John Deere Classic
John Deere Classic is a PGA Tour golf tournament played every July in Silvis, Illinois, at TPC Deere Run. It usually happens the week before The Open Championship. The event began in 1971 as the Quad Cities Open, a satellite event, and became a full PGA Tour event in 1972. It was originally held in autumn, moved to mid-July in 1974, and Ed McMahon hosted from 1975 to 1979. Sponsors have included Miller Brewing Company (1982–85), Hardee’s (1986–94), and John Deere (since 1999).
The tournament has changed venues: Crow Valley Country Club in Davenport, Iowa (1971–74); Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley, Illinois (1975–1999); and since 2000 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis. In 2005–06 the event drew extra attention for sponsor exemptions given to teenager Michelle Wie. In 2013 Jordan Spieth won at age 19, the first teenager to win on the PGA Tour since 1931.
The John Deere Classic is a final chance to earn a spot in The Open through the Open Qualifying Series if a player finishes in the top five and isn’t already exempt. Since 2008 the tournament has offered a charter flight from the Quad Cities to Britain on Sunday night to reach the Open. The course is par 71 and 7,257 yards. The prize fund is $8 million. The current champion is Brian Campbell, and the 2024 scoring record is 256 (−28) set by Davis Thompson. A handful of players have won the tournament more than once.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 05:45 (CET).