STEVE STRICKER NOW HAS ANOTHER BOOKEND TO THE TROPHY HE WON IN 2009, AS
HE HANGS ON TO WIN THE 2010 JOHN DEERE CLASSIC. PICTURE COURTESY OF THE
JOHN DEERE CLASSIC, PHOTO BY GREG BOLL.

Steve Stricker had it on cruise control or so everyone thought until Paul Goydos charged in the
final round lowering Strickers 7 shot lead to only 2 with five holes to play.

"I knew it wasn't going to be easy today," Stricker said. "I am finding out it's tough to play with the
lead, I played aggressive the first three days but it's hard to that all four day. Today I got cautious
at times."

Stricker did hang on to win the John Deere Classic by two shots over Goydos, but the final result
was in doubt until Goydos went splash in the pond on 18.

"I hit it good all week but the shot on 18 was not one of my best," Goydos said. " I knew on 18 I
still had a chance, not a good chance but a chance. Then I hit that shot and that was it."

The players added some drama on the par 5 17th hole, when both had birdie putts, both players
made those putts and Stricker was able to keep a two shot lead headed into the last hole.

"When I got to seventeen I hadn't made a putt all day," Stricker said. " I told my caddy I was going
to make this one and I did, it was huge and gave a two shot lead going to eighteen."

It was the first time Stricker successfully defended a title on the PGA Tour. With the win Stricker
won for his ninth time and it gives him some momentum heading into the British Open.

"It feels good to defend a title I have never done that before," Stricker said. " Anytime you win the
week before a major it's a huge boost of confidence, hopefully I can take this game over there."

For his efforts Stricker takes home a check of $792,000, of the 4.4 million JDC purse. That moves
him up to fourth place on the PGA Tour money list.

The win also bumped Stricker up to second place on the points list for the Fed Ex Cup with 1,561
points, he trails only Ernie Els by 190 points.

Strickers hot play broke the 36, 54 and 72 hole record for the tournament. The win was also the fifth
by a player in his 40's this year on tour. Which is only fitting this week since it was the John Deere
Classic's 40th birthday, even though John Deere wasn't there for all 40 years many wish they were.
No offense to the Hardee's restaurant chain, or to Ed McMahon.

Of Strickers nine PGA Tour wins, six of them have happened since September of 2007 when Stricker
returned to the winners circle at the Barclays and the start of the Fed Ex Cup. The question now is can
he add a major to his resume, maybe the British Open is a place to start.

"It will be a little different over there playing that style (links golf)," Stricker said. "But I'll have three
practice rounds and you catch on pretty quickly."

Paul Goydos ended up in second place with a final round of 66 or 5 under par. Jeff Maggert was
third six shots back, seven shots back was Shaun Micheel finishing alone in fourth.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR INTERVIEWS WITH SHAUN MICHEEL, JEFF MAGGERT, PAUL
GOYDOS, AND STEVE STRICKER:

Download | Duration: 00:12:20

Goydos got quite a consolation prize earning a berth into the British Open and he can't wait to go.

"That was my main goal this year coming in," Goydos said. "I really wanted to play there. I have been
in the last two and figured this might be my last chance to play there. I am really looking forward to it.

Maggert is hoping this third place finish will give a spark the rest of the summer PGA Tour golf season.

"I knew I would have to play aggressive to have a chance today," Maggert said. "I figured it would take
6-7-8 birdies to have chance, then I struggled in the mid-holes and could never put three in a row together.
But I am glad with the end result, I have played for two months and hopefully this will give me a boost
the rest of the summer."

Fourth place made Shaun Micheel happy, he is hoping that the money he made improves his status
and he also gets a couple more sponsors exemptions.

" I am not the biggest name and tournament directors like those types of players," Micheel said and
credited JDC Tournament Director Clair Peterson for getting him in the tournament. " I have to thank
Clair and the people here at John Deere, I wrote for an exemption and Clair said I was in the field. I
hope my play here gets me into more tournaments."

Micheel will play in the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, where he could not defend his
PGA title he won in 2003 at Oak Hill.

Mark Wilson of Elmhurst had the best round of the day, when he carded a final round seven under par 64
to finished tied for 39th.

The GOG BLOG caught up with TPC Deere Run course designer and three time Quad Cities/John Deere
champion D.A. Weibring, while Weibring was out following his son Matt who made the cut and finished
T-56 this week. Weibring discusses TPC Deere Run it's future and how it looks 10 years after opening
for play.

FOR MORE INFORMATION WWW.JOHNDEERECLASSIC.COM.