It’s Jordan Spieth’s world, and John Deere Classic lives in it

SILVIS, Ill. - The last time the John Deere Classic had the No. 2-ranked player in the world was ... never.

You never saw Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson or Rory McIlroy at TPC Deere Run when they were No. 2.

So Jordan Spieth playing here this week may make this the most-noticed JDC in the event's 45-year history, more so than when Tiger Woods played in this PGA Tour event as a brand-new pro in 1996 or Michelle Wie played here as a, well, a teenage female in 2005 and 2006.

But here is Spieth, second in the world rankings behind McIlroy and the winner of April's Masters and June's U.S. Open. Some have questioned why he is playing here, where he won on the Tour for the first time when he was 19 years old in 2013.

After all, what the Texan is facing the following week at St. Andrews in Scotland is of a whole lot more importance. That, of course, is the British Open. The third component of golf's Grand Slam.

'I committed to this event well ahead of time, never really crossed my mind to drop out,” Spieth said. 'I felt like I've played well in the Open Championship the last couple years having played at the John Deere right before.

'When I get over there, whether I play well or don't play well has nothing to do with what I did the week before. I will certainly have enough energy. I will certainly have enough rest, and I will be as prepared as can be, as I am for any other event, by the time I tee it up at St. Andrews.”

Oh, there are 155 other players in the JDC field. One is Zach Johnson, the Cedar Rapids native who has had a four-year run to envy here. He tied for third in 2011, won in 2012, lost in playoff to Spieth in 2013, and was second last year, one shot behind Brian Harman.

Johnson tees off today at 12:50 p.m., in a threesome with fellow former major tournament champions Stewart Cink and David Toms.

Playing immediately behind them, with a 1 p.m. start, are Spieth, Harman and Danny Lee. Harman is featured on billboards promoting the tourney here in the Quad Cities. But Spieth is the headliner.

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