Finalists to compete in “Drive The Middle” Contest

There will be plenty of excitement at TPC Deere Run before the John Deere Classic begins.

That’s because nearly 50 players will compete to win a playing spot in the John Deere Classic’s Wednesday Pro-Am.

The final shootout of the “Drive the Middle” contest will take place at noon, on Sunday, July 3. Contestants will tee off on the championship tee of the No. 10 hole.

The golfer who hits the ball closest to the line will win. The ball must travel at least 150 yards.

Have fun out there!

Davis Love III to play in the John Deere Classic

The John Deere Classic is adding another big name just prior to its July 4-10 run at TPC Deere Run.

Davis Love III, a former PGA champion and captain of the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team, will be teeing off in Silvis next week.

Love, 47, will then jet off to England on the John Deere Classic charter, so he can play in the British Open.

Deere says proposal interferes with GPS use in agriculture and construction

Deere & Company says that a FCC proposal jeopardizes use of the Global Positioning System in agriculture and construction equipment.

Deere is part of a group that released a study reporting the potential $96 billion direct negative impact on the U.S. economy if the FCC proposal is approved.

The FCC had required that that the GPS industry be part of a working group to evaluate the proposal for possible interference to existing GPS systems.

A Deere spokesman says that degredation of GPS signals could significantly erode the strong competitive position of U.S. farmers in the global agriculture economy.

GPS technology is also very important to many construction contractors. Deere says that ensuring continued use of an accurate GPS system is vital for these industries.

John Deere Classic offers app for fans

If getting out to TPC at Deere Run just isn’t enough to follow the John Deere Classic, then there’s something new for you.

Fans of the John Deere Classic now may download a free app to their iPhones or Android-based mobile phones to help stay connected to the tournament in a unique way.

It will enable fans to keep up with breaking news from the tournament, check out the latest PGA Tour videos, player tweets, event information and buy tickets right from the phone.

The PGA Tour recently announced a decision to let fans bring their mobile phone devices to PGA Tour events as long as the use does not disrupt play.

The John Deere Classic runs from July 4-10 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.

Deere tax breaks ending in Illinois

Illinois is carefully watching tax break deals with more than 100 companies set to expire over the next three years.

Deere & Company is one of those firms. Its deal runs out in 2013. The Moline-based company used $7.28 million in tax credits in a program called Economic Development for a Growing Economy.

Illinois provided tax incentives for companies that agreed to invest in and retain jobs in the state.

It requires the company to keep 350 jobs in place and create 30 more at plants in Moline, East Moline and Silvis.

Deere told the Dispatch-Argus that it has no current plans to re-apply for additional credits.

According to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the end of a deal doesn’t guarantee a new one.

Just something to watch as Illinois works to keep and grow companies within the state.

Cink to sink putts at John Deere Classic

It’s getting to be that time of the year when golf enjoys the spotlight around the Quad Cities. With that in mind, the John Deere Classic is happy to announce that Stewart Cink will compete in the $4.5 million tournament coming up between July 4-10.

Cink is the 2009 British Open champion. He joins 2010 Britsh Open champ Louis Oosthuizen to compete at TPC Deere Run in Silvis.

They’ll be part of a 156-player field looking to prevent two-time defending champion Steve Stricker from taking a third.