The leaderboard at the John Deere Classic was packed together coming into Sunday’s final round, but only two stood at the top after 18 holes.
Brian Campbell and Emiliano Grillo went back to the 18th tee for a playoff hole tied at 18-under par after both carded rounds of 4-under 67 on Sunday at TPC Deere Run.
In the end, Campbell was the steadier of the two when it mattered most.
The American put his drive in the fairway before sticking his approach just short of the hole.
Meanwhile, Grillo missed his drive in the right rough and flew the green by a mile before leaving his chip short, giving his opponent two putts for the win.
Campbell’s birdie putt just slid by, but he tapped in for par to get his second PGA Tour win of the season.
That winning moment for Brian Campbell. pic.twitter.com/ZMSnBmdxQH
— Golf on CBS
(@GolfonCBS) July 6, 2025
It’s a full-circle moment for Campbell, who made his PGA Tour debut 10 years ago to the day at this very tournament.
After the victory, he spoke with Amanda Balionis of CBS Sports about getting a win at what is such a special tournament in his career.
“Right now it’s surreal,” Campbell said. “It all started here as an amateur in my first invite here and I’ve loved it ever since. I have no words. To be, let alone in a playoff and to finish it off this way has been amazing.”
“Right now it’s surreal.” Brian Campbell joins @Amanda_Balionis after a thrilling win at the @JDCLASSIC. pic.twitter.com/yF25fAtAAV
— Golf on CBS
Campbell played a stellar final round, making five birdies in his first 13 holes before a double bogey on No. 15 took him out of the lead. However, he responded with another birdie on the par-5 17th to get back in a tie for the top spot.
Grillo had a chance to win the tournament with a birdie on No. 18, but his long-range putt ducked below the hole and left him with a tap-in for par.
The playoff was nearly a three-way shootout with Grillo, Campbell and David Lipsky after the latter made an incredible eagle to tie the lead on No. 17.
However, the 36-year-old hooked his final tee shot into the left rough, forcing a layup and an up-and-down from the fairway. Despite a strong third shot, Lipsky’s par putt lipped out and dropped him into a tie for third.
Campbell also got a win at the Mexico Open back in February with a playoff victory over last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic winner, Aldrich Potgieter.
With this win, Campbell joins an exclusive group of players to win multiple PGA Tour events this season. Only Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Sepp Straka, Ben Griffin and Ryan Fox have accomplished the feat, and now Campbell joins them.
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