John Deere Classic earns “Best Of” award at PGA TOUR Tournament Meetings

PGA TOUR event honored for “Best Title Sponsor Integration” in 2018

The John Deere Classic (Silvis, Illinois) was honored by the PGA TOUR at the TOUR’s Tournament Meetings on December 6.

The John Deere Classic earned an award for “Best Title Sponsor Integration” during the 2018 tournament at TPC Deere Run.

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I am pleased to congratulate the John Deere Classic for this special recognition,” said PGA TOUR Chief Tournaments and Competitions Officer Andy Pazder. “The tournament committee should be extremely proud of its hard work and innovation in making the tournament the best among its peers on TOUR.”

The “Best Title Sponsor Integration” Award recognizes the tournament that best incorporates the title sponsor’s objectives and brand into every aspect of the event to deliver value, spread awareness and achieve overall goals.

Located just miles from Deere & Company’s headquarters, the John Deere Classic is synonymous with John Deere thanks to its branding, year-round presence and onsite activation. The tournament entrance features “Equipment Hill” where fans can take photos with John Deere equipment. In 2018, fans marveled at one of the most distinctive branded elements ever seen at a PGA TOUR event: a larger-than-life driver head weighing nearly one ton and attached to a 470G excavator. Each year, the tournament continues to enhance the John Deere Family Zone, an air-conditioned area for kids and adults which features golf games, simulators, a STEM area, and showcases a 1918 Waterloo Boy tractor, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the John Deere tractor.

John Deere supports the tournament in every way, including volunteer support, social media content, influencer presence and a strong focus on charitable impact. Through its partnership with John Deere, the tournament surpassed the $100 million mark in all-time charitable giving in 2018.

“The John Deere Classic is thrilled to receive the PGA TOUR’s “Best Title Sponsor Integration” award for 2018,” said John Deere Classic tournament director Clair Peterson. “John Deere puts an incredible amount of effort into maximizing their impact on the PGA TOUR and the Quad Cities community.”

The 2019 John Deere Classic, won this year by Michael Kim, will be held July 8-14 at TPC Deere Run.