Ben Griffin, a standout on the PGA Tour with two victories and eight top-10 finishes this year – including a recent strong showing at the U.S. Open, has committed to play in the John Deere Classic for the second consecutive year.
Mr. Griffin, 29, from North Carolina, made a memorable debut at TPC Deere Run last year, finishing tied for 5th with a 23-under par performance that included four rounds in the 60s. The tournament announced the latest player commitment in a news release today, June 18.
His impressive play since late February has positioned him prominently in the FedExCup Playoff rankings, where he currently stands fifth. He is also 15th in the Official World Golf Rankings and eighth in Ryder Cup points. The top six players in Ryder Cup points automatically qualify for the 12-man team.
Mr. Griffin’s recent successes include a T-4 finish at the Mexico Open, co-winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with teammate Andrew Novak, and a victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, just a week after a T-8 finish at the PGA Championship.
“Ben Griffin played here last year and had a great tournament, and we are extremely happy to welcome him back this year,” JDC Tournament Director Andrew Lehman said in the release. “Ben has a great backstory and has positioned himself well for the Playoffs and to be on the Ryder Cup team.”
Mr. Griffin’s journey back to professional golf is well-known. After playing college golf at North Carolina, he experienced burnout in 2021 and stepped away from the sport to work as a mortgage loan officer. However, he soon returned, successfully navigated the Korn Ferry Tour, and earned his PGA Tour card.
The 54th edition of the John Deere Classic, a Quad Cities-based PGA Tour event, is scheduled for July 2-6 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis. Davis Thompson is the defending champion, and the tournament will offer an $8.4 million purse.
