|
July 4-10, 2011
|
|
 |
 |
Press Releases
CHOI COMMITS TO PLAY IN HIS FIRST JOHN DEERE CLASSIC
EAST MOLINE, Illinois (June 24, 2010) -K.J. Choi of South Korea has formally committed to play in this year's $4.4 million John Deere Classic, July 8-11, at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. It will be the first time the 40-year-old international star has played in the Quad Cities' event, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
John Deere Classic tournament director Clair Peterson said Choi, who is in the British Open field, has reserved a spot on the John Deere Classic charter, which is scheduled to leave Quad City International Airport direct for Scotland shortly after the conclusion of the tournament.
Other recent commitments include Chad Campbell, John Rollins, John Mallinger, and Jimmy Walker, all ranked among the top 100 American players. Tommy Armour III, who this year has been splitting his time between the regular PGA TOUR and the Champions Tour, also has committed to the John Deere.
"The John Deere Classic is extremely happy to have a player of K.J. Choi's caliber and international stature playing in the tournament," said John Deere Classic tournament director Clair Peterson. "K.J. has been playing consistently well this year and it would come as no surprise to anyone if he were to be competitive at TPC Deere Run."
Peterson said a contributing factor to Choi's decision to commit was the tournament's charter flight to the British Open, now in its third year.
"The tournament's decision in 2008 to charter a direct flight to the site of the British Open from the Quad Cities was made in order to help us attract players like K.J., who in the 'pre-jet' years, frankly, did not consider playing our event," Peterson said. "K.J.'s commitment just underscores the soundness of that decision."
This year, Choi has not missed a cut in 14 events, has two top-10 finishes, seven top-25s, and is ranked 38th in the world. He tied for fourth at this year's Masters and was second at The Transitions event in the Tampa Bay area. A seven-time winner on the PGA TOUR, Choi's best results came in 2007 when he won The Memorial and the AT&T National.
Peterson also said he is pleased to have the growing list of top American players joining the field.
"We're very happy that so many of today's top American players are choosing to compete in the John Deere Classic," Peterson said. "They love TPC Deere Run and really enjoy the way they're treated by the fans and in the community. And they can accumulate official earnings, FedEx Cup points, and Ryder Cup points."
Campbell, who had four rounds in the 60s and tied for 15th at last year's John Deere, is a four-time winner on Tour and a three-time Ryder Cup team member who has four top 30 finishes this season, including a tie for eighth a the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Rollins is a three-time TOUR winner who has recorded fivetop-20 finishes this season, including one top-10, a T-8 at the Sony.
The tournament also announced that Kirk Triplett, who has played every John Deere Classic since it moved to TPC Deere Run in 2000 and four times at Oakwood Country Club before than has received a sponsor exemption.
Tickets for the John Deere Classic are available athttp://www.johndeereclassic.com/or by calling 309-762-4653.
The PGA TOUR began its run in the Quad Cities in 1971. John Deere, whose world headquarters is in Moline, Ill., assumed title sponsorship of the tournament in 1998.The tournament moved to TPC Deere Run in 2000.
The tournament helped raise $4.63 million for 500 charities in 2009, ranking it first on the PGA TOUR overall in per capita contributions at $12.26 for each of the 375,000 residents of the Quad City area and fifth overall on the PGA TOUR.
The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in the John Deere Classic tournament offices at 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline, Illinios. Since its founding in 1971, the tournament has helped raise $33.6 million for charity.
