SILVIS, Ill. (KWQC) – The tournament now known as the John Deere Classic began in 1971 as a satellite event with a $25,000 purse at Crow Valley, drawing players including Lee Trevino and Chi-Chi Rodriguez.
What followed was a 56-year run of professional golf in the Quad Cities — one that was not always guaranteed to continue.
Near collapse and a celebrity save
In 1975, the Moline JC stepped up, with Crow Valley no longer wanting the tournament, and, according to former KWQC Sports Director Thom Cornelis, got in contact with television personality Ed McMahon, who was in town judging a beauty pageant.
“They said, ‘why don’t you have a tournament? All your buddies have a tournament, Bob Hope and Jackie Gleason, whatever.’ So he came on board, and that kind of saved it,” Cornelis said.
The tournament had several sponsors, including Miller Lite and a nine-year run with Hardee’s, which Cornelis said solidified the event.
Tiger Woods and a new title sponsor
The future of the tournament came into question in the mid-90’s, as the Hardee’s sponsorship came to an end.
But Tiger Woods brought more crowds and broader attention to the event, leading to a new sponsor.(KWQC)
But Tiger Woods brought more crowds and broader attention to the event, leading to a new sponsor.
“And John Deere, you know, had been approached, they had just gotten into the equipment business. So now it, you know, made a little bit more sense then it did back in the 70s or early 80s,” Clair Peterson, a former tournament director, said. “And having Tiger here and seeing what effect that had, what impact that had, certainly didn’t hurt the inevitable, or the inevitable decision to become title sponsor.”
The John Deere Classic was born in 1999. In 2000, a new course designed by D.A. Weibring — the Tournament Players Club at Deere Run became the tournament’s permanent home.
Community support and player loyalty
Peterson said the players can feel the tournament’s importance in the community on the course.
“This is, you know, the big deal in town and you see it on TV, folks like yourself covering it, you see it in billboards, you see it in newspapers,” Peterson said. “They feel it when they’re out here and see, you know, 50,000 people and you don’t get that every week to week on the PGA Tour.”
Defending champion Brian Campbell said the fan support at the tournament stands out.
Crowds fill the stands at a professional golf event in the Quad Cities.(KWQC)
“Watching the highlight video, and you know, just seeing, you know, how it was just the most amount of fans I’ve ever had cheer for me during a tournament.” Campbell said. “And it was just such an amazing experience.”
Cornelis said that the treatment of players is why competitors return, like Ricky Fowler and Max Homa.
Celebrities, music, and repeat champions
And despite changes, some things remain the same.
Celebrities like Julius Erving and Bill Murray show up for the Pro-Am. Musical acts have performed at the course, ranging from Duck Soup to Dierks Bentley.
Celebrities like Julius Erving and Bill Murray show up for the Pro-Am.(KWQC)
And even repeat winners like Dean Beman and Brad Faxon, and three-time champion Steve Stricker.
Despite recent rumors about the tournament’s future, Peterson said the reaction from fans and media has been clear.
“Groundswell of reactions from social media posts and writers writing about it, it would be a travesty, a tragedy, if an event like this, with this history, would ever be off the PGA Tour,” Peterson said.
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