In a thrilling showdown at the John Deere Classic in Illinois, Brian Campbell bagged his second playoff win of the season on the PGA Tour by outlasting Emiliano Grillo in a sudden-death playoff. Both players finished the tournament with an impressive final round of 67, concluding at 18 under par, atop a tightly contested leaderboard featuring 14 players within two shots of each other with just nine holes remaining.
Campbell and Grillo found themselves back at the par-four 18th hole for a playoff, where Grillo was unable to save par from the back of the green. This opened the door for Campbell to secure the victory with a simple tap-in par.
This achievement follows Campbell’s previous victory at the Mexico Open, making him the fifth golfer this season to secure multiple titles on the PGA Tour, joining notable names such as Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Sepp Straka, and Ryan Fox.
Tied for third place were Kevin Roy and David Lipsky, finishing just one shot behind, while Max Homa, Matt Kuchar, and former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover shared fifth place, two strokes back.
How Campbell clinched the win
Campbell initially seized control of the tournament, marking three birdies within a four-hole span on the back nine. However, his double bogey at the par-four 15th gave Grillo a chance to take the lead. Despite moving briefly ahead, Grillo stumbled with a three-putt bogey at the par-three 16th. Meanwhile, Campbell capitalized on the par-five 17th with a two-putt birdie, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
In a tense finishing stretch, Grillo’s eight-foot birdie at the 17th levelled the playing field but he also closed with a par, finishing tied at 18 under par alongside Campbell. Lipsky briefly matched the leaders with an eagle on 17 but ended with a bogey on the last hole.
In the playoff, Campbell approached the green, leaving his birdie attempt approximately 15 feet from the hole. He narrowly missed the birdie but confidently tapped in for par to secure a well-deserved victory.
Brian Campbell ascends to world No. 55 following his triumph at the John Deere Classic
Reflecting on his performance, Grillo remarked, “I feel like I hit some great putts and gave my all today. I hit nearly every fairway, except for that first one in the playoff. It’s unfortunate, but in golf, you have to take what comes your way.”
What’s on the Horizon?
This week marks an exciting moment for golf enthusiasts, as both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour host events, namely the Genesis Scottish Open and ISCO Championship. Both tournaments will be co-sanctioned, promising thrilling competitive golf action live on Sky Sports. Tune in starting Thursday for featured groups at 8:30 AM ET, followed by comprehensive coverage at 1 PM. No Sky? Stream the DP World Tour and more without a contract.