Major champions Bubba Watson and World Golf Hall-of-Fame member Davis Love III have committed to play in this year’s $5.6 million John Deere Classic, July 10-16, at TPC Deere Run, tournament officials announced Monday.
“The John Deere Classic is excited to announce that Bubba Watson and Davis Love III – two of the game’s best-known stars - will be competing in this year’s tournament against some of the top players in the game,” said John Deere Classic tournament director Clair Peterson. “We know our fans are going to be thrilled to get an opportunity to see them play again at Deere Run.”
Other top players who committed Monday were Chicago area product Kevin Streelman, the up-and-coming young Ollie Schniederjans, veteran and fan favorite K.J. Choi of Korea, and former Alabama star Bud Cauley.
Love, 53, is the winner of 21 PGA TOUR events, including the 1997 PGA Championship. He played on six Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams each, and was captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup teams in 2012 and 2016. Love has been elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame and is scheduled to be inducted in September. He is the host of the RSM Classic, a PGA TOUR event in Sea Island, Georgia, where he resides.
Watson, 38, is the winner of nine PGA TOUR events, including the 2012 and 2014 Masters. This year, he has three top 10 finishes in 13 events, the most recent coming at the Memorial where he finished T-6.
Love has played in the John Deere Classic seven times, making the cut six times, with his best finish a T-12 in 2011. He broke his collar bone in a snowboarding accident in January and has played in only five events this calendar year.
Watson has played in the John Deere Classic four times, his best finish coming in 2006 when he finished T-17.
Previously announced players who have committed to the John Deere Classic include past champions Zach Johnson (2012), Steve Stricker (2009-’11), and U.S. Open co-runner up Brian Harman (2014). In addition, Memphis winner Daniel Berger, Colonial champ Kevin Kisner, veteran Charlie Hoffman, and Players champion Si Woo Kim will be in the field.
“The John Deere Classic is thrilled to have the mix of elite veteran and young players coming to TPC Deere Run to compete on a great golf course in front of our tremendous fans,” said Peterson. He added that players have until 5 p.m. the Friday prior to the tournament (July 7) to commit.
At least 25 players who competed at the U.S. Open are scheduled to play at the John Deere Classic.
The 47th edition of the Quad Cities-based event will feature its highest-ever purse: $5.6 million, with $1 million going to the winner from a field of 156 players.
Tickets for the John Deere Classic are available at www.johndeereclassic.com or by calling 309-762-4653.
The PGA TOUR began its run in the Quad Cities in 1971. John Deere, whose world headquarters is in Moline, Ill., assumed title sponsorship of the tournament in 1998. The tournament moved to TPC Deere Run in 2000.
Now in its 47th year, the tournament generated $10.5 million for some 500 participating local charities in 2016, ranking it first among regular PGA TOUR events overall in per capita contributions at $28 for each of the 375,000 residents of the Quad City area. The tournament’s charity contributions consistently rank among the top five overall on the PGA TOUR.
