🗓🏌🏽♂️July 2025: the Must-See Competitions on the PGA Tour🏆(*post updated with the Winners)
- clairebambino
- Jul 1
- 14 min read
Updated: Aug 4
Last update: July 28, 2025
🇺🇸 🏌🏽♂️ John Deere Classic – July 3-6, 2025 – TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois • USA
The John Deere Classic traces its roots back to 1971 when it began as the Quad Cities Open. This initial event was a satellite tournament on the PGA Tour, held at Crow Valley Country Club in Davenport, Iowa. In 1972, the tournament gained official PGA Tour status and continued to be played at Crow Valley until 1974. It then moved to Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley, Illinois, where it remained until 1999. A significant turning point came in 1998 when John Deere (an American corporation that manufactures agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery) assumed title sponsorship, renaming the event to the John Deere Classic in 1999. This partnership elevated the tournament's profile and brought increased attention to the Quad Cities region. In 2000, the event moved to its current home, TPC Deere Run.
📐 The architect who designed TPC Deere Run is Donald Albert Weibring Jr. His professional golf career was marked by several notable victories, including multiple PGA Tour wins (1979 (Quad Cities Open), 1991 (Hardee's Golf Classic), and 1995 (Quad Cities Classic). After his playing days, Weibring transitioned into golf course architecture. His keen understanding of the game, coupled with his creative vision, has led to the design of many acclaimed golf courses: ⛳️ Midland Country Club and TPC Las Colinas in Texas, WinStar Golf Club in Oklahoma. 🐴 Before becoming a world-class golf course, the land of the TPC Deere Run was once a horse farm.
🏆 Davis Thompson's 2024 John Deere Classic victory was a dominant performance that showcased his exceptional talent. He set a new tournament scoring record of 28-under-par, finishing four strokes ahead of the field. Thompson's remarkable final round of 64, which included six birdies on the front nine, propelled him to victory. His impressive performance earned him his first PGA Tour title and secured his spot in the 2024 Open Championship.
💰 Purse: $8,400,000
💯 FedExCup: 500 pts
Previous winner: 🇺🇸 Davis Thompson ($1,440,000)
🏆 Winner 2025: 🇺🇸 Brian Campbell ($1,512,000) - Age: 32 - Turned Pro in 2015.
Brian Campbell, who also secured a playoff victory at the Mexico Open earlier this season, defeated Emiliano Grillo on the first extra hole to claim his second PGA Tour title. Both players finished regulation play at 18-under-par 266 after carding final rounds of 4-under 67. Campbell's path to victory was marked by resilience, as he recovered from a double bogey on the 15th hole in his final round to birdie the 17th and set the clubhouse target. After finishing his final round, Campbell explicitly stated in post-win interviews that he chose to stay in the clubhouse and cool off for about 40 minutes before the playoff, rather than going to the practice range, citing the heat and grueling nature of the day. This significant win not only adds another trophy to Campbell's cabinet but also moves him up to 28th in the FedExCup standings and secures valuable points for major exemptions, including a potential berth in The Open Championship. This victory at TPC Deere Run holds special significance for Campbell, who made his PGA Tour debut as an amateur at the same event a decade ago (playing on a sponsor's exemption from the University of Illinois), marking a poignant "full-circle" moment in his career.
💡 Did you know that...
📏 Brian Campbell is known as one of the shortest hitters on the PGA Tour, ranking towards the very bottom (171st out of 171 players) in driving distance and having one of the slowest ball speeds. Despite this, he's found a way to win.
💪🏽 Both of his PGA Tour victories in the 2025 season (the Mexico Open and the John Deere Classic) were secured in playoffs. He defeated Aldrich Potgieter at the Mexico Open and Emiliano Grillo at the John Deere Classic.
👏 With his second win in the 2025 season, Campbell joins a select group of players with multiple individual PGA Tour victories this year, including major champions like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, as well as Sepp Straka, Ben Griffin and Ryan Fox.
🏴 🏌🏽♂️ Genesis Scottish Open – July 10-13, 2025 – The Renaissance Club, North Berwick • Scotland
The Scottish Open is often seen as a crucial warm-up event for The Open Championship, held the following week. This strategic placement attracts top golfers who want to fine-tune their game on links courses before the major championship.
The Genesis Scottish Open, formerly known as the Scottish Open, is a prestigious golf tournament held annually in Scotland. The tournament was first held in 1972 as the Sunbeam Electric Scottish Open, showcasing some of the best golfers of the time. However, it faced a hiatus in the mid-1970s due to various reasons, including difficulties in securing television coverage. The tournament was revived in 1986 under the sponsorship of Bell's whisky, rebranded as the Scottish Open. The tournament has been held at various iconic Scottish golf courses throughout its history, including Gleneagles and Loch Lomond. In 2023, Genesis - 🚙 a luxury vehicle brand owned by the South Korean multinational automotive manufacturer Hyundai Motor Company - became the title sponsor, elevating the tournament's status and prize fund.
⛳️ The Renaissance Club has been the regular host course since 2019, providing a challenging and picturesque setting for the event. Designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Doak - read our article '📐The most famous Golf course architects and their greatest masterpieces'- the course seamlessly blends traditional Scottish links golf elements with contemporary design principles.
🏆 Robert MacIntyre's victory at the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open was a thrilling moment for Scottish golf fans. The local hero delivered a stunning performance at The Renaissance Club, securing his first Rolex Series title.🧐The Rolex Series is a prestigious collection of golf tournaments on the DP World Tour (formerly known as the European Tour, the DP World Tour is the premier professional golf tour in Europe. It features a diverse range of tournaments held across Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world). These events are considered the most important tournaments on the European Tour, offering significantly increased prize funds and world ranking points.
💰 Purse: $9,000,000
💯 FedExCup: 500 pts
Previous winner: 🏴 Robert MacIntyre ($1,575,000)
🏆 Winner 2025: 🇺🇸 Chris Gotterup ($1,575,000) - Age: 25 - Turned Pro in 2022.
Chris Gotterup delivered a composed final round, carding a 4-under 66 to finish at 15-under-par for the tournament. This impressive performance allowed him to hold off a strong challenge from fan-favorite Rory McIlroy and England's Marco Penge, both of whom tied for second at 13-under. This victory marks Gotterup's second PGA Tour title, his first being the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic. Beyond the prize money, this win is particularly significant as it secures Gotterup a coveted spot in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush (the final major of the year in Northern Ireland), further cementing his rising status in professional golf.
💡 Did you know that...
🥍 Before fully dedicating himself to golf, Chris Gotterup was a standout lacrosse player for 12 years. He even credits lacrosse with helping his golf swing, noting the similar "ripping" motion for shooting in lacrosse translates to hitting the ball hard in golf. He's often described as having the build of an athlete, which might be thanks to his multi-sport background!
🧦 Chris Gotterup is known to have a robust collection of fun socks, a hobby he started towards the end of his high school years. Keep an eye on his ankles during future tournaments!
🇺🇸 🏌🏽♂️ ISCO Championship – July 10-13, 2025 – Hurstbourne Country Club (Championship Course), Louisville, Kentucky • USA
The ISCO Championship, formerly known as the Barbasol Championship, was first held in 2015 as an alternate event to The Open Championship. The tournament was first held at the Grand National course of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Opelika, Alabama. This marked the first PGA Tour event in Alabama since the 1990 PGA Championship. In 2018, the tournament relocated to Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky. In 2024, the tournament rebranded as the ISCO Championship after Barbasol ended its sponsorship. ISCO Industries, a global supplier of customized High-Density Polyethylene piping solutions, became the new title sponsor. For the 2025 season, the tournament will move to Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
📐 The original architect of the Hurstbourne Country Club golf course was Chick Adams. However, Keith Foster performed renovations in 2023 and 2024.
🏆 Harry Hall's victory at the 2024 ISCO Championship was a thrilling climax to a tightly contested tournament. The Englishman secured his first PGA Tour title in dramatic fashion, emerging victorious from a five-way playoff. The final round saw a flurry of birdies and eagles, with multiple players vying for the top spot. Hall, along with Matt NeSmith, Pierceson Coody, Zac Blair, and Rico Hoey, finished the regulation 72 holes tied at 22-under-par. The playoff was intense, with each player battling for the coveted title. Ultimately, it was Hall who emerged triumphant, chipping in for birdie on the third playoff hole to secure his historic win.
💰 Purse: $4,000,000
💯 FedExCup: 300 pts
Previous winner: 🏴 Harry Hall ($720,000)
🏆 Winner 2025: 🇺🇸 William Mouw ($720,000) - Age: 24 - Turned Pro in 2023.
William Mouw secured his maiden PGA Tour victory, closing with an incredible 9-under 61 in the final round at Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The 24-year-old former Pepperdine standout, playing in his 20th PGA Tour start, finished the tournament at 10-under 270, a stroke ahead of third-round leader Paul Peterson. Mouw's bogey-free final round, which included nine birdies, was the lowest score of his brief PGA Tour career and marked the largest final-round comeback on Tour since 2023. This crucial win not only grants Mouw a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour but also secures him a spot in next year's PGA Championship.
💡 Did you know that...
🥚William Mouw grew up working on his family's business, Billy's Egg Farm, in Chino, California. This wasn't just a casual chore; he was involved in collecting tens of thousands of eggs daily, even on holidays. He often credits this upbringing for instilling a strong work ethic and humility, saying it taught him to "dig deep, buckle up your boots and keep going".
🎓 Before turning professional, Mouw was a highly decorated collegiate golfer at Pepperdine University. He was a four-time All-American and helped the Waves win the 2021 NCAA National Championship.
☘️ 🏌🏽♂️ The Open Championship – July 17-20, 2025 – Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush • Northern Ireland
It may have taken 68 years for The Open to return to Northern Ireland but it was more than worth the wait as home favourite Shane Lowry emerged triumphant at Royal Portrush. The Open will now head back to the County Antrim coast in 2025 for The 153rd Open.
🧐 The Open Championship, the oldest of golf's major championships, traces its roots back to 1860. It was first held at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland, with Willie Park Sr. emerging as the inaugural champion. Initially, the winner of The Open received a Challenge Belt, which was kept until the following year's champion. In 1873, the iconic "Claret Jug", made of silver, was introduced as the official trophy for The Open Championship.
🏆 Harry Vardon 🏴, John Henry Taylor 🏴 and James Braid 🏴 dominated The Open during the early 20th century, winning a combined 16 titles between 1894 and 1914. The trio formed the "Great Triumvirate".
After World War I, the tournament resumed and continued to evolve, with players like Bobby Locke 🇿🇦 and Ben Hogan 🇺🇸 making significant contributions.
In recent decades, The Open has seen the rise of legendary players like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy, who have left their mark on the championship.
📐 The primary architect of the Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush Golf Club is Harry Colt. He is renowned for his contributions to golf course architecture, and his design of the Dunluce Course is considered a masterpiece of links golf. However, the course has undergone modifications and improvements over the years, with architects like Martin Hawtree and Mackenzie & Ebert playing a role in shaping its current form.
💡Xander Schauffele's victory at the 2024 Open Championship was a dominant performance that solidified his status as one of the world's top golfers. Schauffele's final round 65 was a masterpiece, showcasing his exceptional ball-striking and clutch putting. He birdied four of the last six holes to pull away from the field and secure a two-stroke victory over Justin Rose and Billy Horschel. This win marked Schauffele's second major championship of the year, following his victory at the PGA Championship.
💰 Purse: $17,000,000
💯 FedExCup: 750 pts
Previous winner: 🇺🇸 Xander Schauffele ($3,100,000)
🏆 Winner 2025: 🇺🇸 Scottie Scheffler ($3,100,000) - Age: 29 - Turned Pro in 2018.
On Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Scottie Scheffler claimed his first Claret Jug. The world No. 1 delivered a dominant performance, finishing with a total score of 17-under-par 267, securing a four-stroke victory over runner-up Harris English. Scheffler started the final round with a four-shot lead and solidified his position with a closing 3-under 68, marking his fourth major title and second this year, following his PGA Championship win in May. This win puts him one step closer to the career Grand Slam, joining an elite group of players (Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tiger Woods) to have won The Open, the Masters, and the PGA Championship before turning 30.
💡 Did you know that...
👶🏼 Scottie Scheffler started playing golf at age three.💪🏽He won 90 out of 136 junior tournaments.
🏀 He played both golf and basketball in high school (at Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas).
🏌🏼♀️ His sister Callie, also a golfer, caddied for him during his U.S. Open appearances as an amateur.
👏🏽 He made a hole-in-one in his very first PGA Tour event as an amateur when he was just 17 years old.
🥇 He set a record for the quickest period of time between a first PGA Tour win and ascending to the world number one ranking, achieving it in just 42 days.
🇺🇸 🏌🏽♂️ Barracuda Championship – July 17-20, 2025 – Tahoe Mountain Club (Old Greenwood), Truckee, California • USA
The Barracuda Championship, previously known as the Reno-Tahoe Open, was established in 1999. It has been a unique event on the Tour due to its use of the Modified Stableford scoring system since 2012. 🧐 The Modified Stableford scoring system rewards aggressive play, with players earning points for birdies, eagles, and even double eagles, while deducting points for bogeys and worse. This format has led to some exciting finishes and unpredictable outcomes.
In 2020, the tournament moved from the Montreux Golf and Country Club in Reno, Nevada to the Old Greenwood course at Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, California.
⛰ The tournament is held at the stunning Tahoe Mountain Club, offering breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. ⛳️ The Old Greenwood course was designed by the legendary golfer and course architect, Jack Nicklaus. The course is surrounded by towering pine trees, creating a serene and picturesque setting.
🏌🏽♂️ Nick Dunlap made history at the 2024 Barracuda Championship, becoming the first player in PGA Tour history to win as both an amateur and a professional in the same year. His impressive victory solidified his status as one of the most promising young talents in golf. Dunlap's victory was highlighted by a phenomenal final round where he scored 19 points, including a crucial 55-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th hole. This remarkable performance propelled him to the top of the leaderboard and secured his second PGA Tour title of the year.
💰 Purse: $4,000,000
💯 FedExCup: 300 pts
Previous winner: 🇺🇸 Nick Dunlap ($720,000)
🏆 Winner 2025: 🇺🇸 Ryan Gerard ($720,000) - Age: 25 - Turned Pro in 2022.
This victory marked Gerard's first career PGA Tour title in his 47th start on the tour, making him the 999th winner in PGA Tour history. He carded a 13-point round on Sunday, finishing with a total of 47 points. He secured a three-point victory over 2021 champion Erik van Rooyen. Gerard's winning round included two impressive seven-point bursts, each featuring a birdie followed by an eagle, on holes 2-3 and 10-11, despite also navigating five bogeys throughout the day.
💡 Did you know that...
🍼 He received his first set of golf clubs at age 2. His love for the game started very early, and his dad, who played collegiate golf, helped introduce him to it.
🎻 He played the violin for 15 years. While he admits to being rusty now, he says he wouldn't embarrass himself in most social settings with his violin skills.
⚾️ He tried baseball but quit because he was using his "golf swing" in the batter's box, leading to many strikeouts.
🙌🏼 He won his first professional title on PGA Tour Canada at the 2022 Quebec Open, in only his fourth start on that tour.
🇺🇸 🏌🏽♂️ 3M Open – July 24-27, 2025 – TPC Twin Cities Blaine, Minnesota • USA
The 3M Open is a relatively new event on the PGA Tour, having debuted in 2019. However, its roots trace back to the 3M Championship, a PGA Tour Champions event that ran from 1993 to 2018. The 3M Championship was a popular event on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, known for its competitive field and the beautiful TPC Twin Cities course. It showcased some of the greatest golfers in history, including legends like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.
🔎 3M, a global science company, infuses its innovative spirit into the tournament, showcasing cutting-edge technology and engaging fans with interactive experiences.
The TPC Twin Cities is world-class golf course 📐designed by Arnold Palmer in collaboration with former PGA Tour great Tom Lehman (known for his victory at the 1996 Open Championship).
🏌🏽♂️ Jhonattan Vegas claimed victory at the 2024 3M Open, marking his 4th PGA Tour win and his first since 2017. This victory was particularly significant as it marked a triumphant return for Vegas, who had endured a challenging period due to injuries. The final round of the tournament proved to be a thrilling contest. Vegas, despite an up-and-down round, managed to birdie the 18th hole to secure a one-stroke victory over 🇺🇸Max Greyserman. Vegas' victory not only secured his place in the FedEx Cup Playoffs but also inspired many with his comeback story.
💰 Purse: $8,400,000
💯 FedExCup: 500 pts
Previous winner: 🇻🇪 Jhonattan Vegas ($1,458,000)
🏆 Winner 2025: 🇺🇸 Kurt Kitayama ($1,512,000) - Age: 32 - Turned Pro in 2015.
This victory marks Kitayama's second career PGA Tour victory, following his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2023. He secured the title by finishing with an impressive 23-under-par 261, earning a one-stroke victory over Sam Stevens, who finished at 22-under. Kitayama's dominant performance over the weekend was highlighted by a career-best and tournament-record-tying 11-under 60 in Saturday's third round, which vaulted him into contention after making the cut by just one stroke. He then followed that with a final-round 65 on Sunday, including six birdies in his first eight holes to build an early cushion. Despite a bogey on the par-3 17th for the third consecutive day, Kitayama calmly two-putted for par on the 18th to seal the win. With this victory, the 32-year-old native of Chico, California, earned $1,512,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points, significantly boosting his position in the standings from 110th to 53rd and securing his spot in the upcoming FedEx Cup Playoffs. His older brother, Daniel, was on his bag as his caddie for only the second time this season, a special moment for the family.
💡 Did you know that...
🏌🏽♂️ He didn't pick up a golf club until he was 12 years old. Unlike many pro golfers who start as toddlers, Kurt started relatively later.
🏀 He was a star basketball player in high school. Despite being 5'6" as a senior, he was the co-captain and starting point guard for Chico High School, leading his team to a 27-2 record and a California Northern Section Title in 2011. In the championship game, he even scored 31 points and had 6 assists.
🇲🇾 He earned his first professional victory on the Asian Development Tour. This happened in 2018 at the PGM Darulaman Championship in Malaysia.
🎓 He graduated from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) with a degree in Finance.
😮 He once had a hole-in-one on a par 4. This unusual feat occurred on the 16th hole at Southern Highlands GC in Las Vegas in 2014 (it was not a PGA Tour tournament, but a collegiate competition).
