While the John Deere Classic doesn’t attract the best players in golf every year, the event typically features a handful of stars.
Jordan Spieth will tee it off this year, as will defending champion and Ryder Cup star Sepp Straka. This year’s event will also feature international stars Lim Sung-jae and Jason Day, 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Zach Johnson and 2009 Champion Golfer of the Year Stewart Cink.
But Patrick Cantlay, who the Tour had originally listed as a contestant for the John Deere Classic, decided to withdraw on Monday. Scotsman Russell Knox will take his place. on site.
The tour did not disclose why Cantlay withdrew.
But if Cantlay had stayed, it would have been his first appearance at the John Deere Classic, which TPC Deere Run has hosted since 2000.
Another notable withdrawal was Cameron Davis, who won his second career title last week at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. With his win in Detroit, Davis also moved up the FedEx Cup rankings and qualified for next year’s Masters, The Players and all eight signature events. So Davis felt obligated to take a week off and savor the victory, but it was never an easy win on or off the golf course. Had Akshay Bhatia not three-putted, Davis could have found himself in a sudden-death playoff against Bhatia, and who knows how that would have played out. But Davis was the only player still atop the leaderboard after 72 holes, finishing at 18-under.
As for Cantlay, he tied for fifth at his last tournament, the Travelers Championship. The week before, the former UCLA Bruins player had his best performance at a major, tying for third at Pinehurst No. 2. Cantlay seems to have found something lately. It’s impressive progress considering his season was sporadic. His best two finishes before the U.S. Open were a tie for third and fourth place, at Riviera and Hilton Head, respectively. But he struggled at The Players Championship, the PGA Championship and the Memorial. He wasn’t at his best at the Masters either.
Cantlay isn’t even on the roster for next week’s Genesis Scottish Open, the final British Open tune-up tournament at Royal Troon, so all signs suggest the next time golf fans see him playing will be in two weeks’ time at the golf’s oldest major championship.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.
