Why isn’t Scottie Scheffler playing in the 2025 John Deere Classic?

The John Deere Classic, held each year at TPC Deere Run in Illinois, usually brings together the biggest names in golf but this year’s edition will be played without a number of top player.

The most notable of the absentees is world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who has followed up an incredible 2024 showing with more victories this year.

Scheffler is at the top of the FedEx Cup rankings for 2025 and has brought in $15. 9 million in prize money already with three tournament victories and a major title to his name. His first-ever PGA Championship success earned him $3.4 million but signs of fatigue were showing at his most recent major appearance.

“This is probably the hardest golf course that we’ll play... Maybe ever” Scheffler said ahead of last month’s tournament. “Here, when you hit the ball over the green, you just get in some heavy rough, and it’s like, let me see how I can pop the ball out of this rough and somehow give myself a look.”

Scheffler cut a frustrated figure at Oakmont Country Club last month for the US Open. At one point he slammed his club into the ground after a ball rolled away from the green, leaving a divot in the turf. It looks like a busy 2025 schedule is taking its toll and Scheffler will sit out the John Deere Classic to give himself a rest.

That will give him chance to unwind ahead of The Open Championship later this month, the final men’s major tournament of the year. The iconic competition will be held at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland.

The grueling competition is the one that has tested the most and his T-7th finish in 2024 is his best performance at The Open. He will be the favorite to win it at this year’s tournament but he is clearly eager to give himself the best chance of success in tough conditions in the UK.

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