PGA Tour Stop: John Deere Classic hits TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

William K. Wolfrum,
Staff Writer

The PGA Tour is heading to Illinois this week for the John Deere Classic. And with the tournament set to be held at the Tournament Players Club at Deere Run, it's one of the few times that the pros will be striking the ball at a course that accepts golfers of all skill levels - and does it at reasonable green fees.

For the past two years, the John Deere Classic has been notable for the presence of Michelle Wie. And, while Wie nearly stunned everyone by making the cut in 2005, she was forced to withdraw due to heat exhaustion in 2006, and will not compete in the tournament this year, despite receiving a sponsor's exemption.

And, while this year's field will be missing big stars like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, Masters champion Zach Johnson will be in the talent-laden field.

But the TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., is not just a golf course designed to test the world's best. It's also a course ready for daily-fee play - with greens fees under $70. Here's a look at this Illinois golf must-play, where the pros are ready to tee it up for big bucks.

TPC at Deere Run facts

The TPC at Deere Run (one of nine TPC courses open to the public) opened in 2000 and has dazzled duffers ever since. And the course has done whatever needs to be done to keep golfers happy, even lowering green fees substantially.

"Two years ago the green fee was $130, but it was cut by more than half to encourage daily-fee play - a rather amazing turn of events for one of the Midwest's must-play courses," Kiel Christianson wrote. "The quality of the golf and the immaculate conditions make this one of the best $60 plays in the country."

Designed by D.A. Weibring, Deere Run was built on what was a horse farm and consists of lush Midwestern vegetation along with ravines and tree-lined fairways running alongside the Rock River. The course is rich with risk-reward opportunities, notably at the including the 358-yard par-4 No. 14, which is drivable for long hitters. All told, the course plays to more than 7,200 yards from the tips.

PGA Tour history

The John Deere Classic, now in its 36th year, got its start in 1971 as the Ed McMahon Quad Cities Open. In 2000, the tournament got a new sponsor and was renamed the John Deere Classic. And for golf fans, the tournament has long meant two things: first-time winners and thrilling playoffs.

Over the years, 18 players have made the John Deere Classic/Quad Cities Open their first career victory, including such notables as Payne Stewart, Scott Hoch and David Toms.

Dave Barr scored his first PGA Tour win at the tourney in 1981, in a memorable affair that saw a five-player playoff dwindle down and carry on to hole No. 80, as Barr held off Jack Renner, Calvin Peete, Mark McCumber and Dan Pohl for the victory.

2007 John Deere Classic

Australian John Senden is the defending champion of the John Deere Classic, with David Frost holding the 72-hole record for the tournament at 259, set at Oakwood Country Club in 1993.

While the 2007 event has been plagued by players pulling out, the field will still include such notables as Johnson, Tim Clark, Tim Herron, Steve Lowery, Paul Goydos, Woody Austin, Camillo Villegas and Brian Bateman.

July 11, 2007