The John Deere Classic will offer two exemptions to the 2024 Open Championship on July 18-21, at Royal Troon, tournament officials announced Monday, Nov. 20.
“The John Deere Classic is thrilled to be able to offer our 156 contestants the opportunity to compete for two spots in the Open Championship,” JDC Tournament Director Andrew Lehman said. “We expect that the chance to earn this exemption will enhance our field and bring another dimension to the competition.”
The exemptions will go to the two highest finishers not otherwise exempt for the Open per the R&A, the organization that operates the Open. The 2024 John Deere Classic is scheduled for July 3-7 at TPC Deere Run, Silvis. Sepp Straka will be the defending champion.
The Quad Cities-based PGA Tour event originally received an exemption to the Open Championship in 2004 and offered as many as three spots in recent years. However, last year, the JDC did not receive any exemptions to the Open. (The exemptions are actually awarded by the R&A, an offshoot of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews, Scotland.)
John Deere Classic champions who have received the exemption in the past include: Jordan Spieth (2013) and Bryson DeChambeau (2017). In addition, former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover won the 2021 John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run with a score of 19-under par, coming from four shots behind in the final round to win by two.
The JDC, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization located in the tournament offices at 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline. Founded in 1971, the tournament has raised $174 million for charity.
The Open is golf’s original championship. It’s been played since 1860 and calls itself “the sport’s most international major championship with qualifying events on every continent.”
Brian Harmon is the Open’s defending champion after hoisting the Claret Jug in The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool in 2023.
Next year’s Open at Hoylake will be the 13th time the championship has been held at Royal Liverpool.
