The PGA Tour is in Illinois this week for the John Deere Classic — the final tuneup before the Open Championship.
The field this week includes plenty of big names — including Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson – as well as a plenty of rising stars looking for their first career wins. With the final spots for St. Andrews up for grabs, it’s sure to be another classic week at TPC Deere Run.
The John Deere Classic has produced some of golf’s most memorable moments in recent years. From repeats to first-time triumphs, the John Deere has seen it all. This is Flashback Friday:
Jordan Spieth Wins at 19 – 2013 – The 2013 PGA Tour season was one of the most memorable in the last decade thanks to surprise victories and great finishes.
Justin Rose over Phil Mickelson at the U.S. Open then Mickelson at Muirfield winning the Open — there were plenty of great moments — but none better than Jordan Spieth winning the John Deere Classic.
Not only did he win the tournament, he did it in dramatic fashion, holeing a greenside bunker shot on 18 to force a playoff with David Hearn and Zach Johnson.
Spieth eventually won with par on the fifth sudden-death hole and became the first teenager to win on the PGA Tour in 82 years.
Since then, things have worked out pretty well for Spieth, who is the reigning Masters and U.S. Open champion.
Stricker Wins Three Straight – 2009-2011 – There have been three things around TPC Deere Run ever since July, 2009 that you can count on: Death, Taxes and Steve Stricker.
Since 2009, Stricker hasn’t finished worse than T-11 at the John Deere Classic and in 2011, became the first player to win the event three consecutive times.
During that three year span, Stricker was one of the game’s best players. Since then, he’s decided to play a limited schedule in order to spend more time with his family — but still makes time each July to return to the course that’s been so very good to him.
News Item: Rory McIlroy Not First, Won’t Be Last to Have Freak Injury
Michelle Wie Plays with the Boys – 2005 – Before she was a U.S. Women’s Open champion and one of the greatest players on the LPGA Tour, Michelle Wie was a prodigy, trying to test he golf skills at the highest level possible — the PGA Tour.
In 2005, she received a special exemption into the field at the John Deere Classic as she tried to make the cut in a men’s tournament.
Despite opening the tournament well, sitting four under through the first 32 holes, Wie fell short of her goal, missing the cut at 1-under for the week.
In 2006, the offer was extended again to Wie. This time, however, she ended up having to withdraw with heat exhaustion.
Payne Stewart wins First PGA Tour Event – 1982 – In 1982, Payne Stewart was a struggling tour pro, still looking for his first career win.
Up to that point, he hadn’t even adopted his trademark plus-fours.
Entering the 1982 Quad Cities Open, Stewart was just rounding into form. He had met Tim Barry and began wearing his knickers soon before heading to Oakwood Country Club.
That week, the man in the short pants played some of the best golf of his career and won by two shots over Brad Bryant and Pat McGowan.
Over the next 18 years, Stewart became a star, winning 11 times on the PGA Tour — including three majors — before a plane crash cut his life tragically short in 1999.
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