Sleepers: John Deere Classic

PGATOUR.COM fantasy columnist Rob Bolton lists his five against-the-grain fantasy options for this week’s event at TPC Deere Run. Scott Brown … The week before Brooks Koepka won the U.S. Open, he sat No. 1 in the Power Rankings for the FedEx St. Jude Classic. He finished T37 in Memphis, thus prompting my remark in the Fantasy Insider for the major that he had all the makings of getting my stronger endorsement a week early. This is where Brown comes in. He occupied a spot in this space for The Greenbrier Classic, meaning that this might be the first time in Sleepers history that a golfer has appeared in consecutive weeks. He missed the cut at The Old White TPC, so consider that the omen that he’s an even better fit at TPC Deere Run. Since his debut in 2012, he’s logged two top 10s and another two top 25s. His scoring average in 18 competitive rounds here is 67.67. Trey Mullinax … Every rookie should be inspired by Xander Schauffele’s victory at The Greenbrier Classic, but Mullinax has a unique connection to the first-time winner in that both were in the conversation on the weekend at the U.S. Open where they posted top 10s to earn exemptions into the 2018 edition. Mullinax’s path began the week prior when he finished T18 at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, but his arc since includes a measurable improvement with his approach game. Thanks to ranking T16 in greens in regulation at TPC Southwind, second at Erin Hills and T14 at The Old White TPC, the University of Alabama product has climbed 55 spots to T85 on TOUR in the stat. Combined with his spot at 28th in converting those chances into par breakers, it might be his turn to hoist some hardware. Scott Stallings … We’re still a few weeks from determining who qualifies for the FedExCup Playoffs and secures fully exempt status next season, but every week that passes without locking it up adds to the pressure. It’s a familiar position for the 32-year-old. After arriving at last year’s John Deere Classic slotted 132nd in points, he rose to the challenge and finished T16 in what was his penultimate start before the Playoffs. For the week, he ranked 10th in strokes gained: tee-to-green, T8 in greens in regulation and T4 in par-3 scoring. The timely result bumped him to 126th in points, but he missed the cut at the Wyndham Championship and was relegated to regaining his card at the Web.com Tour Finals. The JDC is back in its customary slot in early July, and it’s as much déjà vu and is it time for redemption. That’s because he’s currently 132nd in the FedExCup standings. Rory Sabbatini … He’s only 41 years old, but he’s been around long enough to have competed in the final edition of the John Deere Classic at Oakwood Country Club as a PGA TOUR rookie in 1999. The South African may have wondered why he didn’t back to the Quad Cities sooner than 2012. He’s 3-for-4 at TPC Deere Run and even co-led after opening the 2014 edition with a 63. The event lands at a great time given that he ended an 0-for-7 slide with a T14 at last week’s Greenbrier Classic. He led the field in proximity to the hole and ranked fourth in strokes gained: tee-to-green and ninth in birdie-or-better percentage. Also co-led in par-5 scoring. Chesson Hadley … Only once in history has a golfer captured victory on the Web.com Tour and PGA TOUR in consecutive weeks. Paul Stankowski recorded that remarkable achievement in late March and early April of 1996. Hadley can join him at the John Deere Classic where he gained entry as an alternate via Past Champion status. With his path back to the big leagues secure after prevailing at the LECOM Health Challenge on Sunday (to rise to fourth in Web.com earnings), the PGA TOUR’s 2013-14 Rookie of the Year was able to accept the spot in the field at TPC Deere Run. He missed the cut in both of his previous appearances, but it’s likely that he’s in as good a place mentally than ever before, not to mention that he’s third on the Web.com Tour in the all-around ranking. Incidentally, Jason Gore is the only other golfer to win on both circuits in the same season. He turned the trick in 2005. So, if you’re keen to believe that Stankowski and Gore have established a once-in-a-decade trend, snap to attention for Hadley’s first try at joining the club.

Click here to read the full article…