The John Deere Classic is the PGA Tour’s annual birdie barrage and while there were still plenty of those to go around, it was back-nine bogeys and even a double bogey that shaped the outcome. Eventually, it was Brian Campbell who prevailed, using a par on the first hole of a playoff with Emiliano Grillo to get the job done at TPC Deere Run for his second tour title, having won the Mexico Open earlier in the year, also in overtime.
With the final group on No. 15, a whopping 17 players were within two shots of the lead, albeit most having already finished. Still, it spoke to the cramped nature of the leaderboard over the final 18.
Locked in a four-way tie for the lead, Campbell unloaded a 3-wood from 272 yards on the par-5 17th and carried it onto the green, stopping it 18 feet from the hole. The ensuing two-putt birdie breaking the deadlock. Campbell’s 3-wood is Ping’s G440 LST, the low-spin version in the line. The 15-degree head is dropped to 13.5 degrees using the adjustable hosel and the 43-inch Fujikura Ventus Blue 7x shaft is tipped one inch.
Ping G440 LST
$550 | Golf Galaxy
Better players with faster swing speeds will benefit the most from this design’s use of multiple materials to produce a higher launch and less spin.This new version has a more rounded shape and a taller face for improved versatility off the tee as well as a muted sound.The lightweight titanium face features a new alloy that’s stronger, allowing it to be made 8 percent thinner for increased resiliency across the face.A carbon-composite piece wraps around the back of the crown and into the rear skirt, saving weight to lower the center of gravity for less spin.The bottom of the club has an 85-gram tungsten sole plate (6 percent heavier than last year’s model) to increase launch angle and reduce spin.A slimmer rear back weight ensures the club rests closer to the ground for a consistent face angle regardless of the adjustable loft and lie settings.A redesigned interior section of the hosel frees up room for the heel side of the face to flex more efficiently and saves weight to maintain a lower center of gravity.Top 5 in Performance, low-handicaps15, 19 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
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It was into and on the greens where Campbell shined, ranking eighth and fifth, respectively, in strokes gained/approach and putting. Campbell picked up more than five-and-a-half shots on the field with his Ping Blueprint S irons and tacked on another 6.818 strokes on the greens with his Ping Anser 2 putter.
Since 2009 only three times had the winner not reached 20 under par at the Deere. Campbell only got to 18 under but for him the only number that mattered was win No. 2.
“You really have to dig deep and trust yourself.” Campbell told CBS afterward.
Digging deep. Seems appropriate for a tournament named after a tractor company.
The clubs Brian Campbell used to win the 2025 John Deere Classic
Driver: Ping G440 LST (Fujikura Ventus Black 6x), 10.5 degrees
3-wood: Ping G440 LST, 15 degrees
7-wood: Ping G430 Max, 21 degrees
Irons (4): Ping iDi; (5-PW): Ping Blueprint S
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10 (52, 56 degrees); Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks (60 degrees)
Putter: Ping Redwood Anser 2
