ESPN.com · Jul 3, 2017
Jordan Spieth to skip John Deere to prepare for the Open
SILVIS, Ill. -- Jordan Spieth has decided to skip the John Deere Classic to prepare for the Open Championship.
Spieth is a two-time winner of the tournament. He won the John Deere Classic in 2013 on a sponsor's exemption, which sent him to the FedEx Cup playoffs and a spot on the Presidents Cup team at age 19. He won again in 2015, even though it meant not getting to the Open until Monday when he was going after the third leg of the Grand Slam.
He did not defend his title at the TPC Deere Run last year. The tournament was the same week as the Olympics, and when Spieth joined other top stars in not going to Rio de Janeiro, he felt it would be disrespectful to play anywhere else that week.