Early Look at Field Points to Exciting 2013 John Deere Classic

Nineteen recent PGA TOUR winners and more than a dozen British Open contestants already have committed to play in this year's John Deere Classic, July 8-14, at TPC Deere Run.

In addition to defending champion Zach Johnson and previous three-time defending champion Steve Stricker, the field will feature 2013 TOUR winners Boo Weekley (Crowne Plaza at Colonial), Kevin Streelman (Tampa Bay), D.A. Points (Shell Houston Open) Derek Ernst (Wells Fargo) and Sang-Moon Bae (HP Byron Nelson). Other highly-ranked PGA TOUR players, such as Nick Watney, Bo Van Pelt, Charles Howell III, Ben Crane and Mark Wilson also have committed.

"The John Deere Classic is delighted that six weeks before this year's tournament our field already is filling with highly competitive players whose talent and commitment to excellence promise another exciting week of golf at TPC Deere Run," said tournament director Clair Peterson. "We urge fans to reserve their tickets now."

Among the British Open-exempt contestants already in the John Deere Classic field are Johnson, Watney, Van Pelt, 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, 2006 John Deere Classic champion John Senden, Carl Petterson, 2012 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year John Huh and former British Open champions John Daly and David Duval. Former British Open champion Todd Hamilton of Oquawka, Ill. also is likely to play.

Five John Deere Classic commitments who recently qualified to play at Muirfield in Scotland are Brian Davis of England, former Illini Luke Guthrie, Sweden's Robert Karlsson, Josh Teater and Johnson Wagner.

Most, if not all, of the British Open-qualified players are expected to take the John Deere Classic charter direct to Scotland after the conclusion of the tournament.

"The fact that we can offer our contestants a direct flight to the British Open helps our field immensely," Peterson said. "This will be the sixth consecutive year we have offered the charter, and it has been a true success."

In addition to Johnson, Stricker and Senden, recent John Deere Classic past champions Jonathan Byrd (2007) and Sean O'Hair (2005) are in this year's field.

The University of Illinois has five alumni in this year's field, including Stricker, Guthrie, Points, Joe Affrunti and Scott Langley. Streelman, Wilson and rookie Eric Meierdierks all either grew up or reside in the Chicago area.

In addition to Johnson - a Cedar Rapids, Ia. native, Drake graduate and passionate Iowa Hawkeye fan - University of Iowa golfer Steven Ihm of Peosta, Ia., near Dubuque, is in the field on a previously announced sponsor exemption.

Chad Campbell and Ricky Barnes have committed along with Andres Romero of Argentina and last year's runner-up Troy Matteson.

Bae, a native of South Korea, will be joined by fellow countrymen Huh, Charlie Wi, Richard H. Lee and Jin Park.

Peterson said more players are expected to commit following next month's U.S. Open. Under PGA TOUR rules, players have until 5 p.m. the Friday before the event to commit.

This year, a field of 156 players will contend for a purse of $4.6 million with the winner receiving $828,000.

Tickets for the John Deere Classic are available at www.johndeereclassic.com or by calling 309-762-4653.