Some past champions and other top players will compete next month in the John Deere Classic. Monday tournament officials announced three-time winner Steve Stricker, and Zach Johnson who won in 2012, are among the players who've committed so far.
In a normal year the tournament would be going on right now at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, but because of the Olympics, the PGA Tour postponed the Classic by one month. Tournament director Clair Peterson doesn't think that'll have much effect.
He thinks the later date will have many players thinking about the FedEx and Ryder Cup standings, and they'll decide to play here just before the tournament.
Six promising young players are hoping to follow in the footsteps of some past champions of the John Deere Classic. They've been granted sponsor exemptions and will tee off with veterans of the PGA Tour next month in Silvis.
Peterson says part of the Classic's mission each year is to showcase young talent - and past years' exemptions have included Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Zach Johnson, and Tiger Woods.
One of this year's is NCAA champion Aaron Wise.
He'll be joined by Charlie Danielson, who just turned pro after a stellar career playing for the University of Illinois, and Jon Rahmfrom Spain, the number-1 ranked amateur in the world.
This year's John Deere Classic, the 46th year for the PGA Tour in the Quad Cities, will have a purse of 4.8 million dollars with $864,000 going to the winner. The dates are August 8th through the 14th.
