The John Deere Classic has a reputation for jump-starting the career of PGA Tour stars.
Payne Stewart notched his maiden Tour win in the Quad Cities in 1982, and so did fellow future major champions David Toms (1997), Jordan Spieth (2013) and Bryson DeChambeau (2017). Not to mention, 20-year-old Tiger Woods made his third professional start at the 1996 John Deere, capturing his first 54-hole lead. Ed Fiori, though, would hunt down the Big Cat and Woods would tie for fifth.
This year, through 36 holes at TPC Deere Run, a bevy of promising young players are keeping the event's reputation strong, as they are in prime position to forever change their lives by entering the winner's circle on Tour for the first time.