Ziehm: Spieth an interesting name to watch at John Deere Classic
SILVIS — The John Deere Classic, Illinois’ only annual PGA Tour event, tees off for the 55th time on Thursday at TPC Deere Run with eight past champions, another eight among the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings and two of the top-four finishers at this year’s U.S. Open.
But Jordan Spieth, a late entry, may be the most eye-catching name in the 144-man field.
Spieth was only 19 and a first-time PGA Tour winner when he captured the JDC in 2013. He won it again two years later after capturing the Masters and U.S. Open. Both JDC wins came in playoffs. Since then, however, Spieth’s only appearance in the Quad Cities was a tie for 26th in 2024.
Despite being 49th in the Official World Golf Rankings, Spieth’s return to the field was a boost for tournament director Andrew Lehman. He’s happy to remember the good old days.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Jordan join our excellent field,” Lehman said. “His first victory here helped ignite his career and his second was even more thrilling. He’s a tournament legend and still an extremely popular figure in the Quad Cities.”
The field will be a good one this year. Other top-50 players include Chris Gotterup (13), Ben Griffin (18), Jacob Bridgeman (25), J.T. Poston (32), Keegan Bradley (38), Rickie Fowler (42) and Daniel Berger (50).
Poston was the JDC champion in 2022 and tied with Keith Mitchell (who is also entered here) as the co-fourth-place finishers in the U.S. Open two weeks ago. The top two finishers in last year’s JDC — winner Brian Campbell and Emilio Grillo — are also back. So are Chicago favorites Kevin Streelman, Doug Ghim and Nick Hardy, and past JDC winners Zac Johnson, Michael Kim, Dylan Fritelli, Lucas Glover and Davis Thompson.
Mix in Eric Cole, Max Homa, Tony Finau and Tom Kim, and the JDC has one of its strongest fields even though its dates directly followed the U.S. Open and Travelers Championship, one of the PGA Tour’s Signature events.
Campbell’s bid to retain his title didn’t look good after he missed three straight cuts and then didn’t play in the U.S. Open during a month-long stretch. Things looked a little better after he tied for 47th in the Travelers Championship on Sunday. The JDC hasn’t had a repeat champion since Steve Stricker won three in a row from 2009-2011.
Here and there
The Women’s Western Amateur immediately follows the JDC, with a Monday start at River Forest in Elmhurst. First played in 1901, the list of past champions includes Patty Berg, Louise Suggs, Brittany Lang, Stacy Lewis and Ariya Jutanugarn.
Medinah’s Daniel Stringfellow won the 106th Chicago District Amateur at North Shore in Glenview. Last year’s runner-up, Stringfellow defeated Mistwood’s Brody McCarthy 5 and 4 in this year’s title match.
The Concerts on the Course at the John Deere Classic will feature Carrie Underwood after play ends on Saturday and Old Dominion following the conclusion of the tournament on Sunday.
Illinois men’s coach Mike Small expects to have a new/old coaching sidekick next season. Justin Bardgett, who spent three years as Small’s assistant before taking a job with the PGA Tour, has accepted a position as Small’s associate head coach, subject to the approval of the school’s board of trustees at July’s board meeting.
The Illini have another winner of the NCAA’s Byron Nelson Award. Ryan Voois was named this year’s winner after former teammate Jackson Buchanan won in 2025.
One of Chicago’s most popular charity outings, the 55th annual Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities All-Star Invitational, will be played July 16 at Twin Orchard in Long Grove.