It can be difficult to attract some the game’s best to play in a tournament the week before a Major. While there are many that still pass on playing the John Deere Classic the week before the Open, tournament officials do provide one very nice perk to those who choose to play in their event.
For years, the John Deere Classic has chartered a 767 plane for anyone who plays in the tournament to fly them to the site of the Open Championship. The plane typically leaves Sunday night after the tournament and post round festivities are over, getting the players to their destination at some point Monday morning.
As has been the case the years past, many of the Tour pros that played at the John Deere Classic this past week took them up on their offer to fly them across the pond.
First there was the winner of the event, Bryson DeChambeau. Not only did DeChambeau capture his first PGA Tour win Sunday, he also earned his first trip to the Open. Luckily, he packed his passport just in case.
Next stop: Open Championship pic.twitter.com/CHuiJr5BpV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 17, 2017
Bryson was joined on the flight by many Tour pros, including Steve Stricker and Bubba Watson who snapped this pic just before takeoff:
Thank you @JDCLASSIC for the great week and a sweet ride to The British Open! Hey there’s @bubbawatson! pic.twitter.com/e6k6JDMMgc
— Steve Stricker (@stevestricker) July 17, 2017
The Open Championship gets underway Thursday morning from Royal Birkdale at 1:35am ET.