Groups we're watching: John Deere Classic, Rd. 1

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Jul. 10, 2008

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All times are eastern.

Kenny Perry, Garrett Willis, Kirk Triplett
Tee time: 8:28 a.m.
Tee: No. 10
Total TOUR wins: 15
Why you should watch: How do you not watch Kenny Perry these days. He won twice and added a tie for sixth in June. What might July bring? Perry caught criticism when he said he would not play the British Open next week, but rather the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee. He wants a spot on that U.S. Ryder Cup team in September and says this is the way to go about it. Willis is making his eighth start of the season and hopes to make his fourth cut. Triplett, meanwhile, is making his 2008 TOUR debut this week after three top-25 finishes in 2007.

2008 stat comparison

Player	Events played	Cuts made	1st	2nd	3rd	Top 10	Top 25	Scoring average
Perry	18	17	2	1	1	5	10	70.14
Willis	7	3	--	--	--	--	--	73.00
Triplett	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	71.02

Jonathan Byrd, Woody Austin, Tim Herron
Tee time: 8:38 a.m.
Tee: No. 10
Total TOUR wins: 10
Why you should watch: Byrd, the defending champion of this event, finished fourth at the AT&T Classic in May, but hasn't finished in the top 50 since. He stands 71st in the FedExCup points and stands to make a big move if he can successfully defend his title. Austin is looking to hang on to the momentum he gained after that runner-up finish in the Buick Open last week. Herron needs a solid finish to solidify his spot in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. He's 114th at the start of play today.

2008 stat comparison

Player	Events played	Cuts made	1st	2nd	3rd	Top 10	Top 25	Scoring average
Byrd	18	12	--	--	--	2	5	71.71
Austin	18	14	--	1	--	3	7	71.74
Herron	17	12	--	--	--	--	5	71.47

Zach Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, David Duval
Tee time: 1:38 p.m.
Tee: No. 1
Total TOUR wins: 18
Why you should watch: A recent wrist injury has been the the latest setback in a season that hasn't gone as Johnson had hoped. He currently ranks 108th in the FedExCup standings and on the money list. The three-time TOUR winner has only had one top-10 finish all year. The 2007 Masters champion, who grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, recently called this week's event his "fifth major" and he hopes to improve on his career-best finish here -- 20th. Baddeley is looking for his first top-10 since a tie for second at the Verizon Heritage. Duval made his first cut of the season last month at the Stanford St. Jude Championship.