You're sitting there, remote in hand, ready to watch some Sunday afternoon drama at TPC Deere Run, and then you see it. A name you were tracking—maybe even a guy you put five bucks on—just vanishes from the leaderboard. No score. Just those two dreaded letters: WD.
Honestly, the PGA Tour withdrawals John Deere Classic list usually feels like a revolving door. It’s a weird spot on the calendar. It’s tucked right before the Scottish Open and The Open Championship, which basically makes it the "trap game" of the golf world. If you're a pro and your back feels even a little stiff, or if you just realized you haven't packed your passport for the flight to Edinburgh, you're out.
The 2025 Shocker: What Happened to Aldrich Potgieter?
The most recent drama at the 2025 John Deere Classic was arguably the weirdest. Aldrich Potgieter, the 20-year-old South African powerhouse who had just won the Rocket Mortgage Classic a week prior, was right in the thick of it. He opened with a 67 and a 66. He was 9-under. People were legitimately talking about a back-to-back miracle.
Then Saturday happened.
Potgieter struggled to a 5-over 76. He plummeted to T58. He finished his round, signed his scorecard, and even spent time signing autographs for kids by the green. Two hours later? Withdrawal. No official reason. Just gone.
Now, look, golf is a grind. When you’re 20 and you just won $1.7 million the week before, maybe a Saturday 76 feels like the universe telling you to go home and sleep. But in the world of pro golf, withdrawing after the third round without an injury report raises eyebrows. Most people think it was just "mental fatigue" or the "post-win hangover" finally hitting him like a ton of bricks. He was already looking ahead to the Genesis Scottish Open and didn't want to burn his last fuse on a Sunday where he was starting ten shots back.
A Growing List of "No-Shows"
Potgieter wasn't the only one. The 2025 edition of the John Deere was practically a case study in how fast a field can crumble.
- Stephan Jaeger: He pulled the plug after a single round. He shot a 74 and basically said "I'm good." There was talk that his wife was expecting their second child, which is a pretty valid reason to skip town.
- Andrew Putnam: A back injury forced him out midway through his second round.
- Nicholas Lindheim: Also a back issue. It seems TPC Deere Run’s undulating fairways weren't kind to the lumbar spine last year.
- Davis Riley: He withdrew before the tournament even started.
It's sorta frustrating for the fans in Silvis, Illinois. You buy a ticket to see the PGA Championship runner-up like Riley, and by Thursday morning, he's replaced by a guy from the alternate list you’ve barely heard of. That’s just the reality of the "pre-major" schedule.
Why Do Players Keep Withdrawing from the John Deere?
If we're being real, it's a "scheduling casualty."
The John Deere Classic is a fantastic tournament with one of the best reputations for how they treat players. They have a private charter flight that whisks players directly from Illinois to the UK for the Scottish Open. It’s first-class. It’s easy. But even with the private jet, the math doesn't always add up for the elite guys.
If you’re Patrick Cantlay—who famously withdrew in 2024—or a guy like Cam Davis, the risk-reward ratio is thin. If you aren't 100% healthy, you don't play the Deere. You save the bullets for the majors.
There's also the "Monday Qualifier" factor. Because the Deere often has several last-minute WDs, the alternates like Zac Blair, Matt NeSmith, and James Hahn end up getting starts they didn't expect. It's a life-changing opportunity for them, even if it's a bummer for the fans wanting to see the superstars.
What This Means for the 2026 John Deere Classic
We’re looking at the 2026 John Deere Classic dates of July 1-5. Expect the same pattern.
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The field list won't even be "final" until the Friday before (June 26th), and even then, the PGA Tour withdrawals John Deere Classic tracker will likely be buzzing all through Wednesday's Pro-Am.
How to Track Live Withdrawals
If you’re a bettor or a DFS player, you can't just check the entry list on Monday and walk away. You have to watch the PGA Tour Communications feed on X (formerly Twitter). They are the only ones who post the "official" WD notices in real-time.
- Check the Wednesday Pro-Am: This is when most "illness" or "sore neck" withdrawals happen.
- The "Post-Cut" WD: Watch for guys who barely made the cut but are way out of contention. Like Potgieter, they might decide their time is better spent on a plane to Europe.
- The Alternate List: Keep names like Cody Gribble or Russell Knox on your radar. They are the perennial "first guys in" when the big names bail.
Ultimately, the John Deere Classic is a survivor's game. It’s about who shows up, who stays healthy, and who can handle the humidity of the Quad Cities without looking ahead to the cool breezes of the North Sea.
The next time you see a withdrawal, don't just assume it's a "diva" move. These guys are playing a 30-week season, and sometimes, the body—or the brain—just says no.
If you're planning to attend the 2026 event at TPC Deere Run, your best bet is to wait until Thursday morning to buy that specific player's jersey. The field you see on Monday is rarely the field that tees off on Thursday.
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Keep an eye on the official PGA Tour field updates as we get closer to the July 1st start date. You'll want to verify the status of the top 50 OWGR players specifically, as they are the most likely to shift their schedules based on their performance in the preceding weeks.