(Photo credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images)

The John Deere Classic has been a fixture on the PGA Tour since 1971 and sponsored by the tractor manufacturer since 1999.

While the likes of Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau have earned their maiden PGA victories here, the event doesn't command the strongest fields these days as many players take time off around the Fourth of July. That leaves it as a likely candidate for the tour's future 'Challenger Series,' a second tier of events that would be closed off from top-tier players like Spieth.

For now, the John Deere still holds a special place on the calendar for many tour pros as TPC Deere Run gets set to host the 2026 edition starting Thursday in Silvis, Ill.

Spieth won his first PGA Tour title at the John Deere in 2013, when he was just 19 years old. He claimed the trophy again in 2015. The three-time major champion noted the unfortunate wrinkle of the tour's new format, beginning in 2028, where players who win on the Challenger Series will likely be promoted to the more prestigious Championship Series and not be able to defend their titles.

'That is probably one of the stranger parts of the whole situation because most of the time guys go back to try to defend their titles,' Spieth said. 'It's definitely something that it's almost like an unofficial job that you have in a way. ... I would say for the most part if you do win, you're most likely not going to be back at a Track 2 event.'

Spieth is one of just eight players ranked top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking playing this week. Chris Gotterup and Ben Griffin are the highest at Nos. 13 and 18.

They'll play a par-71, 7,327-yard track that can produce low scores, including the tournament record of 28-under 256 set by Davis Thompson two years ago. Organizers lengthened the par-4 fourth hole by some 40 yards after a nearly 100-year-old tree in the middle of the fairway had to be removed.

'That tree, it's kind of like a Dikembe Mutombo in a lot of respects,' said Zach Johnson, referring to the famed NBA shot-blocker. 'It was placed strategically. Unfortunate, that was kind of the character of the hole, and maybe it had a little bit of -- I'm not nostalgic or anything like that -- sentimentality, but there's something to be said on that tree on 4.'

There are few people the John Deere means more to than Johnson, who grew up in nearby Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The 2012 champion has played the event every year since 2002 and has made 17 straight cuts.

Now 50, Johnson chose to continue his appearance streak in the Quad Cities instead of playing the U.S. Senior Open.

'I am an ambassador of this company and of this tournament regardless of if I play or don't play,' he said. 'So going forward, I'll let things fall where they fall. I mean, I love to compete here, and I've cherished every second of that with family, with friends, and with the people in this community. At the same time, I'm also I think old enough to understand that it's bigger than -- certainly bigger than me, but it's bigger than any one person, and I'm OK with that.'

Brian Campbell seized the opportunity TPC Deere Run gave him last year when he shot four rounds in the 60s and defeated Argentina's Emiliano Grillo in a playoff. It was his second win of 2025 and of his career.

'Obviously, I would love to come back every single year if I could, but I think it does us better if we think about more what's happening this week and even this year,' Campbell said of the future rules. '... There is a lot to think about with the new changes, but we're just excited to be here for this tournament this week.'

One player who could become the next Spieth or DeChambeau is Jackson Koivun, the longtime No. 1 amateur in the world who'll make his professional debut this week. He earned his card through the PGA Tour University pathway.

'Obviously, the ties here are huge, and I wanted to play U.S. Open as an amateur and that kind of took RBC (Canadian Open) out of the question,' Koivun said of planning his first start. 'That kind of left me with the John Deere Classic. I'm really excited to call this my pro debut.'

--Field Level Media