The TOUR Insider: John Deere Classic  PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent The list of entrants for this week's John Deere Classic trends mostly towards a younger crowd and one a bit lighter on experience. In other words, it couldn't be a better collection of players more appropriate to visit the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.  Sean O'Hair joined the long list of PGA TOUR winners with his breakthrough win at the John Deere in 2005. (Getty Images) The weather is always warm and the putters tend to heat up at this long-time stop in the Quad Cities area. Also, lately youth has been served and favorites tend to fall back. John Senden's victory last year marked the fifth time in the last seven years -- and the eighth time overall -- that a first-time winner has broken through at TPC Deere Run. But Senden did hang on after leading by three strokes after 54 holes, only the third man to get it in the house successfully in the same span. The TPC at Deere Run, designed by D.A. Weibring, has been a player favorite since its debut as tournament site in 2000. The par-71 parkland layout is well fortified, protected by natural water hazards and bunkers and creative mounding. Plus, there are green complexes framed by chipping areas on the 7,183-yard course and trees that line playing areas, making recoveries from poor drives a challenge. "The course rewards a guy who shapes the ball well into the greens and hits a lot of quality shots," said Weibring, who since '06 oversaw a modest renovation of the layout, one involving pinching in a few fairways and moving back some tee boxes for greater variety. "It's not a place where you can fool anyone. It's a good, straight-forward golf course, no tricks." Playing into the theme of giving new guys a chance, only five 2007 champs are in the field, led by Zach Johnson, the Masters champion. Also on board: Sony Open winner Paul Goydos, Honda Classic winner Mark Wilson, Stanford St. Jude Championship winner Woody Austin and Brian Bateman, who won his first TOUR title two weeks ago at the Buick Open. Worth knowing: • The last several winners, including Senden, Mark Hensby and Vijay Singh, were among the leaders for the week in driving. Straight tends to work well at most courses. Senden also was second in greens in regulation for the week, which means, looking ahead, players like, well, Senden, the TOUR leader in the category, and Jeff Gove, second in GIR, could shine.
• Speaking of straight hitters, Jeff Maggert has never missed the cut in his seven starts at the John Deere Classic, and he has posted four top-25 finishes. • Johnson, twice a winner this year, is appearing in the John Deere Classic for the sixth year in a row since he was eligible. A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Johnson is a tournament executive board member. A tie for 20th in 2004 has been his best effort to date. • Scoring chances are numerous at TPC Deere Run, even on Sunday. Only 15 players failed to shoot par or better in the final round of the 2005 edition. Last year, there were 19 who shot 72 or higher. Expect another shootout. • The tournament goes on this year without David Peoples, who had played 21 times dating back to 1983. The most frequent visitor in the field is now ... • J.P. Hayes should never be overlooked in this event, which he captured in 2002. He was runner-up to Senden last year and became the first player in tournament history to surpass $1 million in earnings. Hayes, by the way, must like TPC courses. His best finish this year is sixth at THE PLAYERS at TPC Sawgrass. • Lucas Glover is coming off a strong performance at the AT&T National with 18 birdies, third most for the week at difficult Congressional Country Club. Through three rounds he led the category. That kind of effort would be useful this week, too. TOUR Insider's power ranking for the John Deere Classic: TOUR Insider: Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational • This week's Nationwide Tour event at the Ohio State University Scarlet Course marks the beginning of a new tournament: the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational. Highlighting the field is the entry of three brothers competing in the same event for only the fourth time since 1943. • Brenden, Deane and Craigen Pappas, a trio of South African siblings, are the latest trio. Before them, Jackie II, Gary and Michael Nicklaus competed along with their father, Jack, at the 2003 and 2004 BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs. Jim, Joe and Mike Turnesa competed in the '43 Chicago Victory Open. • To follow up, there are some intriguing coincidences to the Pappas, Nicklaus, Turnesa link. Craigen is the current director of golf at the Country Club of Muirfield Village in suburban Columbus (designed by the Golden Bear) and captained the OSU golf team in 1986 and '87. Jack starred at Ohio State in the 1960s and recently renovated Scarlet for a fee of $1. Mike Turnesa's grandson, Marc Turnesa, is also entered in the field.
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