Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy head the big names taking a week off, with The Open Championship just two weeks away.
Roddy ConsRoddyConsUpdate: Jul 3rd, 2024 16:04 EDT0
DYLAN BUELLAFP
The 2024 John Deere Classic takes place between Thursday July 4 and Sunday July 7 at TPC Deere Run in Illinois, with the tournament finding itself in a somewhat awkward spot in the schedule. With most of the PGA Tour’s top stars having played two Signature Events either side of the US Open in June, and with the Open Championship two weeks away, the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have opted to take the week off.
Cantlay and Cam Davis withdraw from 2024 John Deere Classic
World No. 8 Patrick Cantlay had been due to be the highest-ranked player in the field this week but withdrew from the tournament on Monday, later revealing he had picked up an injury in training. On top of that, Australian Cam Davis, who won last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club, has also pulled out.
Setting the scene in Silvis ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/Xm6quqGd8K
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 2, 2024
Sungjae Im is now listed as the favourite with most bookmakers, with world No. 24 Sepp Straka, the highest-ranked player left in the field, also backed to do well.
2024 John Deere Classic prize purse
The lack of star names taking part is also as a result of a reduced prize purse of $8 million, which is the lowest of any “regular” PGA Tour events all year.
The only tournaments on the 2024 schedule which are less lucrative are “additional” events, which take place at the same time as Signature Events or majors and are designed for players who haven’t qualified.
The winner on Sunday will take home $1.44 million, along with 500 FedEx Cup points.
Round 1: 📉 T133Round 4: 📈 Champion 🏆In 2023, @SeppStraka became the only player on record that was outside the top 125 after Round 1 to win the tournament. #TOURVault | @JDClassic pic.twitter.com/KUFuYZC9Kf
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 3, 2024
Spieth and DeChambeau among previous winners
In 2013, Jordan Spieth, who is playing this week, became the first teenager to win a PGA Tour title since 1931 thanks to his victory at the John Deere Classic. He went on to win again two years later.
