The Loop

John Deere Not Going Anywhere

November 30, 2009

In a dose of good news for the golf world, Deere & Company and the PGA Tour announced a six-year extension to sponsor the John Deere Classic in a press release issued Monday.

John Deere has been the title sponsor of the event since 1998 and the host course, TPC Deere Run, which is located in Silvis, Illinois, is two miles from John Deere's World Headquarters.

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The tournament has been a big success in the Quad City area for both the fans and the local charities it has benefited. Steve Stricker won last year's event by three strokes, thanks in large part to a course-record tying 61 in the second round.

With the struggles of the global economy reaching golf, this is obviously a positive sign for the PGA Tour.

The 2009 season saw the end of sponsorships by Buick and FBR and both Verizon and U.S. Bank have announced they will not renew their contracts with the PGA Tour following the 2010 season. Next year's schedule, though, will still consist of 37 events.

In contrast, the LPGA recently reduced its schedule for 2010 to just 24 tournaments, the fewest since 1971.

-- Alex Myers

(Photo: Michael Cohen/Getty Images)