John Deere Classic: Most Iconic Moments at TPC Deere Run, Ranked

The John Deere Classic, held yearly at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, has witnessed a fair share of epic moments since its inception. The tournament has seen everything from professionals making history to amateurs playing like pros. Known for its marvelous victories, the event has made quite a name in PGA Tour history.

This year’s John Deere Classic is yet to take place. It will commence from July 7-11 at TPC Deere Run, and fans are super excited for the tournament. Let’s reminisce about some of the top moments the game has seen over the years, shall we?

15-year-old Michelle Wie West made history in 2005

Michelle Wie West, a golfer known for her perfect strokes and Tiger Woods-like energy, made history in 2005. She turned heads at the 2005 John Deere Classic when the fifteen-year-old became the first female golfer to compete in a PGA Tour event since Babe Zaharias gained the honor in 1945. The young golfer birdied both the 9th and the 18th holes with her exceptional skills. After marking her territory at the 18th hole, Wie hadn’t expected what happened next.

Wie double-bogeyed the par-5 16th hole and unfortunately missed the cut by two strokes. The golfer’s play was in the headlines for days. Clair Peterson, tournament director of the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic, said on a call with SB Nation “It was great. I’m a fan of her as a person and as an athlete.” Peterson described Wie’s energy on the greens that day as making the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

“It’s very exciting, and ever since I was very young, I wanted to play with the guys,” said the retired LPGA professional. While Wie may not have won the game, she was still honored to have competed with the pros. “It was awesome, them cheering for me like that,” said West after her final round, addressing the epic feeling of having people cheer for her. “I thought I was going deaf; it was so loud. I mean, it was awesome,” she continued, giddy with emotion.

Paul Goydos’s 59 in the first round of the 2010 John Deere Classic

2010 was not a good year for Goydos until the John Deere Classic. After several lousy performances that year, the Goydos managed to perform surprisingly well at the TPC Deere Run. After his last victory in 2007, the golfer decided to show them how it’s done. It was like the clubs and balls were in sync that day, with each of his tees landing straight in the middle of the fairway and his putts making it right into the holes every time. Goydos made a stunning score of 59 on the first day itself.

In an interview with Golf Digest, the golfer sure praised his performance. “Today was a nuclear bomb,” Goydos said. “I don’t know where it came from. If I knew that, I wouldn’t be able to touch it.” Although Goydos wasn’t able to defeat the defending champion, Steve Stricker, he kept the momentum by scoring 24 under par throughout the whole game, landing the second position.

Golf legend Steve Stricker’s third-straight win at the John Deere Classic

Steve Stricker, the golfer who won the event three consecutive times is the one not to be forgotten! Talk about having good luck. He carded 264 in 2009 and defeated the likes of Zach Johnson and Brandt Snedeker. In 2010, Stricker faced tough competition at the hands of Goydos but not enough to be overthrown. He finished the game with an impressive score of 26 under par. And with that, the golfer celebrated his well-deserved victory for the second year in a row.

In 2011, fans witnessed Stricker’s third back-t0-back win. With a total score of 22 under par, he took home the wooden and bronze trophy. Runner-up Kyle Stanley came so close to winning with a score of 21 under par, but it was Stricker who indeed was the lucky one.

19-Year-Old Jordan Spieth’s First-Ever PGA Tour Win in 2013

Jordan Spieth, a 19-year-old player from Dallas, Texas, showed how age does not define a player’s game in 2013. How so? Well, he became the youngest player to win a PGA Tour in 82 years since 19-year-old Ralph Guldahl won the Santa Monica Open in 1931. Spieth played well throughout the whole game and ended up in a five-hole playoff with defending champion Zach Johnson and David Hearn. However, he did not back off from the challenge and won the tournament with a beautiful score of 19 under par.

In an interview with USA Today, he said, “I don’t know what I did to deserve all those breaks.” The statement proved how overwhelmed the golfer was feeling after his first PGA Tour win against the pros. After his win in 2013, Spieth won the 2015 John Deere Classic as well!

Bryson DeChambeau’s first-ever PGA Tour win in 2017

Man of the People was a major star on the PGA Tour before joining LIV. Bryson DeChambeau won his first PGA Tour back in 2017, just a year after his rookie year. Patrick Rodgers watched as DeChambeau made a brilliant score of 18 under par and secured his first PGA Tour at the John Deere Classic.

In an interview with Fox Sports, the golfer addressed the impressive score of runner-up Patrick Rodgers, who made a total of 267. “He’s a great competitor, and I was kind of shocked he bogeyed 17,” said DeChambeau. “I’ve been working so hard to do this my whole life,” DeChambeau told Golf Digest. The golfer was very emotional and even wiped the tears from his face after his win.

The greens of the John Deere Classic have seen a fair amount of epic wins and have birthed some golf stars that will certainly make some history. With all the sensational players, there can never be a dull moment on the PGA Tour. Who do you think will win this year’s edition?