John Deere Classic 2025: A New High for Prize Money
Golf fans barely had time to catch their breath when the 2025 John Deere Classic did something we haven’t seen before: the purse jumped to a beefy $8.4 million. That’s $400,000 more than the last year, creating more buzz around a tournament that already turns heads for up-and-coming stars and fan-favorite veterans alike. It’s not every day a summer stop like TPC Deere Run sees such a dramatic bump in cash, especially just before the British Open, which often draws tour regulars across the Atlantic.
Brian Campbell seized the moment. He pocketed $1.512 million, the biggest payday of his career, and snagged those all-important 500 FedEx Cup points. That winner’s share even outshined previous years, making it clear the John Deere Classic is upping its game in terms of both prestige and stakes. Here’s how the top 10 payouts stacked up this year:
- 1st: $1,512,000
- 2nd: $915,600
- 3rd: $579,600
- 4th: $411,600
- 5th: $344,400
- 6th: $304,500
- 7th: $283,500
- 8th: $262,500
- 9th: $245,700
- 10th: $228,900
That kind of money can change a player’s year, maybe even their career. The extra FedEx Cup points matter just as much—especially for guys near the cut line trying to book a spot in the playoffs. More cash and higher stakes right before a major sparks some serious competition, even for those not heading to the British Open.
Momentum and Opportunities at TPC Deere Run
The John Deere Classic always serves as a bit of an incubator for fresh faces on the PGA Tour. Remember Davis Thompson’s breakout win in 2023? Or the way Luke Clanton made waves as a rookie barely out of college? TPC Deere Run’s midwestern vibe seems to work for golfers still hungry for that first win and established names looking to tune up their game or punch their ticket deeper into FedEx Cup territory.
Campbell’s victory doesn’t just mean a huge payday. He’s also set for a two-year exemption on tour, which is a big deal in a game where job security is always on the line. That freedom lets him plot out his schedule, focus on specific improvements, and play with less at stake every single week. When players tee it up knowing a win here can launch them into bigger events or even get them into the Masters, you get a field ready to go low and week-after-week highlight reels.
This year’s larger purse also signals the tournament’s growing relevance. FedEx Cup points shape a player’s whole season, affecting everything from playoff seeding to career trajectory. As more money and more points get pumped into regular stops like the John Deere Classic, the middle part of the tour schedule feels less like a warmup and more like a critical battleground. Whether you’re eyeing spots in the year-end big-money events or aiming for the security a two-year John Deere Classic exemption brings, performances here echo all summer long.
The John Deere Classic brought together hungry up-and-comers, seasoned vets, and a crowd eager for fireworks before the action shifts overseas. With more cash, more pressure, and another fresh champion in Brian Campbell, TPC Deere Run made itself impossible to ignore on this year’s tour calendar.
