Brian Campbell overcame a tumultuous golfing journey en route to capturing his second PGA Tour win of the 2025 season with his victory at the John Deere Classic

Brian Campbell surprised many by capturing the 2025 John Deere Classic(Image: Getty Images)

In 2017, Brian Campbell reached the PGA Tour for the first time. Months later, he lost his card. He reclaimed it in 2024 and over the weekend, won the John Deere Classic to capture his second PGA title of the season (he won the Mexico Open in February).

Despite his early-season win, Campbell hadn’t made a cut since the PGA Championship in May. He finished a career-best 32nd at the Masters this year, well behind Rory McIlroy in the top spot, and T-55 in the PGA at Quail Hollow.

But on Sunday, Campbell netted a $1.5 million prize after winning the event with the lowest winning score (-18) since Bryson DeChambeau conquered the John Deere Classic with a -17 in 2017. Last year, David Thompson won the event with a -28.

Campbell edged Emiliaona Grillo in a playoff to capture the championship. Kevin Roy and David Lipsky finished a stroke behind at 17-under while a quintet of others, including Max Homa, finished at -16.

The 32-year-old was asked about the journey of losing his PGA card to becoming a two-time event winner after his John Deere victory.

“I’ve worked my entire life to be in this position, and unfortunately, we had a couple years there where it wasn’t looking so good,” Campbell said.

A green Bryson DeChambeau celebrates his 2017 John Deere Classic victory(Image: Getty Images)

“You have to start thinking about, ‘am I going do something else?’ Maybe pro golf or this route is not going to work out. But it all — it really was all second-stage Q-School about two, three years ago,” he continued.

“I made like a quintuple bogey on a par-3 and I thought my career was over in that moment.

“That night just kind of had a self-talk with myself. Said, you know what, whatever happens is okay. Trust yourself. The next round I went out there and shot 8-under and got myself right back in there….I guess I was like, maybe golf is not over for me. That moment was when everything changed.”

Campbell also admitted that he thought 19 or 20 under might be enough for the victory. However, a poor weather weekend at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, opened the door for a lower score to be the champion.

“The weather came out of nowhere,” he admitted. “When that happens, it changes how soft or firm areas are. Your drives aren’t going to go as far, too. The wind is switching all around when the rain showers come in.”

“It got really tricky in the end, and I think that’s why everyone kind of hung around 17, 18. It was just a little tricky in the end there.”