The annual John Deere Classic golf tournament is going on this weekend at the TPC at Deere Run course in suburban Silvis, IL. The weather conditions for the tournament have been absolutely perfect with highs in the 80's, low humidity and moderate winds. With as much rain that we've been getting lately, the course is in great shape.
With Nathan Green the leader at 12 under par, the cut was at 2 under knocking the tournament's big names - most notably 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson (right), and former P.G.A. and British Open champ John Daly - out of the field for Saturday and Sunday. Even last year's champion, John Senden, played horribly on Thursday and Friday and missed the cut by eight strokes.
Now, I'm sure even the most seasoned golf fans would be asking, "Who the hell are Nathan Green and John Senden?" But that's the nature of the beast for the John Deere Classic. Historically, it's held the week before the British Open and right now the vast majority of the top golfers in the world are over in Scotland getting ready for that tournament. In fact, Johnson was the only golfer ranked in the Top 50 in the world who came to Deere Run to play.
Well, it should be said that Johnson considers this his "home" tournament, having grown up 90 miles away in Cedar Rapids, IA. And he is on the board of directors for the John Deere Classic, so it would look pretty bad for him if he didn't commit to play here. But Zach missed the cut, so he's undoubtedly on a plane to Scotland as I write.
But that leaves a bunch of no-names playing today and tomorrow.
That's the trouble with the John Deere Classic. They just don't get a lot of the big name guys to come to the tournament. I understand the tournament is run in a first class way, a lot of the golfers believe it's one of the better run tournaments on the tour, and there's a lot of community support behind the tournament. Lord knows how much money the John Deere Classic committee spends on the peripherals to pull the tournament off.
In the past couple of years, they've chosen to make the tournament a novelty act by inviting Michelle Wie to play in the Classic. Wie, the teenage golfer who is more hype than hope, was invited again this year, but begged off about a month ago citing a wrist injury that has hampered her game this year. Many of Wie's critics and golfing colleagues have openly questioned her injury, especially with the way she's been "re-habbing" the injury.
Last year, Wie pulled out of the John Deere Classic when menstrual cramps combined with dehydration from the upper-90 degree temps got her a ride in an ambulance from the course. Golf purists have railed against men golf tournaments inviting Wie to participate. Even though I'm not a golf purist, I also wasn't too enamored by her being here when I wrote this blog entry last year. Her presence helped add some spectators to the gallery, but it also turned the tournament into a two-day circus.
If that's how the John Deere Classic has to operate to survive, then I'm not interested. Yes, it was great to get the reigning Masters champ in the field, but if Zach Johnson wasn't A) from Iowa; and B) on the board for the John Deere Classic, he would have more than likely skipped this event, as well.
Still, I'm impressed with the way the community gets behind the tournament. Seasoned golfers and casual fans still turn out in droves. One can almost imagine what it would be like if the big name golfers showed up on an annual basis.
But for now, the JDC is still a small-time tournament in a small metro area, trying to show the world that's it's big time through and through. But it's not and I doubt if it ever will be.
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