy is usually the more important of the two. The former Seminole is only averaging negative strokes gained metrics in one area: putting (-0.045). However, it's also important to note that his good weeks with the flat stick are solid for someone with clear struggles in this area. Given who we've seen get their first career wins here, it seems like a spot meant for the 21-year-old to at least scare again.Aldrich Potgieter Wins Rocket Mortgage Classic
Source: Data Golf
Aldrich Potgieter emerged as the winner at last week's Rocket Mortgage Classic and he will now focus on preparing for this week's John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. Potgieter has one win, five top-15 finishes and missed the cut nine times 17 starts this season. Over the past 12 months, Potgieter ranks in the 69th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway. This is significant because over 34% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's John Deere Classic.Thorbjorn Olesen Finishes Tied for 41st at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Source: Data Golf
Thorbjorn Olesen finished tied for 41st at last week's Rocket Mortgage Classic and will now focus on preparing for this week's John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. So far this season, Olesen has three top-10 finishes and missed the cut five times in 17 starts. Over the past 12 months, Olesen ranks in the 22nd percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because over 34% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's John Deere Classic.Denny McCarthy Finishes Tied For 12th at Travelers Championship
Source: Data Golf
Denny McCarthy finished tied for 12th at the Travelers Championship two weeks ago and will now focus on preparing for this week's John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. McCarthy has eight top-25 finishes and hasn't missed the cut in 16 starts this season. Over the past 12 months, McCarthy ranks in the 68th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because over 34% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's John Deere Classic.Chris Kirk Finishes Tied For Second at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Source: Data Golf
Chris Kirk finished tied for second at last week's Rocket Mortgage Classic and will now focus on preparing for this week's John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. So far this season, Kirk four top-25 finishes and missed the cut six times in 17 starts this season. Over the past 12 months, Kirk ranks in the 94th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway. This is significant because at last year's John Deere Classic over 34% of approach shots came from this distance.Michael Kim Finishes Tied for 26th at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Source: Data Golf
Michael Kim finished tied for 26th at last week's Rocket Mortgage Classic and will now focus on preparing for this week's John Deere Classic held at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. Kim has six top-25 finishes and missed the cut three times in 20 starts this season. Over the past 12 months, Kim ranks in the 85th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's John Deere Classic over 34% of approach shots came from this distance.Max Homa Misses Cut at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Source: Data Golf
Max Homa missed the cut at last week's Rocket Mortgage Classic and will now focus on preparing for this week's John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. Homa has two top-25 finishes and missed the cut seven times in 17 starts this season. Over the past 12 months, Homa ranks in the 54th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because at last year's John Deere Classic over 34% of approach shots came from this distance.Lucas Glover Finishes Tied For Ninth at Travelers Championship
Source: Data Golf
Lucas Glover finished tied for ninth at the Travelers Championship two weeks ago and will now focus on preparing for this week's John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. Glover has six top-25 finishes and missed the cut six times in 17 starts this season. Over the past 12 months, Glover ranks in the 96th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway. This is significant because over 34% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's John Deere Classic.