Sports
John Deere Classic special to many pros despite place on schedule
Apr 9, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Zach Johnson tees off on the fifth hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images The John Deere Classic has been a fixture on the PGA Tour since 1971 and sponsored by the tractor manufacturer since 1999.
While the likes of Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau have earned their maiden PGA victories here, the event doesn’t command the strongest fields these days as many players take time off around the Fourth of July. That leaves it as a likely candidate for the tour’s future “Challenger Series,” a second tier of events that would be closed off from top-tier players like Spieth.
For now, the John Deere still holds a special place on the calendar for many tour pros as TPC Deere Run gets set to host the 2026 edition starting Thursday in Silvis, Ill.
Spieth won his first PGA Tour title at the John Deere in 2013, when he was just 19 years old. He claimed the trophy again in 2015. The three-time major champion noted the unfortunate wrinkle of the tour’s new format, beginning in 2028, where players who win on the Challenger Series will likely be promoted to the more prestigious Championship Series and not be able to defend their titles.
“That is probably one of the stranger parts of the whole situation because most of the time guys go back to try to defend their titles,” Spieth said. “It’s definitely something that it’s almost like an unofficial job that you have in a way. … I would say for the most part if you do win, you’re most likely not going to be back at a Track 2 event.”
Spieth is one of just eight players ranked top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking playing this week. Chris Gotterup and Ben Griffin are the highest at Nos. 13 and 18.
They’ll play a par-71, 7,327-yard track that can produce low scores, including the tournament record of 28-under 256 set by Davis Thompson two years ago. Organizers lengthened the par-4 fourth hole by some 40 yards after a nearly 100-year-old tree in the middle of the fairway had to be removed.
“That tree, it’s kind of like a Dikembe Mutombo in a lot of respects,” said Zach Johnson, referring to the famed NBA shot-blocker. “It was placed strategically. Unfortunate, that was kind of the character of the hole, and maybe it had a little bit of — I’m not nostalgic or anything like that — sentimentality, but there’s something to be said on that tree on 4.”
There are few people the John Deere means more to than Johnson, who grew up in nearby Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The 2012 champion has played the event every year since 2002 and has made 17 straight cuts.
Now 50, Johnson chose to continue his appearance streak in the Quad Cities instead of playing the U.S. Senior Open.
“I am an ambassador of this company and of this tournament regardless of if I play or don’t play,” he said. “So going forward, I’ll let things fall where they fall. I mean, I love to compete here, and I’ve cherished every second of that with family, with friends, and with the people in this community. At the same time, I’m also I think old enough to understand that it’s bigger than — certainly bigger than me, but it’s bigger than any one person, and I’m OK with that.”
Brian Campbell seized the opportunity TPC Deere Run gave him last year when he shot four rounds in the 60s and defeated Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo in a playoff. It was his second win of 2025 and of his career.
“Obviously, I would love to come back every single year if I could, but I think it does us better if we think about more what’s happening this week and even this year,” Campbell said of the future rules. “… There is a lot to think about with the new changes, but we’re just excited to be here for this tournament this week.”
One player who could become the next Spieth or DeChambeau is Jackson Koivun, the longtime No. 1 amateur in the world who’ll make his professional debut this week. He earned his card through the PGA Tour University pathway.
“Obviously, the ties here are huge, and I wanted to play U.S. Open as an amateur and that kind of took RBC (Canadian Open) out of the question,” Koivun said of planning his first start. “That kind of left me with the John Deere Classic. I’m really excited to call this my pro debut.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Canada hope healthy captain Alphonso Davies can help shock Morocco
June 18, 2026; Vancouver, Canada; Canada’s Luc de Fougerolles and Alphonso Davies before the match. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images Canada coach Jesse Marsch knows his side will need every advantage it can get against Morocco in a round of 16 match in Houston on Saturday.
That includes figuring out how best to use captain Alphonso Davies coming off an injury.
The Bayern Munich left-back played the final 15 minutes of Sunday’s 1-0 win over South Africa in his first appearance since sustaining a hamstring injury in early May. He immediately set up Promise David for a shot just outside the left post and provided a boost to the Canadians.
“I thought he had a good impact on the game and, more than anything, what you saw is that South Africa really respected him when he came in,” Marsch said. “So, we will be thinking about how to use Alphonso again in this game, whether from the start or off the bench.”
Davies has 15 career goals for Canada and has reached a status that he is featured on a collection of McDonald’s World Cup cups with the likes of David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Lamine Yamal and Christian Pulisic.
Canada claimed their first knockout victory when Stephen Eustaquio scored in the second minute of second-half stoppage time against South Africa.
But Marsch knows Morocco are on another level — and not just because Morocco rank sixth in the updated (but unofficial) FIFA world rankings compared to No. 54 South Africa. (Canada are 30th.)
“Preparing for Morocco is like a gory, horrible nightmare,” Marsch said. “It’s like, I don’t want to watch them play. They’re too good.”
His sleeplessness likely relates to trying to stop attacking midfielder Ismael Saibari, who scored in all three group stage matches. On Wednesday, it was announced he will move to Bayern Munich, joining Davies, from PSV Eindhoven.
After Morocco beat the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 tie in the round of 32, Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said it’s time the world take notice.
“Morocco has gained everybody’s respect now,” he said. “It’s not because of what we’ve said. We’ve now shown it.
“(The players) know that behind them there are millions and millions of people. We played when it was 2 in the morning in Morocco and we’re certain that most people stayed awake. That gives you the energy not to give up, to keep going and to believe in yourself.”
The teams met in the final group stage match at the 2022 World Cup with Morocco prevailing 2-1. The Moroccans then downed Spain and Portugal to become the first African nation to reach the final four.
Ouahbi knows anything can happen in a knockout match.
“Nobody can stop us if we play the football we know how to play,” he said. “But nobody is unbeatable. If we get things wrong, we’ll go home.”
The winner will play France or Paraguay — who meet Saturday in Philadelphia — in the quarterfinals in Foxborough, Mass., on July 9.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Novak Djokovic ties Roger Federer's Wimbledon wins mark
Jul 1, 2026; London, United Kingdom; Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning his match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece on day three at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images Novak Djokovic delivered a record-tying 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) third-round victory over big-serving Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech on Friday at Wimbledon.
The seventh-seeded Serbian, a seven-time champion at the All England Club, matched Roger Federer’s men’s record with his 105th singles win at the grass court Grand Slam. Martina Navratilova holds the overall mark with 120.
“To be able to make history in this sport is a huge honor and a huge privilege,” the 39-year-old Djokovic said during his on-court interview. “Particularly here, it’s always a been a dream childhood tournament of mine. I’m not thinking about whether it’s going to be 105 or 106, but I’m just thinking about trying to win that match on a given day.
“Today I was quite stressed out. There was more tension than usual. I knew it was going to be a very challenging match for me. I’m just happy to overcome this. I propose a matchup between me and Roger for 106!”
Djokovic weathered 21 aces by the 6-foot-5 Rinderknech, who saved six of nine break points and won 82.4% of the points on his first serve. Rinderknech finished with a 67-40 advantage in winners, but Djokovic was sharp with only 16 unforced errors in the three-hour, 15-minute match.
“He’s very tall. He hit some incredible serves. So, he deserves a round of applause for his performance today,” said Djokovic. “It was a really tiring, really close match. I’m happy to overcome it. Sometimes you just have to find a way to win, and I’m happy I did that today.”
Up next for the 24-time Grand Slam winner is Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin, who posted a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win upset of No. 24 Joao Fonseca of Brazil.
In other action Friday, defending champion and No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner of Italy moved into the fourth round for the fifth straight year with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Jenson Brooksby in 2:13.
“I am very happy about the win,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “I am trying to improve every day. A small step forward today and I am trying to get better if I want to get further in this tournament.”
Sinner’s next opponent is Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki, who knocked out 19-year-old Spaniard and No. 23 seed Rafael Jodar 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-4.
Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff pulled off a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 7-5 upset of two-time semifinalist and No. 8 seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia.
Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz rallied past No. 21 Tommy Paul 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5, 6-2 and No. 22 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain defeated Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in straight sets.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stars captain Jamie Benn returning for 18th season
Jan 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Captain Jamie Benn is returning for his 18th season with the Dallas Stars in 2026-27, the team announced Friday.
The soon-to-be 37-year-old forward ranks second in franchise history in goals, points and games played.
He agreed to a one-year, $850,000 deal worth up to an additional $1.15 million in potential performance bonuses.
“Jamie’s leadership and commitment to this organization is truly unmatched and he has helped define our culture,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “He continues to set the standard on and off the ice, and we’re excited to have him leading our team for another season.”
Benn registered 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists), a plus-8 rating and 53 penalty minutes in 60 games in 2025-26, missing 20 games due to injuries.
He has 992 points (414 goals, 578 assists), a plus-89 rating and 932 penalty minutes in 1,252 regular-season games with the Stars, who drafted him in the fifth round (129th overall) in 2007. Benn has 80 points (28 goals, 52 assists) in 126 playoff games, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final in 2020.
Only Mike Modano has more goals, points and games in Minnesota North Stars/Dallas history than Benn, a three-time All-Star who won the Art Ross Trophy with a league-high 87 points in 2014-15.
–Field Level Media
Canada hope healthy captain Alphonso Davies can help shock Morocco
Novak Djokovic ties Roger Federer's Wimbledon wins mark
