Brian Campbell claimed his second PGA Tour title of the year at the John Deere Classic, holding off Emiliano Grillo in a sudden-death playoff. Both golfers finished regulation play at 18-under par after closing with rounds of 67. Campbell secured the win by parring the first extra hole, the par-4 18th, while Grillo failed to save par after an errant approach.
Exclusive Group in 2025
Campbell’s playoff triumph marks him as one of only six players on tour this year to win multiple events. He now joins the ranks of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Sepp Straka, Ben Griffin, and Ryan Fox in that exclusive group. His victories came at the Mexico Open earlier in February and now again in Illinois, highlighting a standout season despite modest recent form.
Underdog Turnaround
Prior to his breakthrough at Mexico, Campbell had endured a stretch of missed cuts and withdrawals. In fact, earlier this season he missed four of five cuts before rebounding with a tie for sixth at Colonial. His resurgence underscores the unpredictable nature of professional golf and the impact of perseverance and belief in oneself.
Tournament Recap
On Sunday at TPC Deere Run, Campbell surged ahead with three consecutive birdies on the back nine. A double bogey on the par-4 15th briefly derailed his momentum, but he responded with a clutch birdie on the par-5 17th to finish regulation play tied with Grillo.
In the playoff, Campbell’s precision tee shot on the 18th set up a tap-in birdie after Grillo’s recollection attempt fell short, sealing the win.
Career Resilience
Campbell’s journey to two titles has been anything but seamless. It took 187 starts before his first PGA Tour win at Mexico, and 13 more starts until his Deere Classic success. Over those starts, he made the cut in only 16 events and earned less than $2 million. His Deere Classic victory alone netted him over $1.5 million, nearly doubling his career earnings.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Campbell moves solidly into the FedEx Cup top 30 and secures exemptions to signature events such as the Masters, PGA Championship, and The Players Championship. Assuming he remains in the top 50 by season’s end, he may also qualify for the BMW Championship and continue securing his place among the sport’s rising stars.
