SILVIS (Ill.) — The John Deere Classic is known for giving up-and coming PGA Tour players a chance at the biggest stage to show off their skills.
If you’re thinking about the PGA Tour stop in the Quad City, the first thing that comes to your mind – besides the tractor tee marks, of course – is a young Jordan Spieth at the 2013 John Deere classic. Spieth, a local favorite Zach Johnson, and David Hearn were in a three-way play-off after Spieth holed-out from a bunker at the 72 and holes. Spieth won for the first in his career at the fifth playoff. He became the fourth-youngest Tour winner and the first teenager since 1931 to win.
Spieth’s victory still resonates a decade later with the next generation of rising stars. They will continue this trend at TPC Deere Run. Ludvig Aberg is the only college player who has earned his Tour Card after topping the PGA Tour University Rankings. He leads a field of future stars that also includes Tommy Kuhl, William Mouw, Ross Steelman and amateurs Michael Thorbjornsen and Gordon Sargent from Stanford and Vanderbilt.
Sargent, a rising Junior and the 2021 NCAA Individual Champion for the Commodores, said: “It gives you a great deal of confidence to know that there are players here who have jumped-started their career.” It’s going be a great week.
J.T. Poston, the defending champion, said: “It’s an amazing opportunity.” Poston. This is the time of year when some guys get exemptions from college, and it’s a tournament which gives them a chance to prove themselves. “They’re doing an excellent job at that.”
“I think that these guys are ready to win straight away, after they finish college. “I don’t believe that has always been the situation, but it is pretty cool,” said he. “They have nothing to lose but a lot of gain, as you have said.” It’s an excellent position to be in.”
Aberg will tell you that he is fortunate to have participated in five Tour events prior to turning pro. He made his debut at the RBC Canadian Open earlier this summer. At this level, a little experience goes a long way.
“I believe that’s why these tournaments are so good at giving sponsorship invites to younger golfers, especially John Deere and Travelers,” said Aberg. Aberg has made it through all three of his professional starts, with two top-25 finishes. “I’m so glad that Michael and Gordon will be here this week. I find it very valuable.”
In the past few years, more and more players have joined the Tour.
“It feels like they believe they can compete here and they certainly can. They did a great job. Adam Schenk said, “They’re polished.” “They see that people have had success right out of college and they think they can too. They work harder, and feel that it has gotten harder since I was out here to keep my card out there. It has become harder to win. It’s harder to make the top 10.
Schenk added, “I believe these young kids are motivated by the success of others and strive to be better. They work hard and try to improve.” “They are crushing it, many of the guys who come here.”
Chris Gotterup from Oklahoma, who won the Haskins Award for the college male player of the Year in 2022 and finished fourth last year at TPC Deere Run. Aberg was in the mix during the summer and Peter Kuest, who finished T-4 after Monday qualifying at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week, almost earned temporary Tour status.
“I think that through college golf and amateur golf you are very aware of the things people do.” Social media, and other things, provide a lot of coverage on how men practice and want to improve. Cameron Young, PGA Tour rookie of the year in 2022, explained this. I think it makes people aware of the skills required to excel at this. If you give a 17-year old golfer ideas and he’s talented, that will make him more aware and prepared to play this level at an early age.
This knowledge leads to a better level of competition in college, and this creates a continuous cycle where players improve, learn, and develop at a faster rate.
“I sort of benefited from that. “We had a good team at Wake Forest,” said Young. He learned a great deal from his teammate Will Zalatoris, a good friend. “I really think it’s just a combination.” It’s about making the younger players aware of what the professionals and the best players are doing.
The John Deere classic is not just a place for players to make their mark on the Tour. It’s a great opportunity for players looking to advance in their career. Since 1995, five players have won the John Deere Classic under the age of 24, and 23 have had their first Tour win at this event. Five first-time winners have emerged in the last 11 year.
Young is the highest-ranked player on the field, at No. Nine players are in the top fifty of the Official World Golf Ranking. Does this add pressure to the fact that he has yet to win a major? Not quite.
Young said, “Honestly, I don’t think about the highest-ranked player on the field because it’s not as important to me every week.” It’s who plays well that has a chance of winning.
