JDC players prep for changes at TPC Deere Run’s fourth hole

PGA golfers are typically masters of their craft, but on Tuesday they were all students once again.

Each player tried to figure out the brand new fourth hole over at TPC Deere Run.

“It’s a completely different hole as far as the difficulty. It’s a much harder hole,” said Jordan Spieth, a two-time John Deere Classic winner. “It used to be kind of cut the corner and hit a wedge into that green. Now it’s you have to hit a really nice drive to be in the fairway. Then from there you’re looking at some kind of a mid-iron into that skinny green. It certainly changed the way the hole will be played for the week, I think, for scoring average, but it’s also a phenomenal looking second shot. You know, it’s not unfair by any means.”

The change comes after the removal of the historic Hewitt tree on the fourth hole fairway due to declining health.

“There’s something to be said on that tree on four,” said Zach Johnson, a former John Deere Classic winner. “Now, all that to be said, I received some pictures from a couple of rules officials who are buddies out here, and they showed me where the tee was and what the hole looks like, and it looks amazing. Excited to see it.”

“The PGA tour and its design team was here and came up with a whole new design for number four. Obviously, it’s always been a wide fairway with the tree in the middle . That will change going forward,” said Andrew Lehman, John Deere Classic tournament director. “The fairway gets narrowed in, there’s a whole new bunkering complex, tee has been extended. It’s going to play close to 500 yards. It’s not a green that’s very friendly to miss. You got bunkering and hillside on the left, and it’s no picnic on the right or deep, either. It’ll be fun to see player reaction to it.”

All of the players’ studying is put to the test on Thursday in the first round of the John Deere Classic.

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