One long shot who can definitely make a run at the John Deere title is Robert Streb. The Kansas State alum has finished in the top-35 in four of his last six starts, including a tie for seventh at the PGA Championship. The 29-year-old loves playing at Deere Run as evidenced by his 14th-place finish here last year. Streb has yet to miss the cut in three career starts in this event, nabbing a pair of top-25s during that span.
Looking for a worthy long shot at the John Deere Classic this week? How about the hard-hitting Luke List? The American is one of the longest hitters on tour, averaging a whopping 306.9 yards per drive this season. That’s eighth-best on the PGA Tour this campaign. That extreme length off the tee will be a major weapon for List as he tackles the long 7,268-yard, par-71 Deere Run course here at Silvis. List has finished in the top-20 in two of his last three outings. He missed the cut, however, in his last start at the Travelers Championship.
Jonathan Byrd
To say that Jonathan Byrd has a disappointing 2016 season would be a severe understatement. He has made just six starts on the PGA Tour this season, missing the cut in two of those events. Byrd’s best finish thus far this season is a T39 at the Puerto Rico Open last March. If there’s one place, though, that can revive Byrd’s flagging fortunes, it’s got to be the John Deere Classic. His slate at this tournament is among the best of his contemporaries at 10-for-12 with a victory (2007) and a T2 (2003). Byrd is fifth in all-time earnings at the John Deere.
