On Moving Day at the John Deere Classic, howling winds and firm greens sent scores soaring, but defending champion Davis Thompson birdied the final two holes to take a one-shot lead into Sunday.

• The course finally fought back on Saturday. Howling winds and firm greens transformed TPC Deere Run from a birdie fest into a battle of attrition, with players grinding to survive the toughest conditions of the week.
• "It's got some teeth... it's not the typical John Deere," said Matt Kuchar, as the scoring average ballooned.
• Defending champion Davis Thompson thrived in the chaos, birdieing the final two holes for a 67 to take the solo lead. He says his "focus sharpens" when he's in contention.

• A stacked chase pack sits just one shot back, led by Max Homa, who is looking to break out of a season-long slump and feel the excitement of contention again.
• "Golf's been boring for me this year... I'm looking forward to having the butterflies," Homa said, setting the stage for a huge Sunday.
• He's joined by veteran David Lipsky, who is hunting for his first-ever PGA Tour victory, and the always-dangerous Emiliano Grillo and Brian Campbell.

36-hole leader Doug Ghim tumbles with a 74 • Amateur Jackson Koivun impresses at -11 • Rickie Fowler climbs to -9

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On July 5th, 2025, Doug Ghim held a slim one-shot lead at the John Deere Classic after a wild second round that saw a five-way tie for second place and the cut line fall to a blistering five-under par.

John Deere Classic: The Chase Pack

The leaderboard tightened into a track meet as a five-way tie for second place emerged, just one shot behind leader Doug Ghim. The group includes defending champ Davis Thompson, Max Homa, and local favorite Brian Campbell.

Defending champion Davis Thompson credited his morning tee time for his 8-under 63, saying he took advantage of the "fresher" greens with a "nonchalant" approach.

Max Homa feels his new swing is holding up under pressure, noting his consistency in the tougher afternoon conditions by stating, "I didn't hit one crazy shot today."

Leaderboard Movers & Shakers

While Doug Ghim battled to a gritty 3-under 68 to maintain his solo lead, others struggled to keep pace, including Austin Eckroat (71) and past champion Michael Kim, who shot 75 to miss the cut.

The scoring was so low that the cut line landed at a blistering five-under par, forcing players like Rickie Fowler to make the weekend on the number.

Taylor Montgomery made a key equipment change, switching away from the Titleist ProV1 he was using to "copy Scottie Scheffler" because it was creating too much spin.

Quick Hits

Camilo Villegas playing with heart for Mia's Miracles • Lucas Glover & amateur Jackson Koivun charge up the board • Local favorite Brian Campbell in the hunt at -11

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On July 4th, 2025, Illinois native Doug Ghim shot a nine-under 62 to take the solo lead after round one of the John Deere Classic, with Max Homa and Austin Eckroat just one shot back.

• Illinois native Doug Ghim fired a bogey-free 62 to take the solo lead at the John Deere Classic, highlighted by a walk-in eagle from 91 yards as he chases his first-ever PGA Tour victory.
• He called the low-scoring event a "track meet" and set a personal target of getting to twenty-four under par for the week.
• The Arlington Heights native is playing in front of a home-state crowd, adding extra pressure and support to his quest.

• Austin Eckroat and Max Homa sit just one shot back at eight-under. Eckroat is breaking a year-long slump with two eagles, while Homa fired his best opening round of the year with a new swing thought.
• Homa said he's in the "honeymoon phase" with a new feel to "slow down my legs" that he found just one day ago.
• Eckroat's hot start included two hole-outs for eagle in his first five holes, one from 137 yards out.

Rickie's back-nine 29 • Past champ Michael Kim lurking • Day & Potgieter struggle early

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On July 3rd, 2025, we break down the DP World Tour's controversial new crypto partnership at a Trump course, Max Homa's candid thoughts on his slump, and a historic walk-off eagle to qualify for The Open.

• The DP World Tour announced a multi-year, eight-figure deal with crypto firm Nexo, rebranding the Scottish Championship. The event will mark a controversial return to Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, a first for a Trump property.
• "It's about shared audiences," said tour executive Max Hamilton, while Nexo's co-founder cited shared values of "preparation, control, and vision."
• The partnership is further complicated by a noted connection between Nexo's co-founder and Donald Trump.

• At the John Deere Classic, a candid Max Homa opened up about his internal "panic meter" and the pressure of being a star in a slump, offering a rare look into the psychology of a top player.
• "Form seems to go a lot faster than it comes back," Homa said.
• Defending champion Davis Thompson is feeling a "confidence boost," while local favorite Zach Johnson believes his "boring" game is a perfect fit for the course.

• 20-year-old amateur Richard Teder became the first Estonian to ever qualify for The Open after a wild finish that saw him make a double bogey on the final hole of regulation before a dramatic playoff win.
• "It's like a dream," Teder said of the moment.
• He secured his historic spot by holing out an 80-yard chip for a walk-off eagle in the playoff, an unbelievable turnaround from his 72nd-hole collapse.

Nexo Championship at Trump Aberdeen • Homa's "panic meter" • Estonia's first Open qualifier

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On June 30th, 2025, 20-year-old Aldrich Potgieter won a grueling five-hole playoff at the Rocket Mortgage Classic while Patrick Reed survived a final-round collapse to capture his first individual LIV title in a four-way playoff.

• 20-year-old South African rookie Aldrich Potgieter outlasted Max Greyserman and Chris Kirk in a wild, five-hole playoff to capture a life-changing victory, becoming the youngest South African winner on the PGA Tour.
• Quote: "Immigrating is definitely not the easiest thing... coming alone to the States and giving it a a grind and having my dad here has helped so much."
• The playoff began with a bizarre delay after Max Greyserman broke a shoe spike on the way to the 18th tee.

• After 41 starts, Patrick Reed finally captured his first individual LIV Golf title in his home state of Texas, surviving a final-round 75 and winning a four-way playoff with a birdie on the first extra hole.
• Quote: "I tried to mess it up," Reed said of his final-round collapse before being saved by a competitor's bogey to force the playoff.
• For the first time in his LIV career, Jon Rahm finished outside the top 10, getting bumped down by a late Bryson DeChambeau putt.

Chris Kirk’s missed 9-foot winning putt • Crushers GC win their third straight team title • Collin Morikawa switches to a mallet putter

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On June 29th, 2025, 20-year-old rookie Aldrich Potgieter took a two-shot lead at the Rocket Mortgage Classic while Patrick Reed established a three-shot advantage at LIV Golf Dallas heading into Sunday.

• 20-year-old South African rookie Aldrich Potgieter holds a two-shot lead. The Tour's youngest and longest hitter is looking to cap an "overwhelming" season with a breakthrough win after a week of pure power in Detroit.
• Highlighting his dominance, Potgieter drove the 372-yard par-4 eighth hole, his tee shot traveling 374 yards over the trees.
• Four shots back, Collin Morikawa made a mid-tournament switch from his blade to a Spider mallet, jumping from 156th to 11th in putting.

• Patrick Reed is poised for his first-ever individual LIV title, holding a three-shot lead. Despite eleven top-five finishes on the circuit, Captain America is still searching for that elusive solo victory in Dallas.
• The biggest mover was Tyrrell Hatton, who called the 7th the "worst hole on the planet" after finding the water, only to respond with three straight birdies and a later eagle.
• Harold Varner III shared a classic Reed story: an unbelievable chip followed by a missed four-foot putt, perfectly encapsulating his sometimes-frustrating short game.

Will Gordon secures his card • Brooks Koepka WDs with illness • Davis Thompson's eagle-fest

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