Three golfers have withdrawn from the John Deere Classic, reshuffling the 144-player field just days before tee-off at TPC Deere Run.

With stars like Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Chris Gotterup, and Jacob Bridgeman ready to compete, this year’s event was shaping up as one of the strongest in recent memory. But the late exits have added a twist to the final stateside stop before the season’s last Major Championship at Royal Birkdale.

According to PGA Tour Communications on X, PGA Tour golfer Taylor Montgomery and golfer Nico Echavarria withdrew from the $8.8 million event earlier in the week. At the same time, Jhonattan Vegas joined them as the third withdrawal with just one day left.

Montgomery withdrew without explanation. The 28-year-old has been splitting time between the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour this season. And it's been a rough stretch for him across both circuits as he's missed the cut in 10 of his last 15 starts.

Noah Goodwin, ranked No. 362 in the world, steps into his spot. Goodwin missed the cut in each of his last four PGA Tour starts.

Echavarria's withdrawal also came without an explanation. He's coming off a T-30th finish at the Travelers Championship, where he carded just four bogeys across 72 holes.

It's been a mixed season for the world No. 52, who won the Cognizant Classic back in March but has missed cuts after that.

He remains eligible for the 2026 Open Championship and is expected to play. 31-year-old Cameron Champ, who failed to make the weekend at all three of his PGA Tour starts, will replace him in the 144-player field.

Vegas, however, pulled out of the event due to an ongoing shoulder problem. It's been a grind of a season for the 41-year-old Venezuelan. He's made just nine cuts in 16 starts this year.

Will Gordon, ranked No. 457 in the world and made only two starts, will take his place.

Together, the three withdrawals remove players with far more experience than their replacements, leaving the field slightly thinner despite its overall strength.

Other Notable Absences at The John Deere Classic

Beyond the three withdrawals, several big names are missing this year’s John Deere Classic.

Scottie Scheffler is the biggest absence. He just lost a playoff to Viktor Hovland at the Travelers Championship. With The Open Championship just two weeks away, the simplest explanation for this absence is rest.

It's worth noting this isn't his first withdrawal of the year for a non-injury reason. He also withdrew from the Texas Children's Houston Open in March. But that time it was to be with his wife, Meredith, for the birth of their second child.

Viktor Hovland is out too, from this week's event. Hovland is also out. He has never treated the John Deere Classic as a regular stop, playing it only once back in 2019 as a rookie, when he tied for 16th.

Rory McIlroy is another star who will not play the event. He has never played the John Deere Classic in his career. And since a tied-32nd finish at the U.S. Open, he also skipped the Travelers Championship to focus on links golf in Europe.

The John Deere Classic remains a key tune-up before Royal Birkdale, but the withdrawals highlight how players balance form, fitness, and preparation for majors.

Who do you think is the biggest name missing this year's John Deere Classic?

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Written by

Md Saife Fida