John Deere Classic

John Deere Classic

Tournament information
Location	Silvis, Illinois, U.S.
Established	1971
Course(s)	TPC at Deere Run
Par	71
Length	7,257 yards
Tour(s)	PGA Tour
Format	Stroke play
Prize fund	$4,500,000
Month played	July
Tournament record score
Aggregate	258 Steve Stricker (2010)
To par	-26 Steve Stricker (2010)
Current champion
Steve Stricker

The John Deere Classic is an American professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is played annually in July, the week before the British Open, at the TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.

The tournament began as the Quad Cities Open in 1971 and was a "satellite event" on the PGA Tour. It became an official PGA Tour event in 1972.^[1] Title sponsors have included Ed McMahon (1974–79), Miller Brewing Company (1982–85), Hardee's (1986–94) and John Deere (since 1999).

From the event's inception in 1971 through 1974, it was played at Crow Valley Country Club in Davenport, Iowa. It then moved to Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley, Illinois from 1975 to 1999. Since 2000, the event has been at the TPC at Deere Run in Silvis.

In recent years, the tournament has been able to generate more television air time and press because of the sponsor's exemptions given to teenager Michelle Wie. In 2005, the tournament's storyline also revolved around young American golfer Sean O'Hair. His win qualified him to play in the British Open the following week and was a significant part of his PGA Rookie of the Year season.

The John Deere Classic has received permission by the PGA Tour to remain a yearly tour stop through the year 2010. After the shuffling of tournament sponsors, it is possible that in that time the Classic could have its date moved. If its usual date (the week before the British Open) is changed, the tournament may attract stronger fields.

Sponsor's exemptions for Michelle Wie

Michelle Wie first received a sponsor's exemption to play in the John Deere Classic during the 2005 PGA Tour season, part of Wie's effort to make the cut in a men's professional golf event. She shot an overall −1, missing the cut by two strokes. The tournament attracted thousands of visitors as fans flocked to see Wie play. Wie received a sponsor's exemption again in 2006; it was her first men's event with a cut since making the cut in a men's tournament for the first time earlier that year in Korea. She finished the first round at 6 over par, well behind the projected cut line of −2. In the high heat of the second day, she fell two strokes further behind and eventually voluntarily withdrew from the tournament after the 9th hole, citing heat exhaustion.

Winners

Year	Player	Country	Score	To par	1st Prize ($)	Purse ($)
John Deere Classic
2011	Steve Stricker	United States	262	-22	810,000	4,500,000
2010	Steve Stricker	United States	258	-26	792,000	4,400,000
2009	Steve Stricker	United States	264	-20	774,000	4,300,000
2008	Kenny Perry	United States	268	-16	756,000	4,200,000
2007	Jonathan Byrd	United States	266PO	-18	738,000	4,100,000
2006	John Senden	Australia	265	-19	720,000	4,000,000
2005	Sean O'Hair	United States	268	-16	720,000	4,000,000
2004	Mark Hensby	Australia	268PO	-16	684,000	3,800,000
2003	Vijay Singh	Fiji	268	-16	630,000	3,500,000
2002	J. P. Hayes	United States	262	-22	540,000	3,000,000
2001	David Gossett	United States	265	-19	504,000	2,800,000
2000	Michael Clark II	United States	265PO	-19	468,000	2,600,000
1999	J. L. Lewis	United States	261PO	-19	360,000	2,000,000
Quad City Classic
1998	Steve Jones	United States	263	-17	279,000	1,550,000
1997	David Toms	United States	265	-15	243,000	1,350,000
1996	Ed Fiori	United States	268	-12	216,000	1,200,000
1995	D. A. Weibring	United States	197^	-13	180,000	1,000,000
Hardee's Golf Classic
1994	Mark McCumber	United States	265	-15	180,000	1,000,000
1993	David Frost	South Africa	259	-21	180,000	1,000,000
1992	David Frost	South Africa	266	-14	180,000	1,000,000
1991	D. A. Weibring	United States	267	-13	180,000	1,000,000
1990	Joey Sindelar	United States	268PO	-12	180,000	1,000,000
1989	Curt Byrum	United States	268	-12	126,000	700,000
1988	Blaine McCallister	United States	261	-19	108,000	600,000
1987	Kenny Knox	United States	265	-15	90,000	500,000
1986	Mark Wiebe	United States	268	-12	72,000	400,000
Lite Quad Cities Open
1985	Dan Forsman	United States	267	-13	54,000	300,000
Miller High Life QCO
1984	Scott Hoch	United States	266	-14	36,000	200,000
1983	Danny Edwards	United States	266PO	-14	36,000	200,000
1982	Payne Stewart	United States	268	-12	36,000	200,000
Quad Cities Open
1981	Dave Barr	Canada	270PO	-10	36,000	200,000
1980	Scott Hoch	United States	266	-14	36,000	200,000
Ed McMahon-Jaycees Quad Cities Open
1979	D. A. Weibring	United States	266	-14	36,000	200,000
1978	Victor Regalado	Mexico	269	-15	30,000	150,000
1977	Mike Morley	United States	267	-17	25,000	125,000
1976	John Lister	New Zealand	268	-16	20,000	100,000
1975	Roger Maltbie	United States	275	-9	15,000	75,000
Quad Cities Open
1974	Dave Stockton	United States	271	-13	20,000	100,000
1973	Sam Adams	United States	268	-16	20,000	100,000
1972	Deane Beman	United States	279	-5	20,000	100,000
Quad Cities Open (as a satellite event)[1]
1971	Deane Beman	United States	277	-7	5,000	25,000

^PO Indicates a win in a playoff
^ Indicates weather-shortened to 54 holes
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Main sources^[2][3]

Multiple winners

Five men have won the John Deere Classic more than once through 2011.

• 3 wins
  • D. A. Weibring: 1979, 1991, 1995
  • Steve Stricker: 2009, 2010, 2011

• 2 wins
  • Deane Beman: 1971, 1972
  • Scott Hoch: 1980, 1984
  • David Frost: 1992, 1993

References

1. ^ ^{a b} History: John Deere Classic
2. ^ John Deere Classic – Winners – at pgatour.com
3. ^ John Deere Classic – Winners – at golfobserver.com (1972–2009)

External links

• Official website
• Coverage on the PGA Tour's official site