John Deere Classic 2026: Round 1 Additions

Outright: Blades Brown (+5700, DraftKings)

Brown's statistical ceiling is top two in this field, and his overall profile ranks inside the top three. His course fit for easy scoring conditions at TPC Deere Run is among the best of anyone teeing it up, and his weighted scoring numbers lead the field. He's made five consecutive cuts coming in, so the floor is a made weekend with upside from there. At 57-to-1 for a player whose stats and course fit profile place him firmly in the top tier, the price doesn't match the player.

R1 3-Ball: Blades Brown over Christo Lamprecht & Preston Stout (+120, BetRivers)

Brown is a significantly better player than both of these opponents by virtually every statistical measure. His ceiling and scoring upside dwarf Lamprecht and Stout, and his easy scoring course fit is elite while neither opponent profiles anywhere close to his level at TPC Deere Run. Getting plus money on the best player in a three-ball by this wide a margin is a gift. You're getting paid to take the right side.

R1 Matchup: Eric Cole over Matt Wallace (-125, DraftKings)

Cole's overall statistical profile is miles ahead of Wallace, ranking inside the top 10 of this field while Wallace sits well outside the top 30. Cole's strokes gained numbers have been trending upward over his last 24 rounds, while Wallace's recent form over his last five starts is among the worst in the field. Cole also fits TPC Deere Run's easy scoring conditions perfectly, with one of the strongest course fit profiles of anyone in the tournament. The juice is fair for a gap this wide between two players heading in opposite directions.