Davis Thompson, who won the 2024 John Deere Classic by four strokes with a record score of 28-under-par, will defend his title, July 3-6, at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.
You should be able to get at least a glimpse of Thompson at this month’s U.S. Open, where the 25-year-old former Georgia Bulldog finished ninth last year.
“My goal was to kick down the door and get a win,” Thompson said after his maiden PGA Tour victory in his second year on the circuit. He is the John Deere Classic’s 24th first-time winner since the tournament began in 1971.
This year could pose an issue between him and 2023 champion Sepp Straka. Thompson stayed at a rented home with several other players, most of whom played at Georgia, and wound up staying in the same room Straka did when he won. (Straka stayed elsewhere last year with his wife and newborn son). “Me and him might be fighting for that room,” Thompson said. By the way, 2022 champion J.T. Poston stayed in the same house the year he won. Although he went to college at Western Kentucky, his wife went to Georgia…
Two other young stars who tied for second last year are likely to be back – Luke Clanton (pictured), an amateur out of Florida State playing on a sponsor exemption, and Michael Thorbjornson, a Stanford graduate now in his first full year on Tour. Veterans and past champions Zach Johnson and Lucas Glover along with Straka and Poston are expected back.
This year’s Concerts on the Course promotion will feature country star Dierks Bentley on Saturday and the multi-Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band on Sunday. Both concerts are scheduled to begin shortly after play concludes adjacent to the 18th fairway. Anyone who buys a ticket to the tournament may attend the concert. Tickets can be found at johndeereclassic.com.