Spieth survives John Deere cut as Koivun's pro debut stalls
Jordan Spieth survived the John Deere Classic cut on the number at 3 under par after three back-nine birdies Friday, while Jackson Koivun missed by four shots in his professional debut at 1 over. Lucas Glover carries a two-shot lead at 14 under, with Zac Blair three back and still positioned for a strong weekend payout.
At TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, Friday's cut line settled at 3 under par — and the drama around who kept playing carried real financial weight. On the PGA Tour, making the cut is not just pride; it is the difference between a paycheck and an early flight home. That is why Spieth's late rally and Koivun's shortfall matter beyond the leaderboard.
Key Takeaways
- Jordan Spieth made the cut on the number at 3 under after three birdies on the back nine, while Ben Griffin also advanced from their marquee afternoon threesome.
- Jackson Koivun finished at 1 over in his professional debut and heads to next week's ISCO Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.
- Defending champion Brian Campbell, plus past winners Dylan Fritelli and Michael Kim, missed the cut.
- Lucas Glover shot a bogey-free 65 to reach 14 under and hold a two-shot lead over Lee Hodges.
- Zac Blair is 11 under and three shots off the lead after a closing par saved a solid second round.
Who made the cut — and who did not?
The John Deere Classic cut fell at 3 under par after Friday's second round, trimming the field to players who can still chase FedExCup points and a share of the purse.
Two-time John Deere winner Jordan Spieth was among those who scraped through. Playing alongside Ben Griffin in a high-profile afternoon grouping, Spieth needed a fight back after a rough start to his second round. Griffin, by contrast, cruised to a 65 that moved him up 40 spots on the leaderboard.
Only two members of Friday afternoon's marquee threesome will play the weekend — Griffin and Spieth. On the wrong side of the line was defending champion Brian Campbell, who followed an opening 1-under 70 with a Friday finish at 1-over 142 — four shots outside the cut. Former John Deere winners Dylan Fritelli (2019) and Michael Kim (2013) also went home early.
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Why did Jackson Koivun fall short in his pro debut?
Jackson Koivun entered the week as one of the most anticipated rookies on the property. The former top-ranked amateur was making his professional debut at a course where he tied for 11th as an amateur one year earlier.
That prior form did not carry over. Koivun could not find much of the game that produced that T11 finish. His 1-under 70 on Friday was three shots better than his opener, but his 1-over total left him four strokes short of the cut line.
According to the PGA Tour's cut report, Koivun is already looking ahead to the ISCO Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, where he will pursue his first professional made cut. Missing this week is a setback, but it is also a familiar tour reality: even elite amateurs must convert potential into weekend tee times before the checks start adding up.
How did Jordan Spieth grind onto the cut line?
Spieth battled back from a rough second-round start at TPC Deere Run. He bogeyed the par-5 10th after pulling his approach into the native area, an unsettling moment with the cut line looming.
He did not credit that bogey for kicking his day into gear. Instead, three birdies on the back nine carried him to the cut on the number at 3 under — enough to keep his weekend, and his paycheck, intact.
Surviving by the slimmest margin still matters for a two-time John Deere champion who knows this Silvis layout well. Spieth lives to play the weekend while others — including Koivun and defending champion Campbell — pack up early.
Where does Zac Blair stand after Friday's round?
While Spieth and Koivun dominated the cut-line narrative, the top of the board tells a different earnings story. Lucas Glover extended his bogey-free run with a 6-under 65 on Friday, holing a 12-foot par putt on the 18th to reach 14-under 128 and seize a two-shot lead, as ESPN reported.
Lee Hodges sits second at 12 under after a 66. Zac Blair is one shot further back at 11 under following a 3-under 68. Blair closed his round with a nifty par on the final hole at TPC Deere Run — a small save that kept him inside striking distance of the leader.
Glover started on No. 10 in the afternoon and did most of his damage on the back nine with five birdies. He got off to a blazing start through five holes, with each approach inside eight feet, and he knocked his tee shot on the par-3 16th to 2 feet. For Blair, staying within three shots of that form keeps a premium weekend payout firmly in play.
What happens next at the John Deere Classic?
With the cut locked at 3 under, the remaining field shifts focus to chasing Glover over the final 36 holes at TPC Deere Run. Glover has been nearly flawless through two rounds, and his ability to avoid bogeys has separated him from a crowded board.
Spieth will need another gear just to contend, but he has proven at Silvis before that he can win on this course. Koivun, meanwhile, resets in Kentucky with the same goal every rookie carries: make a cut, cash a check, and build momentum.
Friday delivered the kind of tension that defines midsummer PGA Tour golf — veterans clawing for weekend money, rookies learning how expensive a missed cut can be, and a bogey-free leader pulling away. The second half of the tournament starts with Glover in control, Zac Blair within reach, and Spieth still alive on the number.