Week 27 Approach Shots: John Deere Classic

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FIGHTIN' ILLINI: You would think winning your record-tying third PGA Professional National Championship would earn you a little rest and relaxation? Maybe a little hiatus considering you also just finished up your tenth season as the head coach of the University of Illinois men's golf team?

TV/Radio (all times ET)

TV: The Golf Channel (Thu.-Fri., 3-6 p.m.); CBS (Sat.-Sun. 3-6 p.m.) RADIO: Sirius 209, XM 146, PGATOUR.COM (Thu.-Sun., 12-8 p.m.)

Key links

• Expert picks | Sleepers • Rankings | Fantasy Insider • Tee times | Field | Course

Weather

Scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the day. Winds 8-12 mph from the northwest. Updated weather info

Think again.

Mike Small captured his second consecutive PGA pro title last week in French Lick, Ind., finishing 8-under and holding off a slew of contenders. Small nearly withdrew Saturday because of elbow tendinitis, but managed a 1-over 73 in the final round to win the $75,000 first-place prize, a new rolex watch and an invitation to the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straights.

He was also offered a sponsor exemption in this week's John Deere Classic -- a tournament his former college teammate Steve Stricker won last year.

"It's really cool. I played nine holes with him yesterday, and you know, it's cool to see a friend doing great things, and he's done a lot of great things in the short period of time there at Illinois," Stricker said after his practice round on Wednesday.

"Smally shot everything in perspective. He gets his time out here because he wins the club pro championship every year, it seems like, and he gets his events out here. And he's comfortable with doing what he's doing, and it's showing not only in his game when he comes here to play, but also in coaching his kids. They have a lot of respect for him."

Small will be playing in his sixth John Deere Classic. His best finish came in 1995, when he finished T12. Small is paired with Aron Price and Brent Delahoussaye in the first and second rounds.

SCOTLAND SHUTTLE: As an additional incentive to play the John Deere Classic, the tournament is once again providing players who have qualified for the British Open with first-class accomodations aboard a non-stop private aircraft charter that will depart for Scotland on Sunday evening from Quad City International Airport.

The luxury wide-body 767 jet provides players and their families hassle-free security and customs screening, spacious leather seats, two in-flight meals, state-of-the-art on-board entertainment systems and door-to-door ground transportation -- plus the guarantee that their golf clubs and luggage will arrive on time.

Three seats have been set aside for each player on a complimentary basis, with costs underwritten by the tournament and its title sponsor, John Deere. However, a minimum $1,000 donation per seat is requested to help fund the more than 600 charities that benefit from the tournament each year.

MUST GO LOW: If you don't shoot four rounds in the 60s this week, don't count on winning. In the 10 years the John Deere Classic has been held at TPC Deere Run, the winners have posted 37 rounds in the 60s versus just three rounds in the 70s -- two of 70 and one of 71. No winning score has been above 268.

And look for a close finish this week in Illinois. Since moving to TPC Deere Run in 2000, seven of the events have been won by either a single stroke or in a playoff.

FEDEXCUP UPDATE: Including this week, there are seven weeks remaining (nine events) in the regular season before the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup commence at The Barclays the week of August 23. The winner this week will receive 500 points.

With his second win in three weeks and third consecutive top-10, Justin Rose moves into the No. 2 position on the points list behind Ernie Els. Rose has shot 10 of his last 12 rounds under par. Els' lead is safe for another week, but five players can move into second with a win at the John Deere Classic -- Tim Clark (currently 7th), Bubba Watson (10th), Steve Stricker (14th) and Rickie Fowler (15th).

Predictions: Columnists vs. Interns

PGATOUR.COM's interns are trying to out-predict our expert columnists this summer. We'll keep tabs and see how they do at the end of the season. Here are their picks for the John Deere Classic. Columnists Pick Comment Stan AWTREY JASON BOHN: He's more than capable of reeling off the number of birdies needed to win an event that normally produces some low scores. Craig DOLCH TIM CLARK: THE PLAYERS champion is primed for another strong showing in Illinois this week. Melanie HAUSER VAUGHN TAYLOR: Not the obvious choice, but goes with the theme this year. Good player who's already had a few close calls in 2010. John MAGINNES TIM CLARK: He left the door open for a Byrd to capture the Deere in 2008, but THE PLAYERS champion is not the same player he was two years ago. He's better. Look for Clark to become the fourth two-time winner on TOUR this year. Interns Pick Comment Chris DUNHAM ZACH JOHNSON: He's comfortable here -- playing just an hour from home -- and he finished T2 last year. Johnson could be the fourth two-time winner on TOUR this season and jump to No. 5 in the FedExCup standings. Todd HOSKINS RICKIE FOWLER: One, because he's good. And two, because eventually I have to be right. Ryan PIERCE BUBBA WATSON: As if he wasn't a fan-favorite before, Bubba's win at the Travelers makes him downright irresistable this week.

Columnists vs. Interns Standings

Tiger Woods occupied four of the six picks last week, but Pierce's O'Hair mark was right on. The Aronimink member's T11 finish earned the intern team more than 60 points, extending their lead over the columnists. Columnists 626.25 Interns 687.35 Stan Awtrey 230.00 Chris Dunham 303.00 Melanie Hauser 200.75 Ryan Pierce 296.60 Craig Dolch 195.50 Todd Hoskins 87.75 John Maginnes --

Bolton's Yahoo! selections

Fantasy columnist Rob Bolton will provide his Yahoo! picks as a starting point for you every week. Use the advice and opinion from his Power Rankings and Fantasy Insider to assist in determining lineups changes throughout each tournament. Group Starters Bench Group A Jason Day Bubba Watson Group B K.J. Choi, Fredrik Jacobson Charles Howell III, Kevin Streelman Group C Matt Jones Vaughn Taylor

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First-time winners at the John Deere Classic

Year Player 1973 Sam Adams 1975 Roger Maltbie 1976 John Lister 1977 Mike Morley 1979 D.A. Weibring 1980 Scott Hoch 1981 Dave Barr 1982 Payne Stewart 1985 Dan Forsman 1988 Blaine McCallister 1989 Curt Byrum 1997 David Toms 1999 J.L. Lewis 2000 Michael Clark II 2001 David Gossett 2004 Mark Hensby 2005 Sean O'Hair 2006 John Senden

Did you know?

This is the 40th anniversary of the John Deere Classic. The first one, won by former PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman was unofficial, but the next one was official and Beman won that one, too.

What the winner gets

A victory this week at the John Deere Classic will earn the following benefits: • Fully Exempt for the remainder of 2010 and all of 2011 and 2012 • 500 FedExCup points. It took 354 points to qualify for the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup in 2009 and 494 to reach the Deutsche Bank Championship. • A spot in the following events in order of play:    - 2010 PGA Championship    - 2010 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (TBD) • A spot in the 2011 SBS Championship, 2011 Masters and 2011 PLAYERS • If a U.S. player, 792,000 points towards making the 2011 Presidents Cup team.

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