John Deere Classic Celebrates 36 Years in PGA Tour

Great scenery, big-named golfers and famous pork chop sandwiches. What else could you ask for on a hot summer day?

Thousands of golf fans and just curious folks will be attending the John Deere Classic - which will be celebrating its 35th anniversary as an official event on the PGA Tour.

"Our goal is for the John Deere Classic to be the best golf tournament of its kind anywhere," says Claire Peterson, the tournament director.

The event this year runs from July 9-15 be at Tournament Players Club at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

The town is part of the larger Quad-Cities area, which is made up of the larger cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Moline, East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois.
The area is about 2 ½ hours west of Chicago and east of Des Moines, Iowa.

The Classic is proud again to welcome back Michelle Wie, the 17-year-old Hawaiian golfer, who missed the cut by two strokes in 2005 to play with the men. She withdrew halfway through her second round last year because of heat.

The tournament also will host its own John Deere Classic board member and The Masters Tournament winner Zach Johnson. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native has been a favorite at the Classic for years.

The course was designed by Illinois native D.A. Wiebring - a three-time champion of the Quad-Cities tournament. The area was created with tree-lined fairways, scenic bluffs, steep grassy slopes and breathtaking views of the Rock River.

Native Americans came to this area because of the wildlife, the closeness to the river and for its rolling hills and woods. Spectators can still see deer, birds and other wildlife while watching golf.

In the last century before it became a golf course, the land had been used as a top Arabian breeding farm.

The 2007 event will be televised live from July 12-15. The Golf Channel will cover it on Thursday and Friday, while CBS Sports will air the final rounds on Saturday and Sunday.

Last year's winner was John Senden, and this year's field will be 156 players with a purse of $4.1 million.

On Monday and Tuesday, admission is free during the professional practice rounds. Wednesday, the John Deere Classic Pro-Am takes place.

For those coming to the tournament, you can watch a lot of golf and east some great food. The most famous is the grilled pork chop sandwiches. People swear they are the best around.

You can also stay around after play for live music beyond the clubhouse each night. On Friday night, fireworks will keep the crowds oohing and aahing.

Besides entertaining people, the John Deere Classic's main purpose is to raise funds for participating charities from around the Quad-City area. In 2006, $3.9 million was donated to more than 400 charities including day care centers, homeless shelters, battered women center, churches and more.

The money is raised through donations from the tournament and through the Birdies for Charity program. People pledge money to their favorite charities and guess how many birdies will be scored during the tournament. The total number of birdies was 1974, and 69 people guessed that number. A drawing took place and the grand prize winner won a new Buick.

The winner of the John Deere classic or the highest finisher not already qualified will earn a trip to the 2007 British Open.

Here is some of the info you need to attend the tournament --

General Ticket Information - 2007 John Deere Classic
Prices: Grounds only -- $24 in advance, $28 at the gate. Clubhouse, $34 in advance. VIP clubhouse pack -- $140. Ages 12 and under are free when accompanied by a paid adult. Ages 13-18 are half prices on tickets purchased at the gate. Ticket packages are available.
For information call:
Phone: 1 (800) 336-4655 or 1 (309) 762-4653
Fax: 1-309-762-4668

This year, you can buy and print your tickets using your computer through July 2. Tickets can be transferred by e-mail, and lost or stolen tickets can be replaced.

If you buy them by mail, they can be mailed to you within 48 hours after processing.